Someone San Diego Should Know: Thomas Fitzpatrick

Entering Mid-City Nazarene Church in City Heights from its side entrance, a visitor walks up a narrow staircase. At the top, the visitor may be surprised by what is found — a bustling and brightly lit multi-room dental office named Cura Smiles, complete with four dental chairs, equipment and supplies.

It is not a typical dental office. In 2024, alone, there were more than 1,500 dental procedures, valued at over $400,000, performed- all without charge.

Opened in 2019, Cura Smiles is the brainchild of Del Mar dentist Thomas Fitzpatrick. “The idea behind Cura Smiles is simply to serve people with limited or no access to dental care,” he said.

Serving others has always been important to Fitzpatrick.

He was born in 1978 and raised in Redding. His parents were active in the Nazarene Church and instilled in their four children the church’s tenet of service to others.“We believe that to serve God in this way is an expression of our love for Him,” Fitzpatrick said.

“My parents instilled it by example. They worked with refugees from Laos and Thailand and helped start a Mien Nazarene Church in Redding. Growing up, my family was always involved with their weddings and celebrations and my mom would teach them English.”

The Mien are an ethnic minority people from southeast Asia, many of whom fled to the U.S. after the Vietnam War.

Following his parents’ example, during high school Fitzpatrick traveled to El Salvador with a church group to assist a volunteer medical team.

While in dental school, he joined volunteer dental teams traveling to Mexico, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua. After graduating in 2006 and opening a private dental practice in Del Mar, he continued volunteering for eight years with annual trips to Nicaragua.

In 2014, after getting married, he focused his volunteer service efforts on San Diego. “I saw a need of underserved people in our own backyard,” he said.

Working with the Health Promotions Center run by Point Loma Nazarene College’s nursing program, Fitzpatrick and four other dentists offered free services during a multi-day Festival of Health held at Mid-City Nazarene Church in 2015 and, again, in 2016.

“That led me to conclude there was a need for more regular dental services,” he said. “So, I talked with the pastors and suggested using space in the church to create a dental office. They were very positive and offered the space.

“I began the process of creating a nonprofit and solicited an informal board of directors consisting of two dentists, an attorney, accountant and dental supply company representative.”

The nonprofit, Cura Smiles, was formed in 2017 with Fitzpatrick as executive director.

He oversaw reconfiguring the space from storage and utility rooms to an operating dental office and acquisition of donated equipment, including four dental chairs. Initial funding was raised primarily from dentists and dental equipment suppliers.

After its opening, Cura Smiles experienced steady growth over the years interrupted only by COVID-19. Today it is a prominent free dental clinic staffed by volunteer dentists and assistants. The volume of patients has increased to the point that Cura Smiles is considering expansion.

Fitzpatrick, who lives in Bay Park with his wife Tara and their two young children, said proper dental care is important for everyone. The Cura Smiles website explains, “Without access to proper oral care many can experience severe dental decay, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement, acute and chronic infections, eating and sleeping disruptions, and more.”

For Fitzpatrick and others, bringing dental care to those in need delivers more than medical benefits. It has emotional benefits for the recipient and personal satisfaction for the provider.

“It’s truly amazing the transformation a smile can provide,” Fitzpatrick said. “It generates confidence and new hope. It can help get jobs and help with relationships.”“After one of our patients got her new dentures, her little daughter looked up and said, ‘Mommy, you are so beautiful.’

“That brought tears to everyone’s eyes.”

Cura Smiles receives many notes expressing appreciation. One note stated simply, “Thank you doctor for giving me my self-esteem back.”

About this series

Goldsmith is a Union-Tribune contributing columnist.

We welcome reader suggestions of people who have done something extraordinary or otherwise educational, inspiring or interesting and who have not received much previous media. Please send suggestions to Jan Goldsmith at jgsandiego@yahoo.com