Since January 2013, Dr. John Mayes has been volunteering at our Dental Clinic, thanks to the persistence of Dr. David Russell. “I had been volunteering at a free clinic in Harrisburg for about 5 years when Dr. Russell cornered me in the men’s bathroom at a dental meeting and wouldn’t let me leave until I agreed to come by the Mission, and I’ve been here since,” says Dr. Mayes. “In the beginning, we were working in a closet-sized room with two chairs, one for the hygienist, trying not to get in one another’s way. Today, we are in a state-of-the-art clinic thanks to the efforts of Dr. Russell and also Dr. Ted Bollard. I appreciate that very much.” In addition to our dental clinic, Dr. Mayes volunteers monthly at a Lutheran church clinic.

In recent years, his long-time assistant Carleen Wise has joined him in volunteering at our Clinic. They are able to help provide access to care which is not possible in a private office setting. “I believe that I am but one event from being in the same situation of any of the guests we see here in the clinic,” Dr. Mayes says. “I want to thank Cheryl McCall for her vision to expand access into the community. There remains a great unmet need.”

Dr. Mayes attended Penn Dental School and graduated in 1979. In the spring of 1980, he opened his own practice in Hershey and has been in solo practice since. When not practicing dentistry, he enjoys reading, bicycling, and flossing. The only bad habit he has, he says, is rooting for the Phillies. He has been married and has two adult daughters, whom he loves unconditionally.