Summer 2024

 

Message from the Dean

Summer is that whirlwind time of the year! Just as celebrations wrap up for our graduating class, we’re getting ready to welcome our newest cohorts of students. This season always demonstrates to me just how fast time is flying! Needless to say, it was an exciting Spring Semester at the dental school.

It’s always an honor to watch our newest graduates — equipped with years of education, clinical experience, perseverance and hope for the future — receive their degrees and prepare to take the next step in their journey. A special highlight for me is the Hooding Ceremony, where we are able to watch students receive the symbolic hood, many from family and alumni like you (pages 20-24).

We saw many of you at the Midwest Dental Conference this April (pages 2-3), and I sincerely enjoyed connecting with colleagues, community members and friends. The conference brought in more than 2,300 people to Kansas City for a weekend of continuing education, celebrations and reunions — including a Gratitude Luncheon where we were able to thank our school’s generous supporters. The annual Pouring from the Heart gala was also a success, raising more than $75,000 to provide critical care to our patients through student clinic vouchers (pages 4-5).

We were also able to connect about our new Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building project, spreading the word even further through our Midwest Dental Conference exhibit booth. There’s much to look forward to with the project as we move to the construction phase. We’ll be commemorating this step at a special event on Sept. 11, and we encourage you to join us. Learn more on pages 10-14.

Thank you for your continued support of our school, students and mission. I would also like to thank the faculty and staff for all they do to make things work at the school. Without their commitment to the school and its students and patients, we could not be as successful as we are. I feel very lucky and proud to be a part of this institution and look forward to sharing an even more thrilling Fall Semester and beyond with you.

With gratitude,

Steven E. Haas, D.M.D., J.D., MBA

Dean, UMKC School of Dentistry

Midwest Dental Conference

A Weekend for Reconnection and Education

The 2024 Midwest Dental Conference, held April 11-14, 2024, welcomed thousands of alumni and friends to Kansas City, Missouri. This annual homecoming was full of continuing education opportunities (22 speakers and 47 courses), professional partners and resources (98 exhibitors) and countless opportunities to celebrate and reconnect with classmates, faculty and colleagues.

Filled to the Brim With Generosity

As the specially selected wines were poured into glasses, guests poured out their generosity at this year’s party with a purpose. The annual Pouring from the Heart gala hosted by the School of Dentistry’s Rinehart Foundation kicked off the Midwest Dental Conference on Thursday evening, April 11. Funds raised from the event aid student-patient clinical experiences at the dental school. Each procedure helps a patient receive necessary treatment, while each student gains crucial hands-on experience with the community as they prepare to receive their degrees and join a practice. Gifts go to senior dental and dental hygiene students.

UMKC alumnus Steven St. John (B.A. ’96) – radio personality for local radio station 610 Sports – was the evening’s emcee and led attendees in a fun-filled night with a silent auction, a live auction led by the Nigro Brothers, a fne jewelry drawing and an energetic game of Heads or Tails to finish off the evening.

As part of the event, UMKC School of Dentistry student Sophie Rosen introduced guests to a very special patient whose life was changed by Pouring from the Heart funds. Rosen’s patient, who has a genetic disorder that caused him to be born without teeth, was able to receive dentures through Pouring from the Heart treatment vouchers. As a result, he could break out his smile at school and finally feel like a carefree 7-year-old.

The school would like to thank the steering committee, attendees and especially the donors. Because of them, the School of Dentistry raised more than $75,000 for a special and important cause.

Gratitude Luncheon Honors Alumni and Donors

The Gratitude Luncheon, held Saturday, April 13, provided an opportunity to celebrate and honor the amazing alumni and donors of the UMKC School of Dentistry. Wendy Reynolds (D.D.S. ’95), president of the Dental Alumni Association, recognized four classes celebrating special milestone reunions: Class of 1964 (60 years), Class of 1974 (50 years), Class of 1984 (40 years) and Class of 1999 (25 years). In addition to the reunion classes, Fallon Stiens (D.D.S. ’13) was awarded the Young Alumna of the Year Award for her accomplishments in the field of dentistry.

