Monday, September 16, 2024

During a 10-week closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen Besler (’00 DDS) realized there was something else calling to her outside of her Cedar Rapids dental practice. A desire to engage in humanitarian causes.

A combination of principles of her faith and experiences as a provider allowed her to take a leap and leave her practice behind and enter the world of being an active humanitarian.

Karen Besler headshot
Karen Besler

“During dental school and my general practice residency, I realized that what people in developing countries need most is oral surgery and I do not have a strong affinity for that,” says Besler, “Over time I realized I may have to eventually leave private practice to pursue this passion of mine. It was not easy.”

Knowing she had the flexibility to make this change through the support from her family, she decided to take a step toward this change by selling and merging her practice on July 1, 2021. It was a natural step toward where Besler eventually wanted to be. For the next two-and-a-half years, she helped with the transition and on Dec. 20, 2023, she ended her career as a private practice dentist.

“Although it was the right path for me, at the time it felt like jumping off a cliff with only God as my parachute,” says Besler, “I did not know how this passion would play out in life, but I knew it never went away.”

Within three weeks of her last day in private practice, she came upon an opportunity to assist an international non-profit to help celebrate their 25th anniversary. It was sparked by listening to a podcast series by actor Rainn Wilson, who famously starred in “The Office” on NBC.

“I had this feeling that I would find the answer to my own desired path while listening to others share their stories and I was correct,” says Besler, “I was so compelled by listening to Rainn Wilson, who is a long-time board member for the Foundation, and the founder and CEO of the Mona Foundation, Dr. Mahnaz Javid, that I reached out to her immediately.”

Besler said she felt an instant connection while talking to Javid and it made partnering with the Mona Foundation an obvious choice. And the causes they support fall right in line with how Besler wants to make an impact.

The Mona Foundation works to support and provide access to education for children worldwide. The Foundation strives to eliminate barriers to education, empower women and girls, and foster ethics and service in individuals who can then uplift themselves, their families, and communities.

“The focus on empowering children, mainly vulnerable girls, in developing countries through education instantly pulled at my heart strings,” says Besler, “As I started down this path with the Mona Foundation, I realized many of the skills I gained from dental school and private practice are propelling me forward on this new path.”

Javid recently returned from a trip to India where she and an award-winning documentary producer filmed a documentary following a young girl who benefited from receiving her education through a partner organization of the Mona Foundation.

“I am excited to be given the opportunity to share our new documentary and the cause of the Mona Foundation at multiple venues throughout the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor area soon,” says Besler, “For anyone interested in this great cause, I encourage you to visit MonaFoundation.org.”

The documentary titled, “Light and Air” celebrates 25 years of the Mona Foundation and debuts Sept. 29.