After months of prayers and waiting, the staff at Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic joyfully welcomed God’s answer with the arrival of the new clinic director, Dr. Bukaris Anugerah, along with his wife Arpa. Barely ten hours from their feet touching Saipan soil on February third, the clinic staff honored the Anugerahs with a welcome lunch, felicitations and the traditional mwarmwar.

Dr. Bukaris Anugerah was born and raised in Surabaya, Indonesia. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science in 1984 and Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1990 - both degrees from Loma Linda University in California.

Immediately after dental school, he and his family served as missionaries in Yaoundé SDA Dental Clinic in Cameroon, Central Africa for one year. He then returned to the United States and practiced general dentistry in his own private practice for about 22 years in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Because of their love for the mission field, they went to serve at Davis Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, Guyana for three years. They continued their service at SDA Dental Clinic in Basseterre, St. Kitts for more than five years, prior to answering the call to serve in Saipan.

Arpa, who has been Dr. Anugerah’s amazing inspiration and support, has a professional training in nursing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pacific Union College in 1983 and Master in Public Health from Loma Linda University in 1985. Arpa is currently serving as an office clerk at the clinic. 

The Anugerahs are blessed with two adult children, Ariana and Arron, who are their pride and joy. Ariana earned her Bachelor of Arts degree major in Cello/Music from La Sierra University in 2011 and Master of Business Administration from same university in 2015. The following year, she graduated her degree in Doctor of Medicine from Loma Linda University, and then completed an internship at Kettering Hospital Ohio in 2017 and residency in anesthesiology from Northwestern Medicine in 2020. Currently, Ariana is practicing anesthesiology at the Houston Hospital in Conroe, Texas. She is happily married to Hang Chi Pham, a Houston native and a violinist.

Arron is currently a third year student at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. He is majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science and is planning to pursue graduate studies in healthcare. Arron lived with his parents as missionaries in Guyana for three years and one year in St. Kitts before attending Georgia Cumberland Academy for his junior and senior year.

Dr. Anugerah expressed their joy in coming to Saipan. “Indeed, it is a joy to be invited to join the Saipan SDA Clinic team for it has been a longtime desire for our family to serve in the Pacific region,” he said. “God does answer prayers!” he concluded.

Dr. Anugerah believes in whole-person care (mind, body and spirit). He feels privileged to join the Saipan SDA Dental Clinic team and is eager to carry on the reputation of extending the healing ministry of Christ by providing excellent and compassionate dental care to the people in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.