The Rinehart Foundation also recognized some special donors who have helped its mission substantially throughout their careers and lives. The foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that raises money for the UMKC School of Dentistry for scholarships, instructional programs, equipment, faculty and student research and outreach programs. Chair Nick Rogers (D.D.S. ’78) honored those who have made substantial gifts to the Rinehart Foundation: lifetime giving of $10,000+, $25,000+, $50,000+ and $100,000+.

Those at the School of Dentistry recognize the reason it remains a world-class educational institution is because of its talented and generous alumni and donors.

Benefactor Pins
$100,000+
Nick Rogers (D.D.S. ’78)

$50,000–$99,999
Jerome K. Reid (D.D.S. ’62)

$25,000–$49,999
Melodee Armfeld (D.D.S. ’87) Paul E. Hund (D.D.S. ’75) Michael A. LeBlanc (D.D.S. ’03, PEDO ’05) Neil B. Furuya (D.D.S. ’87) Michael Strand (D.D.S. ’03) Ed Robison (D.D.S. ’69)

Philanthropy Medallions ($10,000+)
Kathryn N. Stanley (D.D.S. ’07) Suzanne Newell Quigg (D.D.S. ’95, A.E.G.D. ’96) Nancy L. Newhouse (D.D.S. ’80)

Conference Connections

Midwest Dental Conference Highlights Strong Class Bonds at Annual Alumni Reunions

By Bryce Puntenney with contributions from Rachel DeYoung

Many alumni of the UMKC School of Dentistry claim their graduating class is the closest of them all. Members of the Dental Class of 1969 credit their bond to being the last to be in clinic or have class in the “old building,” while the Class of 1974 touts the tight connection that grew from being the first to attend all four years in the current building. Other graduates say the rigors of the program required them to lean on each other like family, which the school encourages.

“(Dental school) is difficult, and there are highs and lows, so we stress a family approach amongst the students,” said Richard Bigham, assistant dean for student programs. “Pull each other up during lows and celebrate each other’s highs.”

For countless alumni classes, that early connection lasts a lifetime. For more than 100 years, alumni have gathered at the annual alumni meeting known as the Midwest Dental Conference (MDC). Friendships are renewed, bonds are strengthened and classmates continue the unique tradition the school has nurtured for decades. At this year’s conference, eight classes celebrated milestone reunions, from five to 60 years. No matter the year, each class is connected through a journey that begins when they interview for school and continues throughout their career and into retirement.

Some graduates don’t even realize the connection is being fostered until that first big class reunion.

Like Nothing Changed

Ask just about any member of the Class of 2014, and they’ll say it seems impossible they were due for a milestone reunion. From the loud roar of laughter and music heard from the hospitality suite on the 23rd floor of the Sheraton Hotel during MDC, one wandering the halls might assume a group of college kids were in the midst of a wild party on a Friday evening. Inside the suite, though, was a group of professionals almost a decade removed from finals and boards, reminiscing and reconnecting, starting nearly every conversation with an emphatic, “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years!”

For Mack Taylor (D.D.S. ’14), the reunion felt just like old times. “It’s funny, because even though it’s been 10 years since you saw them, it’s like you were never away from each other,” said Taylor. “You just roll back into things like nothing changed.”

During dinner later at Teocali Mexican Restaurant, faces lit up as each classmate walked into the room. Introductions of significant others were made.

Those intros were especially sweet Audrey Greaves (D.D.S. ’14) and Jake Wolf (D.D.S. ’14). Wolf introduced Greaves to his fiancée, and then Greaves told the story of Wolf playing wingman to Greaves and her future husband when they were in school. The two hadn’t seen each other since Greaves’ wedding, and the reunion provided an opportunity for them to catch up.

Caresa Doakes (D.D.S. ’14) was thrilled to get her close-knit crew from school back together again. Her best friends in school were Leanne Desch (D.D.S. ’14) and Misty Williams (D.D.S. ’14). After UMKC, the three spread out across Kansas and Missouri and hadn’t gathered as a group in years.

Doakes was also excited to see classmates she’s kept in touch with through social media. “I hadn’t seen Michelle Nwora (D.D.S. ’14) since I graduated, but we’re friends on Facebook,” Doakes said. “I could not wait to tell her how cute her baby is.”

