An American surgeon – Dr Gary Parker (72) – who has dedicated nearly 40 years to providing free, life-changing surgeries to African patients, has been honoured internationally for his remarkable service.
Parker was recently recognised with the prestigious Humanitarian Award by the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS), which acknowledged his exceptional contributions to global healthcare.
Parker has helped transform the lives of thousands of children and adults across 18 African nations through his volunteer work aboard the Mercy Ships hospital ships. His expertise in reconstructive surgery has restored health, dignity, and hope to children and adults suffering from facial tumours, cleft lip and palate, severe burns, noma, and other debilitating conditions affecting the facial, head and neck region.
The Humanitarian Award celebrates oral and maxillofacial surgeons who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to serving others by using their skills to make a lasting impact on society.
Selected by the ACOMS Board of Regents, Parker received the award at the 44th Annual Scientific Conference in Georgia, USA, earlier this month, where he also delivered a lecture, sharing insights from his extensive experience.
Los Angeles-born Parker earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from UCLA, followed by post-doctoral training and residencies in hospital dentistry and oral and maxillofacial (OMFS) residency. He further refined his expertise for five years in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in North Wales, progressing to Locum Consultant.
While he was in Wales he heard about Mercy Ships, a non-profit organisation operating hospital ships delivering free surgeries, training and healthcare services to those in need. He signed up for a three-month volunteering stint in 1986, a decision that would transform his life. He would also meet his wife, Susan, on board the ship in 1987.
The couple raised two children, who spent their entire childhood aboard a Mercy Ship in Africa.
Parker volunteered full time with Mercy Ships from 1987 and in 1995, and added the responsibility of ships’ Chief Medical Officer to his surgical role.
His humanitarian efforts have earned him numerous international honours, including the Daily Point of Light Award, the UCLA Medal, and high-ranking national honours in multiple countries in recognition of his service including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Senegal, and Cameroon.
Among these accolades, he was also awarded an honorary Fellowship from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in 2012 and a Fellowship by Election from the Royal College of Surgeons in London in 2007, honours granted to distinguished surgeons for outstanding contributions to the field and exceptional services to humanity.
“Dr Gary Parker has spent nearly four decades delivering life-changing surgical care to the world’s most underserved populations through his work with Mercy Ships,” said Melissa Admundson, DDS, Board of Regents member for the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ACOMS).
“His extraordinary commitment to healing – providing thousands of complex surgeries at no cost – and his lifelong dedication to global humanitarian service embody the spirit of the ACOMS Humanitarian Award. We are honoured to recognise him as our 2025 Humanitarian Award recipient.”
Parker said he was honoured by the recognition from ACOMS.
“I see it as a tribute to the courageous patients who trust us and the Mercy Ships teams who serve with such dedication. We’ve seen that when compassionate surgery meets human resilience, lives are restored and dignity reawakened, reflecting the hope and healing at the heart of our shared mission.”
Each year, more than 2 500 volunteer professionals from more than 60 countries serve with Mercy Ships on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy.
Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anaesthetic care.
Beyond his clinical work, Parker remains engaged in mentorship of African surgeons and advocacy for global surgery, emphasising the critical role of OMFS in addressing the global surgical burden.
Issued by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships