Meeting Patients Where They’re At

Meeting people where they are can mean more than providing convenience. It can mean bringing essential services to communities that need them most.  

In Hawaii, that can be a challenge when it comes to dental care. Dentists tend to be more concentrated on Oahu, where the majority of our state’s population resides, making access to care more difficult for Neighbor Island communities.  

To address the need for oral health care services, Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) found a creative solution: bring the provider to the patient. 

Dr. Michelle Zhou is a Honolulu-based dentist who flies to Molokai every week to provide dental care at MCHC. Her motivation was not to find more patients, but to address oral health disparities on the island. 

Prior to Dr. Zhou joining MCHC’s dental team, there were only two dentists on the island serving approximately 7,000 residents, some of whom must travel up to 45 minutes to their appointments. Since Dr. Zhou joined the team in February 2025, wait times for dental appointments have dropped from a year to two months.  

Funding from the federal government, Maui County, and the HDS Foundation has also helped MCHC expand its dental clinic and increase capacity. The expansion doubled the number of dental chairs from three to six and increased clinic operations from four days a week to five days. 

Milton Cortez, CEO of MCHC, expressed gratitude for the funding, noting that the additional resources are helping the center serve more patients. He also credits his dental team for the progress they’ve made in reducing wait times for appointments. 

Given the nature of dentistry, that’s no simple feat. Often, it can take several appointments to address a single issue, which can be challenging amid high demand for appointment times. 

“Our providers have worked really hard to meet the community’s oral health needs and reduce the wait times for an appointment,” said Cortez. “They work long hours, provide high-quality care, and have been great with the Molokai community. And with the support of our dental director, the team has also strengthened its training and improved its services.” 

For Dr. Zhou, the opportunity to serve Molokai is about more than making the trip each week. It’s about helping ensure residents can access the dental care they need without having to leave the island. 

“Beyond providing dental treatment, I feel fortunate to help reduce one of the many barriers to accessing health care, and this opportunity makes every trip worthwhile,” said Dr. Zhou. “I wouldn’t say it’s a sacrifice, just a longer commute to work.” 

“What gives me the most satisfaction is seeing how grateful everyone is to not have to fly to Oahu or Maui for basic treatment. I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Molokai, and it’s really become my second home,” she added.