Taylor spent much of the weekend reliving what forged those close connections with his classmates. He fondly recalled time spent doing lab work late into the night. With a movie playing on the lab or lecture room’s AV system, Taylor and his classmates, often numbering 50 or more, gathered for marathon study sessions, shooting the breeze, commiserating on pain points and helping each other grasp concepts.

“Instead of being stuck at home by yourself, banging your head against the wall, you’re hanging out with your friends,” Taylor said. “You have shoulders to lean on and being together made things less stressful.”

Fifty Years After Flower Power

As an organizer for his 50th reunion, Paul Jones (D.D.S. ’74) knew his classmates were excited for their celebration.

Jones said the class of 1974 came together at an interesting time for both the school and society. His class was the first in the new building in 1970, and he said they thought they were cutting-edge. They also began at a time in society when “flower power” was in full swing.

“We were pushing to let our hair grow long,” Jones said, recalling the much stricter dress and grooming codes at the dental school back then. “We thought we were real rebels.”

At MDC this year, the festivities for the Class of 1974 began at the Gratitude Luncheon. More than 40 members of the class gathered at the front of the room, where many shared what they had been up to since graduating. It was a highlight for Jones because he learned much about his fellow classmates, even some of his best friends in school.

“One thing that amazed me was how many classmates had served in the military,” Jones said. “I sat next to Alan Kawakami (D.D.S ’74) for three or four years in school, and I didn’t know he served in Vietnam before he went to dental school. After graduating, Alan even became a full bird colonel.”

According to Jones, his class of 150 was divided in half alphabetically for labs. He said many became close with those who sat near them, and he was particularly excited that his buddies who sat on either side of him — Kawakami and Archie Jones —attended this year’s reunion.

“It was great to see people I hadn’t seen in 50 years, especially those that I was pretty close to back then,” Paul Jones said. “In a way, it took you back to the time you spent together, helped me remember some things that we had done together.”

The group also gathered in a hospitality suite that evening before going to dinner together, where Jones gave a short toast thanking everyone for being there.

A few in the group reminisced about taking a backcountry canoe trip in southern Ontario the summer between their second and third years. Once the rest of the class heard about that trip, the next summer, the party quadrupled, and they camped, fished, hiked and bonded in remote wilderness.

A Cohort of Canoes

At least one other class has kept a canoe trip tradition alive. According to Ken Cox (D.D.S. ’69), about 25 members of the Class of 1969 have been gathering for 57 years to go on annual canoe trips.

“We never miss a year,” Cox said. “We’ve even spread ashes on the creek for two classmates who passed away.”

At this year’s MDC, 23 class members attended their 55th reunion.

“So many favorite memories from reunions,” Cox recalled. “I can’t even begin to tell you.”

Cox practiced dentistry in the Ruskin/Hickman Mills area of Kansas City for 50 years. Throughout that time, his School of Dentistry connections have helped him in numerous ways. “I was very sick one year, and a couple of younger dentists from UMKC came in and took over my practice for me,” Cox said. “Dentistry couldn’t have been better for me.”

Connection Classes

Bigham, the assistant dean for student programs, has been at the school for more than 15 years and said carrying on the tradition of connection at the UMKC School of Dentistry has been a priority in his job.

That sense of family is reinforced through the creation of student groups, where classmates build camaraderie through happy hours, dances, potlucks and even an annual luau. Student organizations offer help labs for members, where upper-class students share tips and tricks.

The bond is further nurtured in students’ “clinical family,” where they get support academically as well as personally.

According to Michael LeBlanc (D.D.S. ’03, PEDO ‘05), president of the UMKC Dental Alumni Association, that “clinical family” connects more than just dental students.

“Without question, it’s like a family,” he said. “I was married while I was in dental school. Although my wife wasn’t a student, everyone in my class knew her just like she was another classmate.”

It’s a family that looks out for one another in a time of need, something LeBlanc experienced personally.

A few years ago, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. Now in remission, LeBlanc looks back at that time and is once again moved by how many of his classmates reached out to find out if he needed anything or if he needed someone to come in and see his patients while he was out.

“Things like that give me a lot of peace and stability in my profession,” LeBlanc said. “That we, as dentists, have this unique connection that other professions don’t have. Once you have that connection, it doesn’t go away.

