Summer 2023

 

Message from the Dean

At this time of year, I always catch myself thinking, “That went fast. How is it already graduation? How is it already time to prepare for our new students?” What a whirlwind Spring Semester was here at the School of Dentistry.

It is always an exciting time when our graduates walk across the stage (pages 21–25) as we send them off armed with the best education and clinical experience, setting them up for success in their individual endeavors. Both graduating classes have much for which to be proud. The Class of 2023 dental students achieved a 100% pass rate on the new INDB exam, and the Class of 2023 dental hygiene students had a 100% pass rate on their DH clinical boards. This success is a testament to their hard work and the faculty’s dedication in preparing them.

We have made some innovative changes to curriculum that better prepare our students. The D1s are getting patient care experience even earlier than before, with clinical care incorporated during their first year. Dental and dental hygiene students are collaborating on care. Dental students are performing dental hygiene patient checks, much like they would in a practice setting.

In addition to graduation and the success of our students, we are riding high from the opportunity we had to connect with so many alumni, colleagues, professional partners and friends at this year’s Midwest Dental Conference (pages 2–5). And what a celebration it was recognizing the impressive 100-year milestone of the Alumni Meeting. Our alumni should be proud of the legacy they have built and loyally support.

I hope we can continue to grow and build those relationships and excitement as we move forward with plans for the new Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Building, where our pre-doctoral clinics will be housed. During the Midwest Dental Conference, we opened the School of Dentistry up for tours. I hope you took the opportunity to take one because, in a few short years, the the pre-doctoral clinic will look very different and will be about two blocks east of its current location, in a new, state-of- the-art facility.

As we prepare for Fall Semester and beyond, we look forward to so much. I am proud to be a part of this institution, and to have the strong support that our alumni and donors have built as we continue to strengthen our mission and pursue our goals.

With gratitude,

—Steven E. Haas, DMD., J.D., MBA, Dean, UMKC School of Dentistry

Midwest Dental Conference

Cheers to 100 years

The UMKC Dental And Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Associations celebrated 100 years of the Midwest Dental Conference and Alumni Meeting April 13–16. The conference included four days of continuing education sessions, milestone class reunions, celebrations, meetings and exhibits at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel and Westin Hotel at Crown Center.

This year, attendees and exhibitors were invited to a Friday night anniversary party, where they were treated to drinks, food and 100th anniversary-themed treats. Dental Alumni Association President Doug Wyckoff (D.D.S. ’92) and School of Dentistry Dean Steven Haas made remarks and gave a toast to the next 100 years.

Party with a purpose: Pouring from the Heart 2023

While the food and wine selections made for some great pairings at this annual benefit gala, nothing beats the pairing of alumni and friends for an evening of fun and philanthropy. Funds raised from Pouring from the Heart aid student-patient clinical experiences at the UMKC School of Dentistry. Each procedure helps a patient receive necessary treatment, while each student gains crucial hands-on experience. Gifts will go to senior dental and dental hygiene students.

UMKC alumnus Steven St. John, radio personality for local station 610 Sports, was the evening’s emcee. The event featured a silent auction, a live auction led by the Nigro Brothers and a game of “heads or tails.” School of Dentistry student Jimmy Dixon also introduced attendees to a patient of his whose life was changed by Pouring from the Heart funds used to cover her treatment expenses – which literally gave her a new smile.

Thank you to the steering committee, attendees and especially the donors. Without them, we would not have been able to raise more than $80,000 for such a special and important cause.

Recognition Luncheon

 

Honoring so many outstanding alumni and friends makes this luncheon a highlight of the Midwest Dental Conference. The event honored those who have made substantial gifts to the Rinehart Foundation. Lifetime givers of $10,000+,

$25,000+, $50,000+ and $100,000+ were recognized. Members of classes celebrating 60, 50, 40 and 25 years in the profession were also honored.

New board leadership

The conclusion of the Midwest Dental Conference marked the beginning of new leadership for the Dental Alumni Association Board and the Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association Board. Wendy Reynolds (D.D.S. ’95) will serve as president of the Dental Alumni Association, and Savanna Weiner (B.S.D.H. ’19) for the Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association.

Savanna Weiner (B.S.D.H. ’19)

MDC 2024

Mark your calendar for next year’s conference, April 11–14, 2024.

We look forward to a bright future, made possible by you – our alumni, friends and champions of the profession. Thank you for being a part of this milestone. Here’s to 100 more!

A Conference for the Ages

Legacy Families Come Together Over Centennial Celebration
By Bryce Puntenney

This year at the Midwest Dental Conference, the UMKC School of Dentistry celebrated 100 years of gathering for an annual alumni meeting. For some alumni, their first experience at the conference wasn’t as a dentist, or even as a dental student – but instead, as a kid, tagging along with their parents or grandparents. Those childhood family trips to MDC are often just the beginning of a deep connection with the School of Dentistry that the school’s alumni share.

Mark Mosier (D.D.S. ’85) remembers attending the alumni meetings with his dad, Richard Mosier (D.D.S. ’54), and grandfather, Harry Mosier (D.D.S. 1922), in the 1970s. According to Mark, Harry was close friends with Roy Rinehart, former dean of the School of Dentistry and the namesake of the Rinehart Foundation. Harry liked to tell a story about an alumni meeting in the 1930s where the two friends and their wives, Josephine Mosier and Myrtle Rinehart, were seated together at the banquet. It was a table for six people, but it was just the four of them. Harry looked around and noticed another couple sitting by themselves, while everyone else was cliqued up, lost in their own worlds, catching up with their buddies.

“My grandfather and Dean Rinehart were not the kind of people to ignore others,” Mosier said. “They were very inclusive and social.”

The two men went over and introduced themselves to Albert and Ruth Mizzy, who had traveled to the conference from New York City. They later learned the Mizzys owned a dental supply company that would eventually become a worldwide manufacturer of medical and dental supplies, Mizzy, Inc. Harry and Roy insisted the couple join their table, and the new group quickly formed a close connection.

“They all became great friends,” Mosier said. “The Mizzys would come visit for the holidays, they’d go hunting together. And they came back to that meeting year after year.”

