CommunityHealth shines the Volunteer Spotlight on Ohik Kwon during April.
Ohik has been a standout volunteer since joining in December 2024, contributing an impressive 250 service hours. A quick learner with a genuine drive to help wherever he’s needed, he became a steady and reliable presence in the dental clinic throughout the summer of 2025. Dental staff deeply appreciated his commitment and the leadership he showed in guiding new volunteers through the intricacies of the role of a dental assistant. Ohik’s impact is felt not just in the hours he’s given, but in the confidence and community he’s helped build during his time with CommunityHealth.
For his dedicated volunteer service, Ohik was awarded 2025 Dental Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Awards.
CommunityHealth sat down with Ohik to learn more about what quality health care for all means to him…
Tell us more about yourself and your background.
I am currently a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago. In my free time, I love listening to music and checking out the various cuisines Chicago has to offer; one of my favorite restaurants is Green Street Smoked Meats in West Loop. In the future, I aspire to be a dentist that delivers the highest quality of oral care to communities that are often neglected.
Why and how did you begin volunteering at CommunityHealth?
I began volunteering as a dental assistant at CommunityHealth as a way to explore dentistry as a career choice. Now, with each shift, I become more eager to pursue dentistry.
What has been your favorite memory from your time with CommunityHealth?
My favorite memory with CommunityHealth was the Halloween door decoration contest where I was able witness the creativity of other volunteers and staff. It was a fun break from the usual routine and reminded me how strong the sense of community is within the clinic.
What has kept you volunteering all this time?
Witnessing the significant progress patients have made over time has kept me volunteering. Seeing their confidence to smile bigger with every visit and knowing that my support played a role in that change motivates me to continue giving my time.
Why is volunteering important to you?
Volunteering is important to me because it’s a way to contribute to a cause bigger than myself. It gives me the chance to support people who might not otherwise receive help. In return, I gain valuable insight on dentistry, a new perspective on healthcare, and a deeper understanding of the communities I hope to serve in the future.
What advice would you give to new volunteers at CommunityHealth?
One piece of advice I would share with new volunteers is to truly embrace the environment. CommunityHealth is filled with so many great individuals that have lifelong lessons to share.
What is the best piece of personal or professional advice you have received?
“The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it.”
Where is your happy place?
At an all-you-can-eat buffet surrounded by my family and friends.
As the largest volunteer-based free health center in the nation, serving the uninsured, underserved, and undocumented, CommunityHealth is more than a free clinic but a true patient-centered medical home. Health care providers, both clinical and nonclinical, devoted to quality health care for all are encouraged to apply.