Gary Parker: A Life Dedicated to Volunteer work
A surgeon aboard Mercy Ships hospital ships, Gary Parker has been honored for his 40 years of service, during which he performed free surgeries for underserved patients and transformed thousands of lives.
Dr. Gary Parker, 72, received a prestigious award recognizing his exceptional contribution to global health: the Humanitarian Award from the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS). This award honors oral and maxillofacial surgeons who demonstrate extraordinary humanitarian commitment and use their skills to create lasting impact.
“His extraordinary dedication to healing—with thousands of complex surgeries performed free of charge—and his lifelong devotion to international humanitarian service embody the spirit of the ACOMS Humanitarian Award. We are honored to present the 2025 Humanitarian Award to Dr. Parker.” said Dr. Melissa Admundson, a board member of ACOMS, during the award ceremony at the 44th Annual Scientific Conference in Savannah, Georgia.
Reflecting on his life’s work, Dr. Parker shared: “This recognition is a tribute to the courageous patients who place their trust in us, and to the Mercy Ships teams who serve with such dedication. Together, we see that when humanitarian surgery meets human resilience, lives are restored and dignity is reborn—reflecting the hope and healing at the heart of our mission.”
Commited to accessible, high-quality care
Originally from Los Angeles, Dr. Parker has treated thousands of patients in 18 countries, primarily in Africa. His expertise in reconstructive surgery has helped to treat countless children and adults suffering from debilitating conditions such as facial tumors, cleft lips and palates, severe burns, destructive infections like noma, and other diseases affecting the face, head, and neck.
After earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Dr. Parker completed postgraduate training and residencies in hospital dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. He then honed his expertise over five years with the National Health Service (NHS) in Wales. It was during that time that he first heard about Mercy Ships and volunteered for a three-month mission in 1986 - a decision that would change his life, lead him to meet his wife, Susan, and eventually raise their two children aboard the ship.
Today, beyond his clinical work, Dr. Parker remains active in mentoring and advancing global surgery. He emphasizes the crucial role of oral and maxillofacial surgery in addressing the global surgical care crisis.
In 2024, 2,047 volunteers from 74 countries served aboard Mercy Ships’ hospital Ships, working alongside surgeons like Dr. Parker to deliver essential surgical care to those most in need.
- 7 May 2025
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