Piper Fellow:
Kris A. Volcheck, DDS

Kris Andrew Volcheck has had a passionate career spanning over three decades, dedicated to serving underserved populations. Following his graduation from Emory University Dental School (Atlanta), he embarked on a nine-year tenure as a private practice dentist in Globe, Arizona. His commitment to community service led him to volunteer at the CASS Homeless Shelter for two years, ultimately motivating him to transition from private practice to a case manager at CASS. After seven years of immersive involvement in the multifaceted challenges faced by unhoused people, Volcheck established Brighter Way Institute, a dental clinic tailored to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. The Institute now encompasses the Bruce and Diane Halle Dental Center, specializing in serving unhoused people and veterans; the Parsons Center for Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics; and the BWI/United Healthcare Mobile Dental Center.

Volcheck’s Fellowship will include attending the Arizona Coalition for Housing Conference, the Executive Program for Nonprofits in Stanford, California, and the International Fundraising Conference. His plans also include visiting other longstanding dental nonprofits, such as the Berkeley Free Clinic, that have executed successful succession planning when the CEO is also a Founder. Through this combination of conferences and research visits, Volcheck strives to bolster his leadership skills by gaining global insights into nonprofit best practices as he ultimately seeks to make profound impacts on people’s lives.