Mark Mosier started attending MDC when he was just five years old. Now 65, this year’s meeting is a special one for him. He attended with his niece, Kiralyn Mosier, who graduated from the School of Dentistry in May.

“Kiralyn is the fourth generation Mosier graduating from UMKC,” Mark Mosier said. “I am so proud she is continuing the legacy we have. We’re all very excited.”

The Samples are another legacy family that had a strong turnout for this year’s MDC. Kyle Samples (D.D.S. ’11) and his brother, Stuart Samples (D.D.S. ’07), are partners at McCoy Samples Mattingly Dental Clinic in Carrollton, Missouri. The two have been attending MDC with their dad, James Samples (D.D.S. ’71), for as long as they can remember.

“I remember going when I was six years old, hanging out with the kids of Dad’s alumni buddies,” said Kyle Samples. “Now, my kids love doing that too. They look forward to it all year.”

This year, another generation joined the mix as Stuart’s daughter, Emily, attended MDC with him.

Now a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Emily plans to apply to dental school after undergrad. Kyle’s wife, Krystal, and their two children also made the drive down to Kansas City, making this year’s conference a little bit of a family vacation. “In 50-plus years, I’ve only missed one (MDC), when I was serving in the military,” James said.

“I love having my boys with me at the meetings. It’s wonderful. I’m so proud of them.”

James remembers the earlier years he attended the conference fondly. He and his classmates would compare notes on the continuing education each day, trade clinical stories and share memories about dental faculty. According to James, his classmates would go out on the town at night, but he and his wife, Maggie, would forgo the partying to have a quiet dinner with other married classmates. “It’s about reconnecting with special friends,” James said, “and shooting the bull.”

“I remember going when I was six years old, hanging out with the kids of Dad’s alumni buddies. Now, my kids love doing that too. They look forward to it all year.”
— KYLE SAMPLES (D.D.S. ’11)

Technically, the name Midwest Dental Conference was adopted in 1994. But UMKC alumni have connected over oral health education and comraderie since at least 1923, when the UMKC Dental Alumni Association first met. The Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association eventually joined the conference in the years that followed.

This year’s conference celebrated those 100 years of meetings by welcoming 2,500 attendees and exhibitors to the heart of Kansas City. Presented by the UMKC Dental and Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Associations, the conference featured nearly 40 lectures and hands-on sessions across two Crown Center hotels.

The enthusiasm of alumni could be heard across the Sheraton lobby as old classmates greeted each other. By the class composite displays, friends hugged and laughed over photos from their college days. Alumni agree, the way the event brings people together is one of the reasons it’s so special and has had such a long tenure.

Current students also took part in the conference, as they do each year. In the exhibit hall, third-year dental students and senior dental hygiene students presented their research during table clinics. Mosier remembers that time in his life with affection. He earned first place when he was in school, and later went on to judge the competition.

On Friday, the exhibit hall opened to attendees, and more than 90 companies displayed cutting-edge oral health technology and services. It’s a highlight for Stuart Samples.

“I always end up getting some new equipment,” he said. “It’s great because we’ve gotten to know a lot of the reps, and it’s fun to see them as well.”

The opportunities to connect are plentiful, with the UMKC Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association Celebration Luncheon, Recent Grad Party, Orthodontic Meeting and more. This year, the Samples were particularly excited for the Pierre Fauchard Academy Regional Meeting. Kyle was inducted into the academy, while Stuart and their practice partner, David Mattingly, watched on.

While the reunions may have drawn participants to MDC, continuing education was also a big part of the weekend for the Samples. Sessions ranged from the effects of vaping to homeopathic trends, and included hands-on workshops for endodontics and composite dentistry.

James Samples has long been a champion of the educational aspect of the conference. Both Kyle and Stuart call their dad the “furious note taker” of the family. They’ve even adopted their own family strategy for tackling the day.

Stuart explained. “Dad always says, ‘You’ll always get that one pearl of wisdom you can take back home with you.’”

After all the educational sessions and alumni celebrations were said and done, attendees traveled back home Sunday afternoon with yet another weekend’s worth of memories and a new breadth of knowledge to put into practice.

“Anytime a meeting can go on for 100 years, somebody’s doing something right,” Mosier said. “I’m proud of my school. I’m proud of my family.”

Traditional Travels Well

Hawaiian alumni have held a strong connection to the UMKC School of Dentistry for decades. After World War II, the school welcomed Hawaiian students of Japanese descent with open arms at a time when many in the country were fearful of U.S. citizens with Japanese ancestry. The result is a decades-long friendship between UMKC and Hawaii, where so many are of Japanese heritage. Since the 1940s, the School of Dentistry has accepted several Hawaiian students a year, often on scholarship.

Hawaiian alumni share their culture with the school each year by bringing a bit of their home to Kansas City for the Midwest Dental Conference. During the Rinehart Recognition Luncheon, Hawaiianalumni bring macadamia nut treats and leis made of anthurium flowers, one of Hawaii’s main exports. According to Russell Tabata (D.D.S. ’67), the tradition was started in the 1970s by George Tanaka (D.D.S. ’49)  to “thank the school for all they do for Hawaiian students.” The flowers and nuts are offered at the luncheon as gifts for attendees.

Tanaka recruited Tabata to help him with the transportation of the nuts and flowers, and Tabata has ensured that the tradition continued through the years. Tabata and a few of his fellow Hawaiian alumni bring the gifts when they fly the nearly 4,000 miles to Kansas City each year for MDC.

“It’s a little something special from Hawaii to Kansas City,” Tabata said.

One Degree, Countless Opportunities

Alumni Use Their Education to Open Doors Beyond the Dental Clinic
By: Bryce Puntenney

When graduates leave the UMKC School of Dentistry, they’re ready for the rigors thatcome with working inside a dental clinic. But they’re also prepared for a multitude of other opportunities where they can put their degrees to work. Alumni Laila Hishaw, William V. Giannobile and Nathan Suter may have taken their knowledge in different directions, but they all share the common goal of making a lasting impact on the field of dentistry.

Mentoring clinicians of color
A mindless scroll of her Facebook feed is what inspired Laila Hishaw (D.D.S. ’00) to start a national dentistry nonprofit, an effort she claims has rejuvenated her as a clinician.

In 2018, after 18 years in dentistry, burn out began to settle in. One night, while she was scrolling through Facebook posts, she saw a statistic on the racial disparities in oral health. As a Black woman, she felt compelled to do something. She started with her own social media post, just asking if anyone she knew had a child who needed mentorship in dentistry. That one post kicked off a broader conversation among her dental friend group. Hishaw found that many other dentists were interested in mentoring, and there were quite a few parents seeking mentors for their kids. So, she created a Facebook group that became a space for parents and students who were interested in dentistry to connect and ask questions with real dentists on topics such as interviewing at a particular school or navigating the application process.

“Mentorship really did reignite my love and passion for dentistry. When you’re talking to mentees, it reminds you of why you chose dentistry in the first place.”
— LAILA HISHAW (D.D.S. ’00)

“Once people started getting connected, they started asking about donating and whether it was a nonprofit,” Hishaw said. “Then I realized, I need to make this organized.” She called it Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships, got the organization incorporated and formed a board of directors. The nonprofit took off from there, and now has 3,370 members and more than 100 mentees. In 2021, the group held its first in-person event for middle and high schoolers, where the students received hands-on experience in dentistry. They invited 30 students to attend the first year and 50 the following year. Although the organization is focused in Arizona, Hishaw’s vision is to one day have pockets of mentorship across the country. “Mentorship really did reignite my love and passion for dentistry,” Hishaw said. “When you’re talking to mentees, it reminds you of why you (chose dentistry) in the first place.”

Hishaw is proud of the programs and mentors who helped her get where she is today. Before she was a student at the School of Dentistry, she took part in the Summer Scholars program at the school, now called the STAHR program, which stands for Students Training in Academia, Health and Research. She used her experience with STAHR to help guide her while she was organizing her non-profit’s Youth Summit.

“In STAHR, we had experience with impressions, learning vocabulary and instrumentation,” Hishaw said. “We’re mirroring that, giving our students the same hands-on learning and giving them the realization that they too could be a dentist.”

Many of Hishaw’s former UMKC classmates are now a part of Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships, and some of her own mentors are still at UMKC, including John Cottrell, the school’s director of minority and special programs. While she was a student at UMKC, Hishaw said she was in Cottrell’s office probably every other week. He’s been a sounding board for many of the ideas she has surrounding her nonprofit.

While Hishaw is still a practicing pediatric dentist with multiple locations around Tucson, she acknowledges it’s her passion outside the dental office that’s kept her going.

“This helped me find true joy beyond the four walls of my practice,” Hishaw said. “Our identities as dentists are tied so tightly to being a a practice owner, it’s so important for us, as dentists, to have hobbies and outside interests.”

Ivy League alumnus
As dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, William V. Giannobile (D.D.S. ’91) doesn’t get to practice dentistry much anymore, but keeping up on those skills is still a priority.

“I consider myself a clinician scientist, really trying to bring together translating discovery or basic science into the clinic,” Giannobile said. “And it’s always been important, as a clinician scientist, to continue seeing patients.

Since his time at UMKC, Giannobile has become a leader in periodontology, with research interests in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and precision medicine. The seeds for his prestigious research career were planted during his time at the School of Dentistry, particularly by three of the school’s former faculty: Charles Cobb (D.D.S. ’64), J. David Eick and George Revere. During Giannobile’s second year in dental school, they urged him to take a research opportunity with the National Institutes of Health. They explained the research would not only help him with his current degree, but could also make him a pioneer in the field of dentistry.

“I was basically the first dental student (at UMKC) to engage in a combined D.D.S. program with a Master of Science in Oral Biology,” said Giannobile. “So, my time at UMKC was certainly a transformative experience that prepared me very well for my time at Harvard University.”

After graduation from UMKC, Giannobile earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology and a certificate in periodontology, both from Harvard, where he was also a faculty member for two years. He left Harvard for the University of Michigan, where he worked from 1998 to 2020. All the while, he continued to advance his research interests. Now that he’s back at Harvard, Giannobile is excited for his future research into patient stratification for losing teeth and using artificial intelligence to identify patients at risk of developing pain after certain dental procedures.

Giannobile is grateful for every opportunity that helped create his path forward.

“When I look back, I feel blessed at how many doors have opened in my career and enabled me to do so many different things,” said Giannobile, who is from St. James, Missouri. “Growing up on the farmlands of Missouri, I never thought I would be able to travel internationally to collaborate on my work.”

Business-minded dental innovator
Nathan Suter (D.D.S. ’13) wears many hats in his dental career. As owner and clinician at Green Leaf Dental Care in House Springs, Missouri, he treats patients one day a week. The rest of the week is filled with his responsibilities as a small business owner, software developer, corporate executive, public health administrator and board member.

“What made me a little different than a traditional dental student was that I had a business degree coming into dental school, and that allowed me to see things differently,” Suter said. “I just like to solve problems. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

Suter began his dental career in a community health center, which ignited a passion for population health and strategizing to solve big issues that affect a lot of people. Outside of Green Leaf, he’s also the chief innovation officer for Enable Dental, where he oversees technology and quality assurance for the company, which provides portable dentistry for geriatric and special needs patients across the country.

Suter believes his rotations as a UMKC dental student opened his eyes to the full range of possibilities that come with a D.D.S. degree.

“I didn’t really know there was more to dentistry than private practice until I went on my rotations, and I started really liking public health,” Suter said. “That let me zoom out from looking at dentistry as the tooth and the person attached to it, (and start looking) at an entire population.”

For Suter’s third-year research project in dental school, he worked with Delta Dental, evaluating onsite dental care for companies in terms of portable dentistry and teledentistry. Through that work, he began to see patterns of disparity in dental check- ups related to levels of education.

Michael McCunniff (D.D.S. ’83), who was UMKC School of Dentistry’s department chair in Dental Public Health and Behavioral Sciences at the time, helped Suter realize the broader public health ramifications of his research.

By making dentistry more accessible through portability and teledentistry, dentists can break down some of the societal barriers to oral health care. That research became the catalyst for Suter’s consulting work, as many dentists began reaching out to him about the different ways to utilize portable equipment and teledentistry. He also worked with Delta Dental (he is a current board member) to develop software for clinic care coordination specific to dentistry. Enable Dental would go on to acquire that software and bring him on in his current executive role.

Suter’s advice for his fellow alumni is to expand their network beyond the dental clinic.

“Have the courage to put yourself in a room where you’re the only dentist,” Suter said. “Offer yourself up, create a space to listen and see what opportunities come.”

Alumni News

Alumni achievement award recipients

The UMKC Alumni Awards annually recognize outstanding alumni for their lifelong commitment and contributions to the university, the School of Dentistry, the Dental and Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Associations and the dental profession. This year’s awardees were recognized at a campuswide UMKC Alumni Awards celebration on March 10.

Cesar Sabates (D.D.S. ’87, A.E.G.D. ’88)
Cesar Sabates has strong roots at UMKC and a deep passion for advancing the dental profession. Sabates completed his D.D.S. in 1987 and his Graduate Advanced Education in general dentistry residency the following year. From 1989 to 2022, Sabates provided general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and implantology services in the Miami, Florida, community. Sabates devoted his time to both his patients and organized dentistry. He achieved his highest national organized dentistry leadership position when he was installed as president of the American Dental Association in 2021. Previously, Sabates served numerous other leadership roles.

Heather Samuel (B.S.D.H. ’90, M.S. ’91)
Heather Samuel taught dental hygiene courses at Johnson County Community College for 30 years before retiring in May 2022. Samuel’s most impactful accomplishment was the establishment of the Mobile Dental Clinic, Oral Health on Wheels. With the support of college leadership, she helped raise more than $380,000 to purchase the 40-foot, two-operatory mobile clinic. The clinic provides valuable patient care to underserved clients with intellectual and physical deficits, as well as populations with limited access to oral care in the surrounding community. Samuel has also served on the boards of multiple local civic organizations and has been involved with oral health initiatives for the state of Kansas.

Q&A: Hal Hale

Alumnus Leads Dental Honor Organization

Hal Hale (D.D.S. ’88) spent the last year as president of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Founded in 1936, the Pierre Fauchard Academy is an international dental honor organization that recognizes and develops leadership in the dental profession.

Q: How has your time at UMKC helped with leading the Pierre Fauchard Academy?
A: I believe every leadership position prepares you for the next. It was my pleasure to serve on the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees and as president of the Dental Alumni Association. The school has a proud tradition of leadership in dentistry. I immediately think of Dr. Connie White, who was president of the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Cesar Sabates, who is currently the immediate past president of the American Dental Association and Dr. Brett Ferguson, who served as president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. I attended school while all three of these great dentists and leaders were at UMKC and they have influenced me greatly.

Q: What motivated you to take on an active role with the academy?
A: I was attracted by the international and diverse nature of the academy. We have almost 10,000 fellows from nearly 80 countries. The academy focuses on encouraging dental leadership, a subject close to my heart. Our profession faces many challenges, and these challenges become greater every day. If dentists do not step up and lead our profession, other forces will do so.

Q: What do you hope your legacy as president will be?
A: I hope to be remembered as a strong, decisive, inclusive leader. More importantly, I want to be remembered as a leader who accomplished things for the academy, not simply someone who held the office. Most significantly, we have initiated a membership strategy that has resulted in unprecedented growth. I can truly say the state of the academy is excellent! Let that be my legacy.

Class Notes

Classes of the 1960s

Vaugh Dale Rigby (D.D.S. ’63) retired in 2016 and loved all of his 53 years serving people. He still enjoys riding his snowmobile at 90 years old in the beautiful Utah mountains through the wonderful snow.

Keith R. Acheson (D.D.S. ’68) is retired. He is currently living the dream on a ranch with elk and goats. He has good health, a great wife and grandkids and one great grandchild.

John W. Killip (D.D.S. ’68) just celebrated his 80th birthday. He was diagnosed with Myeloma 15 years ago. He has had a second bone marrow transplant and has been in remission for five years.

John Ladas (D.D.S. ’68) volunteers at Burr Oak Missouri Department of Conservation center.

Morris Talbert (D.D.S. ’68) has been married 62 years and has three children. His son is a physician, one daughter is an emergency R.N. and his other daughter is a teacher. He has eight grandsons. He retired in 2008 and is enjoying the good life.

Classes of the 1970s

John Andreas (D.D.S. ’73) is staying healthy and feels fortunate. He and his wife, Suzanne, have four children and grandkids that live in Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana and Kansas. He rotates time between St. Louis and Boulder, Colorado. He and Suzanne celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and he retired in November 2019.

Norman Buebendorf (D.D.S. ’73) continues to play banjo and tennis and expects to retire Summer 2023.

Ronald D. Canta (D.D.S. ’73) retired after 47 years. He and his wife have two children, Gabe and Liza, and one grandchild. His pleasures are golf, boating, reading, Democratic politics, fishing and walking. He serves as the dental director for Premera Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska.

Robert (Rob) E. Moses (D.D.S. ’73) retired in 2008 and is loving watching his 11 grandkids grow up.

Jerry Ogilvie (D.D.S. ’73) has four grown children – all gainfully employed! He and his wife, Annie, have eight grandchildren. He enjoys retirement and spends some time as an alderman for the city of Lotawana, Missouri.

Nevin Waters (D.D.S. ’73) was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2004 and had a stem cell transplant in 2005.

William (Doug) Burch (D.D.S. ’78) married Danel Cotner (B.S.D.H. ’79) and they have three daughters (Danica, Devon and Darci) and five grandchildren. He still practices two days per week and enjoys hunting and fishing

Ken Guest (D.D.S. ’78) retired in 2013 and he and his wife of 53 years, Suzie, travel a lot. They have been involved in the lives of their six grandchildren (all in Salina, Kansas) and are active in local and church activities. Ken exercises 3–4 times a week and enjoys pickleball. He’s been into cryptocurrency for 5+ years and would enjoy talking with other fans. He looks forward to seeing all his 1978 classmates soon!

Gordan E. Stuart (D.D.S. ’78) retired in Sept. 2018 after becoming a Florida resident in 2017. He is president of the Fulton Fishing Club in Fulton, Missouri. He also has two hotrods, a 1923 Ford T-Bucket and a 1926 Ford T Panel truck, which always wins at the car shows.

Classes of the 1980s

Mike Abels (D.D.S. ’83) still practices part time, and for the last six years, has been a full-time faculty member at A.T. Still University’s School of Dentistry and Oral Health in the St. Louis Clinic, working as the Comprehensive Care Unit Director.

Lawrence (Larry) Ayers, III (D.D.S. ’83) retired from private practice in December 2021. He married his spouse, Kelly, in May 1979 and they have four children, two grandchildren and two grand dogs. His present career is handyman and experimental aircraft builder.

Ritchie D. Beougher (D.D.S. ’83) sold his practice after 34 years and opened a new one in 2023, called Smilemaker of Texas.

Rita M. Burnett-Ferguson (D.D.S. ’83) was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Dental Board in April 2021. She is still golfing and learning guitar and enjoys traveling with her spouse (you know who) for AAMOS activities.

Fred Christman’s (D.D.S. ’83) wife passed away in 2018 and he sold his practice in 2019. He is now building rental houses in Columbia, Missouri. He continues to farm 600 acres in Illinois and spends time restoring antique cars, like his 1953 Mercury. He misses dentistry, his patients, associates and his classmates.

Keigm Crook (D.D.S. ’83) retired a few years ago and is enjoying trying to improve his golf game as well as traveling a little, hunting a little, fishing a little, flying some and — most importantly, playing with his grandkids.

Carl H. Dahlquist (D.D.S. ’83) retired in July 2022, sold his practice to his son and is enjoying time with his 19 grandchildren.

Jane Grove (D.D.S. ’83) made a career change and went back to private practice at Lifetime Dental Care in Hays, Kansas in July 2022. She misses seeing students on rotations from A.T. Still and UMKC School of Dentistry!

Dee Holman (D.D.S. ’83) retired from active practice and moved to Colorado in 2013, taking a position with Pima Medical Institute (a medical, dental, veterinary technical school). She taught dental assisting and enjoyed it immensely. Now fully retired, she has returned to Kansas to be close to family, which she also enjoys immensely, living with an old cat and a new puppy!

Gary Ledford (D.D.S. ’83) is currently enjoying retirement in the north woods!

Mike Lutz’s (D.D.S. ’83) son graduated in the D.D.S. Class of 2022 and currently serves in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of his military service, he will join Mike in their California, Missouri, practice.

Rick D. Smith’s (D.D.S. ’83) oldest son, Zachary T. Smith, was married on Oct. 16, 2021 and his youngest son married April 25, 2022. Rick’s wife, Wendy, retired from teaching in May 2018. He sold his practice to Dr. Jordan Weber and is now an associate.

Daniel Stamos (D.D.S. ’83) welcomed his daughter, Kate Edwards, as partner in his endodontic practice, Creekwood Endodontics, and is proud to announce his son, Patrick, has successfully opened his own solo endodontic practice in Columbia, Missouri, Stamos Endodontics, which has been open for three years. Daniel also welcomed two granddaughters in the past few years. Patrick’s daughter, Brooke Kathryn, is almost 3, and Kate’s daughter, Charlotte McKenzie, is 2.

Kevin Wade (D.D.S. ’83) practices orthodontics in Washington, Missouri. He has three kids, nine grandchildren and has been happily married for 43 years.

Stephen B. Williams (D.D.S. ’83) retired from the military as an OMHF pathologist to include activity at AFIP, then retired recently from Incyte Diagnostics in Spokane Valley, Washington, and is now living with his wife in southeastern Utah.

Nancy Addy (D.D.S. ’88) was inducted into FACD.

Roger D. Buzbee’s (D.D.S. ’88) son, Broch Ryle, joined his practice in 2021 and he is very excited to have him there.

Jay W. H. Cook (D.D.S. ’88) celebrated 37 years of marriage and has a new granddaughter from his daughter in Charleston, South Carolina. His middle son will work after graduation from Pitt and his youngest son is in high school. He is still practicing in Overland Park, Kansas.

Michelle Deutch (D.D.S. ’88) is still practicing. Her son has a 3-year-old son named Simon Allen. Her daughter has a 2-month-old daughter named Gemma Sterling.

Mark Jensen (D.D.S. ’88) is still working and enjoying life!

Tom Kemlage’s (D.D.S. ’88) son, Andrew, graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 2014 and they have been in practice together since.

Classes of the 1990s

Mark Fernandez (D.D.S. ’93) is in a private group pediatric practice in St. Louis and enjoys participating in international medical dental mission trips to Nepal and Honduras.

Daniel Van Buskirk (D.D.S. ‘98) has practices in two locations. His 22-year- old twin sons are in their first year of dental school at Creighton University in Omaha. His 25-year-old son is living his best life as an EMT, soon to be paramedic, and is enjoying being a homeowner. Daniel and his wife, Paula, enjoy flying in their airplanes and being a part of the aviation community.

Classes of the 2000s

Amy Nery Schulte (D.D.S. ’03) is an orthodontist in Springfield and Lebanon, Missouri.

Sara Vizcarra (D.D.S. ’03) is triple board certified in dental sleep medicine, cranio facial pain and oral AADSM + ACP.

Jefferey Zeller (D.D.S. ’03) is a captain serving in the United States Navy.

Amy Vespa (D.D.S. ’08) is living the Florida dream, raising her 4-year-old son, Nickolas, with a growing practice.

Classes of the 2010s

Anthony Altomare (D.D.S. ’13) and his wife, Kelsey, have two children, Nora (3) and Margot (1). Anthony practices with his father in Leawood, Kansas, and teaches part time at the UMKC School of Dentistry.

Clark Channey (D.D.S. ’13) has been in private practice for nine years in Prairie Village, Kansas, has been married for five years and has a three-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.

Amy Le Cave (D.D.S. ’13), a board- certified pediatric dentist (2016), has three kids: Ava, born Dec. 10, 2014; Austin, born Sept. 12, 2017; and Duke, born Dec. 8, 2020.