New Building, Renewed Commitment to Students and Community

Get a sneak peek of the School of Dentistry in the future Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
By Kaitlin West

Construction has started on the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building, and as this next phase of the project begins, the vision of the future of the School of Dentistry is being realized daily in practice, research and of Dentistry is being realized daily in practice, research and discussion. That’s because service to the community is built into the School of Dentistry’s foundation, and leaders agree it should also be built into this new addition. Dental and dental hygiene students serve more than 15,000 patients a year, and the future building will see new and improved opportunities to impact the community through care.

The School of Dentistry will occupy the majority of the split-level building with clinics on the second, third and fourth floors. Facilities in the new building prioritize clinical care, while lectures, research areas and pre-clinic lab work will remain in the current building. Clinical operatories and an acute care clinic will be housed in the new building. The acute care clinic will bring endodontics, oral surgery and emergency care together into one self-contained clinic with its own radiology services. The highly unique design lets patients who are in pain remain in one location while providers come to them for treatment, as in a hospital emergency room.

The focus on patient experience will be prioritized in each part of the building, from the outside in. The building is bright and inviting, with natural light and open, airy spaces. The use of technology will better address the needs of today’s clinicians and dental educators and will be thoughtfully incorporated throughout the building.

Here is a tour of some of the notable spaces showcasing the patient and student experience in the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building.

Patient Entrance
Established patients will self check-in at the patient entrance on the second floor. The kiosks will alert a dental or dental hygiene student that their patient has arrived. Staff will also be available to help with check-in. After check-in, clinical patients will be directed to the third- or fourth-floor lobbies. In addition to check-in, the second floor will also house the acute care clinic.

Lobbies
Patients will step out of the elevator or stairwell into a small waiting area, where they’ll find a staff member who can help them make payments and appointments. The check-in process will be streamlined to avoid long wait times, and many patients will arrive to find their student dentists ready to lead them through secured glass doors  to a treatment area.

Clinical Operatories
The clinical areas on the second, third and fourth floors will have 180 total operatories, which will be custom-sized, equipped for their specific purpose and in a bright, welcoming space. Mailboxes for students will be stocked with instruments for each appointment. The three clinical floors will include a centrally-located dispensary, making consumables and specialty instruments readily available. Central Sterilization (CSR) will be on another floor serviced by its own elevator.

Digital Design Lab
The new digital design facility on the fourth floor will house state-of-the-art technology for 3D scanning and CAD/CAM production. The design area will have the latest 3D- and AI-based treatment and case planning software. The new digital lab will be used to 3D print appliances and mill restorations and dentures using the latest technologies and materials. A traditional “wet” lab will be adjacent to the facility. The oral radiology clinic will also be located on the fourth floor.

Café
In addition to a planned food court in another area of the building, there will be a centrally located café space open to all students in the building, which will include an outdoor terrace. The café will provide an open, inviting place for students to spend time eating a meal, studying or simply taking a break between patients. It will feature refrigerators, microwaves, ice makers, coffee makers, vending and more.

Timeline

JULY–AUGUST 2024:  Bidding and negotiations/Early construction
UMKC, in partnership with   construction groups McCown Gordon and LM2, receives bids for subcontracting services, including dental and medical equipment, electrical, mechanical and landscaping.  Access to the construction site will be limited in August, and construction for underground utilities and foundations will begin.

SEPTEMBER 11:  An Ovation for Health Innovation Event
An event, to be held on the site of the new building, will celebrate the start of visible construction.

SEPTEMBER 2024– APRIL 2026:  Construction

MAY–AUGUST 2026: Commissioning and start up
Equipment and systems will be tested. Special considerations will be taken into account for the medical nature of the building. For example, there will be ample time to test HVAC, electrical and medical equipment before the building opens, and extra attention will be given to the lighting so student dentists can accurately match teeth shades.

An Ovation for Health Innovation: Building the Future of a Healthier KC

Join UMKC and the Kansas City community for a construction celebration ceremony at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The ceremony will take place at the future site of the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building at 25th and Charlotte streets on the Health Sciences Campus. Community leaders, including from the university and University of Missouri System, will give remarks as UMKC commemorates this major milestone. Dental students will also showcase their hard work at interactive demonstration booths.

Alumni News

New Alunni Association and Rinehart Foundation Leadership Announced

Michael LeBlanc (D.D.S. ’03, PEDO ’05)
President, Dental Alumni Association
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Michael LeBlanc graduated from UMKC with his D.D.S. in 2003. LeBlanc went on to complete a two-year pediatric dental residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He was very active in dental school, both academically and clinically. In 2003, he received the Pierre Fauchard Award for Clinical Excellence as well as the prestigious Arthur Iwersen Award for Excellence in Pediatric Dentistry.

LeBlanc is board-certified, a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, former president of the local Fifth District Dental Society and former chair of the ADA New Dentist Committee. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a member of the American Dental Association and a member of the Kansas Dental Association. He is fluent in Spanish and has volunteered with various dental missions in Venezuela and Mexico. Locally, he has participated in volunteer events for the TeamSmile organization and the Kansas Special Olympics.

LeBlanc practices in Prairie Village, Kansas, at LeBlanc and Associates Dentistry for Children. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth. They stay busy with their daughter, Mia, and son, Aidan. LeBlanc is looking forward to his term as president of the UMKC Dental Alumni Association.


AlexMarie Gomez (B.S.D.H. ’22)
President, Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association
AlexMarie Gomez was raised in a small town in Southwest Kansas. She entered the field of dentistry in 2014, spending six years working as a CDA before returning to college to pursue her bachelor’s in dental hygiene. While at UMKC, Gomez served as the Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association (DHAA) student liaison where she first recognized the importance and power of a strong alumni organization. Since her graduation in 2022, Gomez has worked full time in both general dentistry and periodontal specialty private practices.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of the UMKC DHAA, first as a student and now as president of the organization,” Gomez said. “It has been inspiring to see the life changing work this organization has done through awarding scholarships to students, calling public attention to matters of concern in the dental profession and providing a supportive and collaborative forum for UMKC dental hygienists, past, present and future. I will continue to work toward maintaining a vibrant DHAA board and welcome any interested alumni to contact me for information about the various ways to serve.”

Crystal Walker (D.D.S. ’04, PEDO ’06)
Chair, Dr. Roy J. Rinehart Foundation
Crystal Walker grew up in Northwest Arkansas, where she realized she wanted to be a pediatric dentist in the sixth grade. She graduated from UMKC in 2004 with her D.D.S. and immediately began her pediatric residency. Walker made her home in Wichita, Kansas, where she currently lives with her family and owns a pediatric dental practice.

Beyond her clinical practice, Walker is actively involved in several professional organizations.  She is a fellow of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, all prestigious honors.

Walker is also engaged in broader dental and health-care communities as an associate member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and active member of the American Dental Association, Kansas Dental Association, Wichita District Dental Society and Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentists.

Walker served as a Rinehart board member for seven years before starting her term as chair. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge along with a passion for service.

Nonprofit Founder Focused on Diversity Earns Alumni Achievement Award

This honor annually recognizes an outstanding graduate for their lifelong commitment and contributions to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the School of Dentistry, the Dental and Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Associations and the dental profession. This year’s awardee, Laila Hishaw (D.D.S. ’00), was recognized at the campuswide UMKC Alumni Awards celebration on April 4.

Hishaw is a renowned thought leader and champion for change in the dental profession in the areas of mentorship, diversity and belonging. She has served pediatric patients in her private practice in Tucson, Arizona, for more than two decades and is the author of an Amazon bestseller, Cavity Free Kids.

Hishaw is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. Most recently, the Arizona Dental Association named her its 2023 Mentor of the Year. Hishaw has been featured on Discovery Health Channel (for her role in diagnosing a rare disorder in one of her patients) and in multiple podcasts and publications, including ADA News, Dentistry Today, Black Enterprise and the Journal of Dental Education. She currently serves on the ADA Task Force to Eliminate Barriers for Underrepresented Minorities into the Dental Profession and proudly serves on the board of directors for Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. She is an alumna of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership.

In 2018, Hishaw founded Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships, Inc., a nonprofit committed to strengthening the diversity pathway from middle school to dental school through mentoring, education and hands-on programming. The nonprofit provides scholarships to youth and pre-dental students who are Black, Latinx and Native American. The organization is an inaugural awardee of the Delta Dental Oral Health Diversity Fund. It received $75,000 to expand its Diversify Dentistry Youth Summit to dental schools across the nation in an effort to inspire underrepresented youth to consider a career in dentistry and drive health equity.

