05/29/2026
Dr. Cheon Joo Yoon, Director of the RIDE Program in Spokane, has served around the globe as a dentist in the military. He’s been the lone dental provider in groups of over 4,000 personnel before.
Earlier this month, he was sent on a much different mission. Dr. Yoon and a team of U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine personnel traveled to a remote village called Akhiok on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The total population of Akhiok is around 40 people.
The 10-member team was sent to provide medical, dental and optometry services. “When we landed in the Black Hawk helicopter, many villagers and children came out to welcome us at the airstrip,” said Dr. Yoon. “We knew almost nothing about the people or the village, but their smiles stood strong even against the powerful winds and dusts from the helicopter blades.”
Over the course of the five days, Dr. Yoon and the rest of his team lived the lives of the Akhiok tribe; they ate their food, fished with them, played their sports and learned their culture.
The impact of the experience was profound: “Many of us became emotional in ways we never expected when we first landed there,” said Dr. Yoon. “Somewhere during those few days, we realized we had truly bonded and shared life together. The kindness, innocence, and generosity we experienced from the people of Akhiok is something none of us will ever forget.”
Learn more about Dr. Yoon’s experience on Kodiak Island on his blog: https://m.blog.naver.com/sayc1005/224288119494
