CARLISLE, PA (September 17, 2020) – Sadler Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center providing community-based comprehensive primary care, dental care, behavioral health and support services at its facilities in downtown Carlisle and Loysville, announced today that Roderick Frazier, DDS, former dental director and staff dentist, is planning to retire later this month after nearly 20 years at Sadler.
“Dr. Frazier leaves a legacy of exceptional dentistry and compassionate care that we look forward to continuing in his honor,” Manal El Harrak, Chief Executive Officer of Sadler Health
Center, said. “During his nearly two decades of caring for the dental needs of our patients in Loysville and Carlisle, Dr. Frazier was instrumental in helping to fulfill our mission of advancing the health of our community by providing inclusive, high-quality and compassionate care.”
During his career at Sadler, Dr. Frazier was recognized by a variety of organizations for his clinical and philanthropic work. In 2016 he was named Public Health Professional of the Year by Partnership for Better Health and was the recipient of the Outstanding Clinician Award in 2017 by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of the Carlisle Rotary Club.
“Dr. Frazier has dedicated much of his time to creating a learning environment at Sadler for students attending Cumberland-Perry Area Vocational Technical School and HACC,” Lisa Juliana, Dental Operations Manager at Sadler Health Center, said. “Many students completed their clinical requirements here, under his direction, and some went on to become employees of Sadler Health Center. His commitment to mentorship, kind demeanor and outstanding dental care will be greatly missed. Over his tenure at Sadler, Dr. Frazier developed a keen interest in infection control and applied his knowledge to the dental clinic’s day-to-day operations. Dr. Frazier was also a former CPR Instructor for Sadler’s staff,” she added.
According to Frazier, community health centers play an important role in providing accessible, affordable dental care.
“I was born into poverty and didn’t have access to dental care,” Dr. Frazier explained. “The opportunity to take care of the basic health care needs of people who fell through the cracks is what brought me to Sadler. Oral care is not always covered by insurance and can tend to be expensive. To my knowledge, Sadler is the only game in town that accepts Medical Assistance. Everyone deserves affordable, quality health care and your mouth is the window to the health and well-being of the rest of your body,” he added.
Before joining Sadler in January 2001, Dr. Frazier spent more than 20 years as a dentist in the United States Army. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Bethany College in West Virginia and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Pennsylvania Dental Association, and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention.
“I’ve enjoyed caring and treating for thousands of patients during my tenure at Sadler,” Dr. Frazier said. “I will miss the first-rate dental team at Sadler—a team that is caring, professional and always goes out of their way to serve and take care of the dental needs of the community,” he added.
During his retirement, Dr. Frazier plans to travel, spend more time with family, develop new hobbies and enhance his photography skills.