Hallie Lillmars (D.D.S. ’13) and wife welcomed their fourth son, Conrad Jay Wagner on Oct. 31, 2022, who joins older brothers Hank (8), Benji (5) and Davis (2).

Erin Wayne (D.D.S. ’13) got married in 2020 and had a baby boy in May 2021.

Brett Parrott (D.D.S. ’18) was married on Nov. 6, 2020, and lives in Columbia, Missouri, in a beautiful home and spends a lot of time at his lake house. He has a German Shepard, Stella, owns an award- winning Aspen Dental office and flips homes for Air BnB.

New faculty

The Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine welcomed Sumita Sam, D.D.S., as a clinical assistant professor. Sam is a board-certified oral-maxillofacial pathologist and a recent graduate from the University of Florida.

New student services coordinator

The UMKC school of dentistry Office of Student Programs welcomed Deja Lamb to the team as its newest Student Services Coordinator. Her responsibilities include advising dental hygiene applicants on admissions and program requirements. She also helps coordinate the STAHR and Kuwait dental programs. Lamb graduated from Northwest Missouri State University. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and is glad to be home.

New position in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The UMKC School of Dentistry welcomed Makini King, Ph.D., as its assistant dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in March of 2023. Prior to joining the school, King served as assistant vice chancellor in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at the university level.

King is a proud alumna of UMKC, where she received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in counseling psychology. She is a licensed psychologist in both Missouri and Kansas, and enjoys using her skills at the School of Dentistry.

“It’s unique to have a psychologist in a dental school because it provides a different perspective,” King said.

Although she’s worked with academic units across campus, she’s looking forward to working within a smaller community at a specific school. She said her work is most meaningful to her when she’s building relationships, and she is looking forward to connecting and engaging with minority alumni. King encourages alumni who are interested to reach out to her office.

“We’re creating a welcoming space where everybody feels like they belong,” King said. “Most people want an environment where they can be their authentic selves in a respectful and safe place where they can do what they came here to do.”

In memoriam

Ann Battrell (M.S. ’07)
Roger L. Casper (D.D.S. ’78)
Jack L. Cherry (D.D.S. ’66)
Richard L. Cooper (D.D.S. ’63)
Standlee Hyatt Dalton (D.D.S. ’60)
Kay H. Frieda (B.S.D.H. ’67)
James K. Hahn (D.D.S. ’69)
Royce A. Hinkle (D.D.S. ’57)
John N. Jordan (D.D.S. ’55)
Thomas W. Kelly, Jr. (PROSTH ’74)
Mary Lagergren (B.S.D.H. ’74)
Ward A. Meyerhoeffer, Jr. (ORTHO ’68)
Thomas A. Parker (D.D.S. ’57)
Richard Powell (D.D.S. ’58)
Robert R. Rhyne (D.D.S. ’59)
John C. Ruetschi (D.D.S. ’85)
Peter K. Spence (D.D.S. ’62)

School News

Clinical care

The UMKC school of dentistry serves the community by holding nearly 60,000 patient visits each year, in addition to conducting thousands of oral health screenings at metro area schools and providing dental services to community health centers throughout Missouri and Kansas.

September 2022–Present:

26,712
Appointments

Compared to 2020–2021, the school has increased appointments by 12,000 and the total number of patients served by 3,852.

9,091
Unique patients

$147,315
in uncompensated care

697
Patients benefitting from uncompensated care

Dental hygiene students volunteer at the Missouri Special Olympics

Senior and junior dental hygiene students and one of their professors volunteered at the Special Olympics at the Special Smiles tent, on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Jefferson City, Missouri. They provided dental screenings and oral hygiene instructions to athletes at the day-long event. Volunteers included Vi Tran, Lauren Hills, Jaden Greenwood, Madison Hoffman, Cameron Nhotharack, Lilly Swyers and Professor Ashley Hobbs.

New dual degree option

Incoming Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) students will now be able to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree while going to dental school.

Melanie Simmer-Beck (B.S.D.H. ’94, M.S. ’04, Ph.D. ’13), chair of the Department of Dental Public Health, and David Thein (D.D.S. ’79), also with the School of Dentistry, have partnered with the Henry W. Bloch School of Management to create a unique opportunity for dental students to help meet the increasing demand for more comprehensive business knowledge as they enter the workforce.

Thein, clinical associate professor and practice management curriculum director at the School of Dentistry, will be teaching the business aspects of dentistry, resource management and organizational leadership as part of the innovative program.

Six students were enrolled in the dual program in the Spring 2023 semester.

Achieving Perfection

The School of Dentistry D.D.S. Class of 2023 achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the Integrated National Board Dental Examination for the first time in more than 10 years. The Dr. Roy

Rinehart Memorial Foundation provided a “Boards Celebration” party in March at Main Event to recognize the class achievement.

The B.S.D.H. Class of 2023 tested just as well. The class received a 100% pass rate on its clinical license examination, administered by CRDTS. This was the first time this exam had been administered since the Missouri Dental Board approved a simulated patient exam for dental hygiene in January 2023.

GEHA Solutions helps school welcome most diverse class

GEHA Solutions has increased its scholarship commitment to UMKC School of Dentistry by $70,000 in 2023, helping the school welcome its most culturally diverse incoming class ever.

The Lee’s Summit-based company is contributing a total of $220,000 in scholarships created to fund opportunities for students representing historically marginalized communities. Last year, GEHA Solutions contributed $150,000. This year’s funding includes eight $20,000 scholarships for incoming dental students, six $5,000 scholarships for incoming dental hygiene students and $30,000 to support 15 student fellowships for the Students Training in Academia, Health and Research (STAHR) program.

According to Richie Bigham, assistant dean for student programs, the School of Dentistry was able to offer the scholarships with its letters of acceptance this year, allowing the funding to be a strong factor in the decision-making process for several incoming students.

“Throughout my time at the school, we’ve had many exceptional underrepresented students accepted and desiring to attend, but we haven’t been as attractive as other programs when it came to scholarships and cost,” Bigham said. “This cycle was different, and it looks like we will have the most culturally diverse dental class in our history.”

Jenna Mills, vice president of GEHA Solutions, is hopeful her organization can be a model for others to support diversity in the dental field. She acknowledges that commitment will need to happen industry- wide to see real change.

