Aloha Medical Mission Clinic

Aloha Medical Mission (AMM) is a secular, 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization providing free medical and dental care and health education to medically underserved people in developing countries and medically uninsured in Hawaii. AMM operates Hawai'i’s only free dental clinic at Palama Settlement, serving the under- and uninsured.

For 28 years the organization has conducted medical missions to Asia-Pacific countries, treating those who do not have access to medical care. More than 125 missions have been conducted in 15 countries. AMM mobilizes medical and lay volunteers who pay their own way on medical, surgical and disaster missions, and who staff the dental clinic in Kalihi pro bono. The organization helps support clinics in Bangladesh and the Philippines, and over the years has undertaken a variety of special projects, such as training for third-world medical workers and outreach to homeless in Hawai'i.

Staff size: Because AMM work is done by volunteers, there is minimal paid staff. Three full-time staff are: Executive Director, Operations Manager and Clinic Manager. Seven part-time staff includes a Dental Director, receptionist and clinic/office assistants.

The organization fills a gap in Hawai'i as the only interim free clinic for dentally uninsured. As an interim clinic, it does not compete with long-term dental providers or emergency services, nor handle chronic care. It helps people on a short-term basis and assists them to obtain other care and coverage. Such people might be immigrants, students not covered by insurance, unemployed people who lost insurance coverage with their jobs, and part-time employees (under 20 hours) not eligible for coverage.

The missions and clinics report to the Board of Directors on a number of measures and factors, including regional areas where patients come from, age/ethnic breakdowns, types of procedures/treatments, surgeries, disaster relief offered, immunizations, etc.