Brinding Dental Care to Rural Honduras: How Dr. Olivia Dubray Serves with Cape Cares

Access to basic medical and dental care is something many people take for granted. For families living in the remote mountain villages of Honduras, that access simply does not exist, and the difference between care and no care can be life changing. That is why Dr. Olivia Dubray has dedicated years of her life to serving these communities through Cape Cares.

What Is Cape Cares?

Cape Cares is a nonprofit organization that has provided free medical and dental care to individuals and families in rural Honduras for over 30 years. The organization focuses its efforts on two communities, San Marcos and Los Encinitos, both of which are dry, mountainous regions where residents have little to no access to routine healthcare. Many patients travel hours by foot or vehicle just to receive treatment when a brigade arrives in their area.

Throughout the year, Cape Cares organizes four one-week medical brigades, during which as many as 750 patients are seen per visit.

Dr. Dubray's Journey with Cape Cares

Dr. Dubray's connection to Cape Cares began in 2017, before she even entered dental school. At that time, she joined the organization as a Spanish translator for the dental team, gaining firsthand exposure to the critical need for oral healthcare in these undeserved communities.

After completing dental school, Dr. Dubray returned to Cape Cares in a clinical capacity. Today, she provides hands-on dental care during brigades and serves as an active board member for the organization. She works primarily with the San Marcos group and participates in the annual brigade each year.

The Care She Provides

During each brigade, Dr. Dubray offers a full range of dental services, including fluoride treatments, cleanings, fillings, and dental sealants. However, the majority of her time is spent performing tooth extractions, which reflects the level of untreated dental disease present in communities without regular access to care.

Beyond clinical treatment, Dr. Dubray organizes an ongoing toothbrush drive that supplies toothbrushes and floss to both community members and local schools. For many recipients, these are items they otherwise could not access.

Why This Work Matters

Preventive dental care and basic oral hygiene education are powerful tools in reducing long-term disease and pain. For communities in rural Honduras, volunteer brigades like those led by Cape Cares represent their only opportunity to receive this care. Dr. Dubray's commitment, which has grown from translator to clinician to board member over nearly a decade, reflects a deep and sustained investment in the health and wellbeing of these communities.

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To learn more about Cape Cares and how you can support their mission, visit capecares.org.