When Dr. David Westerberg, class of 1988, arrived at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, he already had a strong sense of service and a clear goal. Dr. Westerberg had known since age 12 that he wanted to be a dentist. He saw dentistry as a career that offered a healthy balance between work, life, and family.
Dental school gave Dr. Westerberg his first opportunities to serve through his chosen profession. As a student, he traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, on a mission trip led by the School's Service Learning department (now known as Community Based Learning). He also joined several mission trips just across the border. Dr. Westerberg counts these trips among his most meaningful experiences during his time at LLUSD. They deepened the commitment to service that first drew him to dentistry.
After graduation, Dr. Westerberg spent his first year working as an associate dentist. He then opened his own general dentistry practice in Redlands, California. For decades, he cared for patients, built his business, and raised his family. His Loma Linda University education prepared him for that long career, and it would later open the door to a new kind of service.
That new path began with Dr. Westerberg's son, Jacob. After completing his education and gaining experience as an organizational psychologist, Jacob joined the Navy Reserves as a research psychologist. In this role, he assesses the morale of service members and others who live and work on the base. He then provides commanding officers recommendations to improve morale.
While watching Jacob graduate from Navy Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, Rhode Island, Dr. Westerberg noticed that some of the graduates appeared to be close to his own age. He asked his son how they had been able to join. Jacob explained that the Navy offers direct commissions to licensed professionals, including dentists, and values the experience older recruits bring. After receiving a direct commission, these professionals complete the five-week ODS course, which covers Navy history, customs, leadership, and military fundamentals. Many military health care positions are hard to fill, and Marines and Sailors depend on skilled health care providers for preventive and trauma care.
Soon after Jacob's graduation, Dr. Westerberg spoke with a recruiter. At 64, he received a direct commission in the Navy Reserve Dental Corps. He then attended ODS, just as Jacob had the year before. His family was surprised by the decision, but they were supportive and excited about this new chapter.
Dr. Westerberg felt at home from the start. At ODS, and on later deployments and service missions, the Marines, Sailors, and officers he served alongside came to value not only his dental expertise but also his life experience. Dr. Westerberg was honored by how warmly they embraced him.
Not long after completing ODS, Dr. Westerberg pursued the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) qualification. He wanted to go "greenside," meaning he wanted to be attached to a Marine unit. Dr. Westerberg chose the FMF because it gave him the greatest number of opportunities to serve and make the most of his time in the military.
Earning the FMF qualification is demanding. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in Marine Corps skills and operations, so they can work seamlessly within a Marine unit. At 67, Dr. Westerberg met every standard and earned the FMF insignia. With this achievement, he became the oldest Sailor in naval history to earn the Fleet Marine Force qualification.
Much of Dr. Westerberg's work focused on dental readiness, which ensures Marines are fit to deploy. This work was voluntary. Command notifies officers of upcoming opportunities, and Dr. Westerberg volunteered for as many as he could. Readiness exams matter because an untreated dental problem can pull a Marine away from the mission. During one of his assignments at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Dr. Westerberg led a dental readiness team of seven dentists and five corpsmen that completed 839 exams.
Some of Dr. Westerberg's most meaningful moments came during those exams. He spent time with young Marines preparing to deploy, offering advice and encouragement and giving them space to share their stories. Dr. Westerberg was grateful for the opportunity to speak with them, support them, and pray for them as they prepared to go overseas. He hopes his support helped them feel seen, heard, and honored for the sacrifices ahead.
Dr. Westerberg's service has also reached beyond the military community. One of his most memorable missions took him to Ouzinkie, Alaska, a remote village of about 120 people. As part of a joint military-civilian effort, Dr. Westerberg led a ten-person team that helped residents catch up on preventive care. His team cared for the residents and completed about 1,000 procedures. Without outreach like this, residents must travel by barge to Anchorage for care.
The kindness of the Ouzinkie community stayed with him. Residents welcomed the team with ceremonies, food, and a chance to learn about their culture. He also saw how much the villagers needed mental health support. After returning, Dr. Westerberg helped champion petitions to his commanding officers to include mental health care on future visits to Ouzinkie. For him, serving communities with limited access to care was a big part of why he chose to serve.
As his military service comes to a close, Dr. Westerberg hopes to raise awareness of the direct commission program and the need for experienced professionals in the military. He encourages fellow dentists and other health care professionals, including providers, administrators, and scientists, to consider joining. Service members and the communities they reach benefit greatly from the time and skill these professionals bring. Dr. Westerberg is grateful to have been part of this work and for the many people he has met along the way.
From Chiapas to Ouzinkie, Dr. Westerberg's path reflects the School's belief that service is a calling. His Loma Linda University education, and the mission trips he joined as a student, laid the foundation for decades of patient care. That same foundation prepared him to answer a second call to mission service in the Navy Reserve. The setting changed from a private practice to Marine units and a remote Alaskan village, but his commitment to caring for people and serving others stayed the same.