After graduating from dental school, Dr. Alwilleed “Will” Kalout, sought a postgraduate program that would sharpen his clinical skills and expand his ability to serve patients with complex needs. Matching with the ӽ紫ý School of Dental Medicine’s General Practice Residency (GPR) gave him exactly that opportunity — though not in the way he initially expected.
Through the GPR, Kalout trained in family medicine, anesthesiology, and emergency and trauma care, while also gaining experience in advanced procedures such as pre-prosthetic surgery, complex extractions, and conscious sedation. What he didn’t anticipate was that this training would soon prepare him to treat dozens of emergency dental patients in Syria, a country whose healthcare system has been deeply fractured by years of conflict.
When an opportunity arose to join a humanitarian mission to Syria, Kalout volunteered immediately and secured approval for a two-week leave from the residency. The experience reinforced the real-world impact of his ӽ紫ý training.
“My time with the GPR really prepared me for handling complicated dental issues and complex patient management,” Kalout said. “I felt I had a deeper, systemic understanding of how the body works and could use that knowledge to benefit my patients.”
A Journey Shaped by Conflict
Born and raised in the United States, Kalout spent many summers visiting his parents’ homeland of Syria. During his first year of high school, his family relocated there, and he spent the next three years surrounded by extended family. That chapter ended abruptly when war broke out during his junior year, forcing him to flee alone back to the U.S.
“The situation became dangerous very quickly,” Kalout said. “Basic necessities like food, water, and electricity became luxuries, and people were being forced into military service.”
Because he left urgently and without school records, Kalout was unable to immediately enroll in high school. At 17, he began working, later earned his GED, and prepared for college.
Driven by a desire to help others, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Cleveland State University before a close friend encouraged him to consider dentistry. The appeal was immediate.
“You can treat someone who’s in pain and see relief almost instantly,” he said. “That was powerful to me.”
Kalout went on to earn his dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He joined the Arab Dental Society and became involved with Atlantic Humanitarian Relief, organizations that aligned with his commitment to service. Over time, he participated in humanitarian trips to Honduras and Jordan, including providing care at Zaatari Camp, the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees.
Returning Home After 13 years
In 2025, Kalout returned to Syria for the first time since fleeing in 2011.
“I hadn’t been able to visit family or friends for more than a decade,” he said. “This trip gave me the chance to reconnect and help people who endured the hardships of the revolution.”
Healthcare professionals from around the world joined the mission, working alongside Syrian doctors and students. Teams were deployed to Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Idlib. Kalout served as a dental team leader in Damascus, focusing on emergency dentistry, treating infections, relieving pain, and providing oral hygiene education.
The challenges were significant. Dental clinics lacked basic equipment, including x-ray machines and adequate materials. As part of the mission, teams brought donated supplies and equipment. Kalout also coordinated logistics, transportation, and patient flow for his team.
According to the organization’s mission report, Kalout and his colleagues completed 830 cases in just five days across three cities. Many patients were former political detainees, some of whom shared harrowing stories of imprisonment and abuse. One patient described having most of his teeth broken while in custody, resulting in months of severe pain.
“Hearing their stories was humbling,” Kalout said. “Despite everything they endured, they were incredibly grateful for care.”
Moving Forward
Kalout completed the ӽ紫ý GPR program in summer 2025 and now practices privately in Ohio. With recent changes in Syria’s leadership and improved safety conditions, he is already preparing for his next humanitarian mission.
“For many years, I couldn’t offer much help,” he said. “Now I can. I’m especially grateful for my GPR training — it allowed me to quickly understand patients’ medical histories and respond to their needs. That’s why I became a dentist, and it’s a privilege to do this work.”
