Our Dental Team

Aaron Figueroa, Bill Gates, Steve Aquilino

Bill Gates

Steve Aquilino

Bill Gates dentist  

This is Bill’s third trip to Guatemala with Iowa MOST.  Bill trained with Steve Aquilino at the University of Iowa Department of Prosthodontics.  After the University of Iowa, Bill completed at year program in Maxillofacial Prosthodontics at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Bill taught at the University Of North Carolina Dental School for 3 years before entering private practice in Durham, NC.  When he is not working, he spends his time playing with his two Golden Retrievers, Cider & Shadow. As to what motivates Bill to return, he says, ‘Where else could I spend 10 days with the best people on earth providing a life changing service to a gracious and genuine people.  I am fortunate to be a part of this group, and humbled by the hardships endured by our patients.” 

Steven Aquilino dentist

Steven has been a professor at the U of Iowa in the Department of Prosthodontics for 30 years. This is Steven’s 5^th trip on MOST to Guatemala.  Steven was recruited to the team by Dr Bill LaVelle, one of his mentors at Iowa. Three years ago Steven recruited one of his former students, Dr Bill Gates to join the team.

During the mission the main role of the dentist is to:

(1)   remove non-restorable teeth in patients undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery, thereby removing any source of infection that may interfere with healing

(2)   make obturators (prostheses) to close cleft palates in those patients unable to have surgery. 

As to Steven’s personal statement, “One of the main things that keeps me coming back is the working with this incredible team of individuals with a common goal of helping the children of Guatemala.”       

Aaron Figueroa, dental student 

Aaron grew up in Glencoe, IL, which is a northern suburb of Chicago. He attended New Trier Township HS and completed his BS in Microbiology at the U of Rochester in NY.  Immediately following he began dental school at the U of Iowa and is currently a 4^th year student.  He will continue his training at U of Iowa in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.  Arron has one older brother Alex, who recently joined their father in his Orthodontic practice.  Aaron says, “My father is originally from Guatemala City.  I chose to attend this mission for the opportunity to give back to my roots.”