Student Spotlight: Dr. Kallo

Dr. Kallo Tiranke poses outside of the UGANC Dental School

Student Spotlight: How Dr. Kallo Tiranke Is Building a Healthier Future for Guinea’s Children 

Dr. Kallo Tiranke visibly lights up when she talks about pediatric dentistry. “Pediatrics, it’s a passion. When I take care of the children of my country, I’m happy,” she says. But for a long time, the idea of becoming a pediatric dentist felt like a distant dream. Dr. Kallo is a young mother raising her infant son, Mamady, in Guinea, where specialized pediatric dental training is almost nonexistent. 

Today, thanks to the support of Dental Capacity, Dr. Kallo is on her way to becoming one of her country’s very first pediatric dental specialists - without having to choose between her education and her family. 

Pursuing a Dream 

Growing up, Dr. Kallo envisioned a future helping young patients: “I always wanted to work with children.” When she discovered pediatric dentistry, a field that allowed her to combine clinical skill with her love for kids, she knew she had found her calling. 

But in her home country of Guinea, the path forward for Dr. Kallo wasn’t simple. 

There is currently no pediatric dentistry training program in the country. Leaving to study abroad was financially impossible. By the time she graduated from university and began her clinical training, she was already married and, before long, expecting her first child. She knew that as a mother, moving away for several years of training was simply not realistic. But she kept seeing the need for more pediatric specialists in her country, fueling her passion. 

“People say children have baby teeth that will fall out, so parents don’t bring them for care unless they’re in pain,” she explains. “But early care matters. Baby teeth guide the adult teeth. If you remove them too early, children can have serious problems later.” 

Her goal was clear: to bring specialized pediatric care to families who rarely receive it. She just needed help to make it happen. 

That opportunity came when Dental Capacity stepped in. The nonprofit, founded by Dr. David Ugai, is committed to strengthening dental education across Africa by investing directly in people - students, educators and future leaders who will transform care from within their countries. 

In 2024, Dental Capacity sponsored Dr. Kallo’s enrollment in a four-year pediatric dentistry specialization program in Côte d’Ivoire. The program’s structure - three years online and one year in Abidjan - allows her to stay home with her son while pursuing advanced training.  

“It is a dream that Dr. Dave and Dental Capacity helped me achieve,” she says. 

The sponsorship covers everything: tuition, a laptop, study tools, a living stipend, Internet, and travel to Abidjan for her final clinical year.  

“The course is 100% paid for by Dental Capacity. The only thing I have to do is connect and study my lessons,” she says. “If Dental Capacity weren’t there, I don’t think I could do it.” 

Growing Skills While Providing Pediatric Care 

While completing her first year of specialty training online, Dr. Kallo is also gaining hands-on clinical experience. Each week, she commutes from Conakry to rural Dubreka, where she treats children at one of the only pediatric-focused dental facilities in the region. 

“I do my best to make the children smile again,” she says. “Seeing their smiles makes me happy.” 

She also continues working under Dr. Ugai’s mentorship at her primary clinic at Universite Gamal Abdel Nasser in Conakry, balancing her studies, her practice and motherhood. It’s a full-on schedule, but Dr. Kallo is grateful for the opportunity to grow. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Where there is willingness, there is readiness.” 

Why Training Pediatric Dentists Matters 

Guinea, like many African countries, faces a serious shortage of dental professionals. Across the continent, many low income nations have fewer than five dentists per million people, and specialized pediatric dentists are even rarer. 

The lack of local training programs means that generations of children grow up without access to preventive care, treatment for tooth decay, or help managing dental infections. These conditions can all impact long-term health and development. 

This is exactly why Dental Capacity invests in students like Dr. Kallo who plan to become educators as well as practitioners. Training one specialist creates a ripple effect that leads to improved clinical care, better health education for families and future generations of dentists who will learn from her.  

“If we agree to be trained, we must at least train others,” she says. “I want to become a professor of pediatric dentistry. I want to teach and give back to my country.” 

Investing in a Future Built on Education 

Dr. Kallo represents the core of Dental Capacity’s mission: strengthening Africa’s oral health workforce by investing in people. For her, this sponsorship isn’t just financial support. It’s the freedom to pursue her calling without leaving her son behind. 

“As long as I am in good health, I will do my best to ensure the children of Guinea always have the smiles they deserve,” she says. 

She’s not alone. Dental Capacity’s student sponsorship program now includes students from countries across Africa who are training to one day serve their communities. 

“They train Africans so that they stay in their own countries. The initiative is very encouraging,” Dr. Kallo says. “They help us achieve our dreams.” 

Dr. Kallo’s story is just one of many. Stay tuned for more student spotlights and see how your support can help train the next generation of dentists and educators. 

Invest in people. Transform care. Join us at Dental Capacity.