Our Team & Board Members

Dr. Alan Mikesell, DDS, MS, was raised in Lima, Ohio and received his masters and dental degrees at The Ohio State University. He and Elaine have been married 55 years; they first learned about SARA through a trip to Ukraine led by the Szilagyis, where they became convinced of the vital work of the organization. Dr. Mikesell is currently SARA treasurer.

Rev. Elaine Mikesell was raised in northern Ohio, received her RN in Washington DC and her Master of Divinity at Methesco Theological Seminary in Delaware, Ohio.

Our beloved Elaine passed away on October 16th, 2020. Donations in her memory may be sent to NWOA, 416 Wentz St, Tiffin, OH 44883.

My first trip was 10 years ago with Dr. Donn Mettens. Jeannie and Steven came to my church , Trinity United Church of Christ in Wadsworth and spoke about the SARA mission. They talked about George and how they would like to start a Dental Program in Ukraine. I , being a dental hygienist, felt the calling to become involved and make a trip there.

My first visit Dr. Donn, George and I performed dental exams and sealants on the girls at Good Samaritan . We used lawn chairs, a desk lamp, and dixie cups for them to spit in lol. The decay rate we saw and need of oral hygiene instruction proved we needed a dental room with proper equipment to continue our work.

George can tell you how all that was made possible.

My second trip I was able to secure from donations from my church and Stryker instruments for the first cleft lip/palate surgery at the children’s hospital. Dr. Attilla Vastyan and Dr. Akos Kiss performed these on 5 children and changed their lives along with the families and surgeons at the hospital . Through many trips to the hospital, funded by SARA, Atilla and Akos trained surgeons at the hospital to perform these surgeries on their ow.

I made two other trips to Good Sam, one with my daughter Tiffanyl She was a great help with her dental assisting duties and we were able to see all the girls for exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions. We also saw many of the workers there.

The trips have changed my life and I have found a family to love and aspire me to continue the missions there. It is my hope to return in the next few years.

Dr. Alan Mikesell and Dr. Donn he M&M Dental clinic in the Good Samaritan children’s home in Nagydobony/Transcapathea Ukraine.

Dr. Donn and Dr. Alan (Mikesell) established a state-of-the-art dental office at the Good Samaritan Children’s Home.  Prior to their dedication, Dr. George Szilagyi, a dentist from Hungary, treated the residents and staff, using a miner’s light, a lawn chair and a water squirt pistol.

Dr. Donn loves the girls and they love him.  Besides years of dentistry, including implants, for families in Northern Kentucky, Donn treats the girls and the staff with love as his “specialty.”

Dear Csaba is a Hungarian Presbyterian Clergy.  He was born in Romania and immigrated to the US and served Presbyterian churches.  A true Hungarian, he and his lovely wife entertained “strangers” in their home, SARA visitors and patients from all over the world.

A brilliant speaker and scholar, Csaba is dedicated to sharing the medical resources of the US, as formulated by our original mission and goals.  He is also the nagyapa of two sweet, also intelligent, little girls.

George was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  After HS, he moved to Pecs, Hungary and studied dentistry.  He is in private practice in Satoraljaujhely, Hungary.  His unofficial title is “European liaison”. In essence, he our translator, contact persona and favorite Hungarian.  He is married and has four children, Sara, Oliver, David and Eliza.