“Positive change is possible when we all start somewhere,” said Mills. “Transactional commitments, like only writing checks, create limited impact. There must be mutually beneficial relationships and an understanding of the upstream issues that affect health inequities in America.”

Ultimately, GEHA Solutions officials hope contributions and commitments like theirs will spark an improvement in the overall health of the community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a person’s oral health and their overall health are often connected. When a person feels comfortable and begins to see their dentist regularly, health conditions such as diabetes and oral cancer can be caught and treated earlier, leading to a better quality of life.

“In the UMKC School of Dentistry, we have partners who believe in this kind of measurable success,” Mills said. “We knew our investments would reap ripples of change, but, in one year, to see that our partnership positively influenced the most diverse incoming class in the school’s 140-plus year history? It’s something to celebrate.”

Give Kids a Smile

In February, the School of Dentistry participated in the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile campaign. The event takes place every year during Children’s Dental Health Month, and offers free dental care to children in the Kansas City area. Kids are shown how important oral health care is in a fun, interactive environment. This year, the school’s faculty, students and staff shared smiles, at-home care kits and even some bubbles with kids from around the community.

Q&A

Edgardo Leiva – Graduate Uses Soccer Background to Help Local Kids

Edgardo Leiva (D.D.S. ’23) rose through the competitive ranks of soccer, playing for the Honduran National Team and also playing college soccer in the U.S. While he was a dental student, he formed a soccer training company, Soccer Roots, employing many of his classmates. Leiva explained what inspired him to start the endeavor.

Q: How did your soccer career begin?
A: I started playing competitively when I was 12 or 13, eventually participating in the developmental program for the Honduran national team. But the situation in Honduras became too difficult for my family, so my mom brought us to Miami, where my grandmother was living.

Q: How have your fellow dentistry students helped with Soccer Roots?
A: On weekends, I would coach 15 games, but it was getting out of hand. I was meeting dentistry students who had soccer experience. I thought, what better people to coach these kids than my friends in the dental school? I’ve had as many as 14 coaches on my payroll, with eight being dentistry classmates.

Q: How has soccer shaped you?
A: I’m so grateful to soccer because I would not be where I am now. It provided me a pathway to becoming a dentist by molding my character. It taught me discipline, responsibility and how to work hard. I owe soccer a lot, and I’ll always be involved in the sport.

Q: What can you take from soccer that will help you as a dentist?
A: Dentistry is basically coaching. We coach our patients to keep good oral hygiene and teach them the skills to achieve that.

Q: Do you have any plans to incorporate soccer into your dentistry career?
A: I’m coordinating with the pediatrics department at the UMKC School of Dentistry to offer free soccer camps. One of the rotations is going to be an oral health screening. Ultimately, I would like something that connects my two passions while making an impact on the next generation.

Graduation

Congratulations, 2023 Graduates!

Three cheers for fourth years: Celebrating the Dental Class of 2023

This year’s dental graduates achieved in and out of the classroom. They learned during a global pandemic and responded to calls of service and leadership. They succeeded academically and put lessons into practice on the clinic floor. The annual hooding ceremony on May 12 was an opportunity to honor our graduates and those who supported the journey to their doctoral degree.

Degrees were formally awarded at the UMKC Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, at T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City.

Doctor of Dental Surgery
Regan Elizabeth Aiello
Abdullah Akbar
Ella Marie Algermissen
Ahmed Almuweel
Lane Thomas Anderson
Tanisha Arya
Toshani Arya
Casey P. Aschinger
Joshua Augustine
Emily Katherine
Bahadoorsingh Shaley
Ashton Baker
Jason Bereded
Maria Diehl Bieber
Victoria Lynn Bridwell
David Scott Brooks
Ryann Burnett
Daniel Joel Canaday
Sarah Catherine Carney
Bryce Hunter Childers
Gabrielle Riley Ciccarelli
Meredith Kelly Clark
Blake Conrad Clarke
Christopher Shields Conroy
Mason Michael Cupp
Natalie Jacqueline Danisi
Kosha Desai
James Bohannon Dixon
Adam Doré
Blayne Miller Downs
Luke Neal Ellickson
Morgan Suzanne Engelbrecht
Theodore Anthony Esswein
Madison C. Etling
Jake Dutton Findley
Eden M. Fitzgibbons
Nikol Flynn
Nathaniel Isaiah Gamache
Claudia Garcia Sanchez
Shelby Blade Glenn
Kiley S. Green
Vladimir A. Grishin
Nicholas Jay Harl
Margaret Marie Herold
Adam Warren Howe
Kathryn Paige Jehle
Zane Dalton Keller
Christopher Allen Knollman
Josephine Anna Koch
Elizabeth Anne Kutina
Nicole L. Lauritsen
Edgardo A. Leiva
Cameron Allen Long
Jacky Gihou Lung
Alyssa Kaitlin Ly
Taylor Kaitlin Ly
Hannah Maleki
Edward Locke McAllister
Leina Noriko Mizusawa
Heather Moore
Benjamin Morrett
Kiralyn Nicole Mosier
Alan Muhammad
Jeffrey Munroe
Afaq Muradzade
Haris Nawaz
Kristy Thi Quynh Nguyen
Tyler Kai Okunami
Brandon T. Ortega
Naiya Sanjay Patel
Kayla Marie Pennington
Chris Pham
Alec Joseph Piwowarczyk
Ryan Scott Poertner
Anthony Eden Raper
Colin James Robertson
Kenneth Reid Rogers
Nathan E. Romme
Alyssa Jane Remigio Rosaro
Evan Michael Rowland
Leila Victoria Seabaugh
Alexandra Nicole Seltenreich
Anmol Sethi
Claire Elizabeth Sherar
Samuel Clarkman Smith
Logan William Smith
Esther Margaret Stetson
Carly Anne Stewart
Madisen Jo Swift-Bereded
Alexandria Madison Thomas
Michelle Vu Tran
Tiffani Anne Uberroth
Sara Vandervoort
Lucas Andre Walker
Mackenzie Lyn Williams
Courtney Nicole Wilson
Brooklyn Elizabeth Woodworth
Marta Zakovich
Benjamin Clay Zars

FACULTY D.D.S. CANDIDATE
Tao (Lisa) Chih-Yun

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Macila Perl Arnold
Kennedy Bauer
Macie L. Bolger
Riley Nicole Bontrager
Rachel Christine Carnes
Kara M. Collier
Sidney Claire Dennis
Chloe G. Dent
Jaden Brooke Greenwood
Tawnya Marie Guthrie
Ayah Mahmoud Habashi
Lauren Hills
Madison Carly Hoffman
Hayley Nichole Howe
Myrissa Kione Humphreys
Emily Morgan James
Shairry D. Lene
Morgan B. Masters
Cameron Sou Nhotharack
Jessica Perez-Pallares
Madilyn Grace Pritzel
Kathleen E. Rhodes
Bailey L. Sibley
Mallory Jo Smith
Vi T. Tran
Abbie Eileen Wood

B.S.D.H. – DEGREE COMPLETION
Kinsley Jae Gallion
Noor S. Jasim
Theresa Ann Wright

Graduate degrees

ORAL AND CRANIOFACIAL SCIENCES M.S. DEGREE
Bryndon Belnap, D.D.S.1
Aliah Fueller, D.M.D.1
Brianna Thompson, D.D.S.1
Sara Linstadt, D.D.S.2

DENTAL HYGIENE EDUCATION M.S. DEGREE
Melissa Guerra, M.S.1
Deborah Merrigan, M.S.1
Kimberly Ensminger, M.S.2

Advanced Education Dental Certificates

ENDODONTICS RESIDENCY
David Body, D.M.D.3
Devang Patel, D.D.S.3

ORTHODONTICS AND DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS RESIDENCY
Bryndon Belnap, D.D.S.1
Aliah Fueller, D.M.D.1

PERIODONTICS RESIDENCYMatthew Bryant, D.D.S.2
Linstadt, D.D.S.2

• Graduates-Fall 2022
• Graduates-Spring 2023
• Graduates-Summer 2023

A Success to Smile About: Honoring the Dental Hygiene Class of 2023

Academic achievements, generous service and clinical excellence are just a few of the noteworthy aspects of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2023 that were celebrated on Friday, May 12, by faculty, alumni, family and friends.

Well-deserved awards were presented, accomplishments recognized and there were plenty of opportunities to kindle new connections at a luncheon hosted by the UMKC Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Dean’s Academic Distinction Award
Vi T. Tran

Faculty Award
Kaitlyn Jondahl

Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award
Macila Perl Arnold

American Association of Public Health Dentistry Senior Dental Hygiene Student Award
Vi T. Tran

American College of Dentists Senior Dental Hygiene Ethics Award
Mallory Jo Smith

Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals STAR Award
Hayley Nichole Howe

Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award
Abbie Eileen Wood

Missouri Dental Hygienists’ Association Outstanding Graduate Award
Tawnya Marie Guthrie

UMKC Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association and Sherry Burns Outstanding Clinician Award
Shairry D. Lene

Procter and Gamble Crest Oral-B Bevention Dentistry Hygiene Award
Tessa Travelute

Continuing the Family Legacy

Family members of the graduating class who are dental school alumni participated in honoring the class as legacy hooders at the hooding ceremony. This special moment creates long-lasting memories and continues a unique tradition.

Name Family Hooder (Relationship)
Abdullah Akbar Jaber Akbar (D.D.S. ’99) (Uncle)
Ella Algermissen Anthony Algermissen (D.D.S.) (Father)
Lane Anderson Thomas Anderson (D.D.S. ’86) (Father)
Bryce Childers Logan Childers (D.D.S. ’66) (Grandfather)
Blake Clarke Susan Adams (D.M.D. ’91) (Mother) Charles Clarke (D.D.S. ’91) (Father)
Natalie Danisi Lori Engelmann (D.D.S. ’87) (Aunt)
Kosha Desai Samvid Desai (D.D.S. ’22) (Brother)
Nikol Flynn Eric Fayziev (D.(D.S. ’11) (Brother)
Nicholas Harl Jerry Harl (D.D.S.) (Grandfather)
Christopher Knollman Mark Knollman (D.D.S. ’87) (Father)
Elizabeth Kutina Larry Kutina (D.D.S. ’88) (Father) Andrew Kutina (D.D.S. ’18) (Brother)
Cameron Long Jan Radke Pishny (D.D.S. ’83) (Aunt)
Locke McAllister Ed McAllister (D.D.S. ’87) (Father)
Kiralyn Mosier Mark Mosier (D.D.S. ’85) (Uncle)
Alan Muhammad Akam Muhammad (D.D.S. ’20) (Brother)
Kayla Pennington Montie Wheeler (D.D.S.) (Uncle)
Leila Seabaugh Linda Seabaugh (D.D.S. ’88) (Mother)
Alexandra Seltenreich Craig Lashley (D.D.S. ’98) Father)
Alexandria Thomas Daniel Thomas (D.D.S. ’90) (Father) Donna Thomas (D.D.S. ’92) (Mother)

Choosing to Serve: Three Graduates Commissioned

Three dental graduates were commissioned as they prepare to enter active duty in the U.S. Navy and Kansas National Guard. Once sworn in, they received the rank of lieutenant or captain, depending on the branch of service.

Daniel Canaday, Captain, Kansas Army National Guard
Stationed at: Kansas Army National Guard-Medical Detachment, Lenexa, Kansas

Adam Howe, Captain, Kansas Army National Guard
Stationed at: Kansas Army National Guard-Medical Detachment, Lenexa, Kansas

Benjamin Zars, Lieutenant, United States Navy
Stationed at: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California

Kuwait Program Participants

The UMKC-Kuwait Dental Student Program began in 1989 as an agreement between the curators of the University of Missouri, the State of Kuwait and its Ministry of Higher Education. Currently, the program admits up to five students per year, and the State of Kuwait provides full financial support. This year’s graduates of the program are Abdullah Akbar and Ahmed Almuweel.

STAHR Participant

Claudia Garcia Sanchez, a 2023 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry, participated in the school’s Students Training in Academia, Health, and Research program, or STAHR.

Where Graduates are Going