Those at the School of Dentistry are proud of the dedication and service our alumni possess to further the profession. Visit go.umkc.edu/AlumniAwards to nominate a deserving UMKC School of Dentistry alumna or alumnus for a future UMKC Alumni Achievement Award.

Stay Connected: Upcoming Alumni Events

New Student Welcome Game at “The K”
Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building Construction Celebration Event
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024

Rinehart/Alumni Board Meeting
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024

UMKC School of Dentistry Scholarship Banquet
Monday, Oct. 14, 2024

Alumni Reception – New Orleans, Louisiana
(held in conjunction with the ADA SmileCon)
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024

Alumni Reception – St. Louis, Missouri
(held in conjunction with Mid-Continent Dental Congress)
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

Midwest Dental Conference
April 3-6, 2025

Rinehart/Alumni Board Meeting
Thursday, April 3, 2025

Pouring from the Heart
Thursday, April 3, 2025

Class Notes

Classes of the 1970s
Dennis McCoy (D.D.S. ’77) closed his office after practicing almost 46 years in St. Clair, Missouri. He still volunteers with the Rural Parish Clinic and plans on doing another mission trip to Honduras in 2024. He and his wife Mindi have been married for 51 years and have four children and eight grandchildren.

Classes of the 1980s
Dean Elledge (D.D.S. ’83, A.E.G.D. ’13) was named 2024 Dentist of the Year by the Kansas Dental Association.

In Memoriam

James Robert Bono (D.D.S. ’71)
V. Michael Bono (D.D.S. ’83)
Charles Duncan (D.D.S. ’55)
John D. Hume (D.D.S. ’75)
Gregory K. Johnson (D.D.S. ’76)
C. Ed Kavanaugh (D.D.S. ’64)
H. Edward Martin (D.D.S. ’69, PEDO ’76)
Gwendolyn Ruth Midkiff (B.S.D.H. ’50)
Mary Louise Moore (B.S.D.H. ’58)
Paul H. Nonaka (D.D.S. ’63)
Mary Ann Porch (B.S.D.H. ’57)
Heather Ann Samuel (B.S.D.H. ’90, M.S. ’91)
William Schaiff (D.D.S. ’58)
George F. Schudy (ORTHO ’72)
Eugene F. Vinduska (D.D.S. ’61)
Bob J. Weakley (D.D.S. ’64)

School News

Internationally Trained Students Pursue Their American Dreams

Nine dentists from as far away as Cuba and India are realizing their dream of practicing in the United States at the UMKC School of Dentistry. The new advanced standing dental education program, launched in January, will enable these practitioners and all those who follow in their footsteps to work as dentists in the United States. Without programs like this, dentists from other countries face limited options to practice oral health in the U.S.

“It’s going to be a life-changing opportunity for these students,” said Gustavo Leal, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences and director of the advanced standing program. “These students are fighters who have been working hard to achieve this dream.”

The advanced standing students will finish their dental degree in 2.5 years instead of the typical four. The shorter timeline condenses two years of coursework into six months, and includes labs, lectures, pre-clinic skills training and exposure to different disciplines. According to Leal, enrolled students proved they had the knowledge base and skills to handle the accelerated timeline when they took their skills tests and board exams.

The students joined the existing third-year students in Summer 2024, following the same timeline the next two years. The first cohort of nine students began the program in January and are slated to graduate in May 2027.

According to Dean Steven Haas, in around 2010, dental schools started to open avenues for internationally trained dentists, enabling them to avoid the burden of going back to school for an additional four years. With 93 such programs in the United States, UMKC is one of many universities offering a similar path to practicing. The demand for the program speaks for itself. UMKC received 380 applications for the nine spots available in its first class.

Haas believes these practitioners represent a critical influx of oral health-care providers who can address the shortage in Missouri, where 111 counties are considered underserved, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. Haas said that Dekalb County in Northwest Missouri has only one dentist with a population of 10,480.

“We know that we need dentists in these rural areas,” Haas said. “By opening up our classes to internationally trained dentists, we’re able to get more oral health-care providers out there.”

All third- and fourth-year students complete rotations in a variety of settings, including rural dental clinics.

Haas also said it’s important to diversify the oral health-care workforce and that current students will benefit from the infusion of this geographically diverse group of students.

The program will enable advanced student Flavia Santos Bada to practice in the U.S. and help support her family, especially her father, who needs specialized medical care.

Originally from Cuba, Bada immigrated to the United States in 2018 after graduating from dental school there. She joined her parents and sister, who had moved to the U.S. for better medical care for Bada’s father, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

UMKC’s patient-centered care stood out to Bada and matched her own mission as a dentist.

“The school’s focus on putting patients first captured my attention,” Bada said. “I want to treat people as if they were my family, not just as patients.”

UMKC’s midwestern location was critical in Hadrik Patel’s decision to apply to the program. Originally from India, he was practicing as a dental assistant in Nebraska. He said he was already comfortable in the Midwest, so when UMKC’s program opened up, he immediately applied.

His first few months in the program have confirmed his belief that UMKC is the right place for him.

“What has stood out is how many of the faculty are UMKC alumni,” Patel said. “I think that says a lot about the school. They wanted to come back to UMKC to ensure students achieve the same success they have.”

According to Leal, the program introduces more diversity into the student body, providing them with a much different perspective on a personal level as well as on a professional level. The advanced practice students have also already worked in the field and can provide a wealth of knowledge to current students.

“I am excited to see their progression and how they incorporate themselves with the other dental students,” Leal said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to grow while providing an opportunity for these practitioners to achieve their dreams.”

Endodontic Department Welcomes New Faculty

Laura Maria Diaz Palencia, D.D.S., joined the faculty as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. She received her D.D.S. and endodontics specialist training from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.

María Josefina Sierra Peñas, D.D.S., joined the faculty as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. She received her D.D.S. from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia and her specialist training in endodontics and periodontics from Universidad Autónoma of Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

After years of hard work and perseverance in the classroom and on the clinic floor, UMKC and the School of Dentistry celebrated the Class of 2024 during a commencement ceremony at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, May 12. The D.D.S. hooding ceremony was held prior to commencement at Swinney Recreation Center on Friday, May 10. The dental hygiene class had its own event held at the dental school, its annual Senior Scholarship Day.

Doctor of Dental Surgery
Mason Davis Albertson
Ahmad Abdullatif Alhouti
Ali Abdullah Ali
Lauryn Alexandra Allison
Fares Faisal Alsafar
Chloe Christine Andrews
Evan Andrews
Piyom Aramoon
Fatema Faraj Behbahani
Audra Dee Bergquist
Niyati Bhakta
Shandon Boone
Collin Christopher Brant
John Robert Burnett
Bethany Castro
Collin Caywood
Lindsey Clark
Tanner Clark
Kendall Renae Cline
Alexandra Cook
Emily Elizabeth Crusinberry
Cole Allen Daniel
Morgan Davis
Nicholas Jacob Desch
Mercedes Michelle Dillard
Samuel John Douglas
Blake Darby Echols
Emma S. K. Feldmann
Claire Marie Freeman
Eric Fritsche
Jacob Garcia
Sarah Godwin
Kailey Rayann Hall
Nash Tyler Harvey
Ingrid N. Helgestad
Ayden Joseph Henry
Chandler Logan Hill
Van Luke Hopkins
Olivia Horton
Afra Hussain
Mary Alena Inman
Cole Andrew Johnson
Jordan Kane
Riley James Katsev
Megan Lynn Keller
Elizabeth Kiefner
Nicholas Ryan Kirmer
Jonah Siegfried Korondi
Annemarie Rose LaBarca
Allison Kathleen Lawler
Oanh Hoang Le
Anthony Gerard Leisure Jr.
Angela Maria Marulanda
Connor Allen Massey
Mollie Wade Maupin
Davis Michelle McCallister
Joshua Brandon McDowell
Kelly McGuire
Michael Adair McMahan
Taylor Dale Mead
Nicholas Jeffrey Mehlin
Vartan Zavenovich Melkumov
Ashley Renee Michel
Azriel Minjarez-Almeida
Afsaneh Momtahan
Toby Hyunwoo Nam
Kristina Truc Linh Nguyen
Quynh Anh Truong Nguyen
Elena Joyce Nine
Alexander O’Connor
Zachary Michael Ortinau
Brendan Owings
Grant Aloysius Powderly
Hannah Ragsdale
Shonte’ Dionne Reed
Sabeen Rehman
Aleezay Ieesha Rehmani
Alison Riddle
Nicole Christine Riggs
Tanner Robert
Katharyn Ann Roe-Blythe
Andrew Joseph Rund
Nolan Sachse
Suegol Sadri
Kiefer Schmidt
Melissa Ann Schmittgens
Loren Jett Schroeder
Moritz Schweiger
Hannah Kristen Sells
Alaa Mohammed Shahare
Andrew Sheehy
Ivy Sparlin
Diana Stepanova
Keely Marie Stofer
Grant Alexander Teichmeier
Saxon Burton Teubner
Andrew Thompkins
Jacob Trammell
Dillon Anh Quan Trinh
Jay Trivedi
Matthew Jospeh Wahle
Robert Ward
Dylan James Waugh
Alison Elizabeth Weber
Andrew D. White
Lauren Kirsten Wilson
Matthew Zimmerman

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Mohammad Mehdi Bania Nejad
Adison Marie Basey
Grace Birkel
Halle Luray Bucher
Olga Cristina Camacho
Bailey Cavin
Mackenzie Grace Clark
Emily Ann Cravens
Anna Daveline
Anaisa Garcia-Flores
Ashlyn Harbaugh
Olivia Grace Hombs
Anastasia Leigh Krueger
Madison Haley Lara
Abigail Katherine Loch
Allison Lohman
Derick Lopez
Jamaica Celina Lovan
Anissa Grace Love*
Sydney O’Brien
Alexis Paige Parke
Kendyl Arrington Plappert
Riley Ann Purdun
Amy Kathleen Schmiemeier
Haylie Stansell
Julia Marie Struckhoff
LillyAnn Mechelle Swyers
Tessa Travelute
Lydia Case Winger
Jessica Cartier Woods

B.S.D.H. – DEGREE COMPLETION
Kaitlyn Annette Doerr
Meghan Alexandra Kleinigger
Jamie Renae Lutjen*

*Graduated Summer 2024

Senior Scholarship Day

The annual Senior Scholarship Day on Friday, May 10, allowed graduates, faculty, family and friends to come together and celebrate the many accomplishments of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2024 through awards and presentations.

Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award
Lillyann Swyers

American Association of Public Health Dentistry
Derick Lopez

Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Star Award
Julia Struckhoff

Golden Scaler Award
Alexis Parke

MDHA Outstanding Student Award
Abby Loch

UMKC DHAA Sherry Burns Outstanding Clinician Award
Madison Lara

American College of Dentists – Dental Hygiene Ethics Award
Adison Basey

Procter And Gamble Crest Oral B Preventive Dentistry Hygiene Award
Elle Augustine

Dean’s Academic Distinction Award
Anna Daveline
Alexis Parke

Graduate Degrees
Oral and Craniofacial Sciences M.S. Degree
Nancy Ha, D.D.S. 1
Taylor Little, D.M.D. 1
Bryson Nakatani, D.D.S. 1
Therin Baum, D.D.S. 2

Advanced Education Dental Certificates
Endodontics Residency
Adam Bennett, D.M.D. 3
Anne Kim, D.D.S. 3

Orthodontics And Dentofacial Orthopedics Residency
Nancy Ha, D.D.S. 1
Taylor Little, D.M.D. 1
Bryson Nakatani, D.D.S. 1

Periodontics Residency
Therin Baum, D.D.S. 2
Nisarg Patel, D.M.D. 2

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency
Lida Mirzai, D.M.D. 3
Shawn Boehm, D.D.S., M.D. 3
Juan Kim, D.D.S., M.D. 3

1 – Graduated Fall 2023
2 – Graduated Spring 2024
3 – Graduated Summer 2024

A Longstanding Legacy

Family Members of the graduating class who are dental school alumni participated as legacy hooders while honoring the class at this year’s Hooding Ceremony, continuing this unique tradition and special moment for graduates and families.

Name - Family Hooder (Relationship D.D.S. Class)

Piyom Aramoon - Sophia Aramoon, D.D.S. (Sister 2018)
John Burnett - Bradley Burnett, D.D.S. (Father 1993)
Riley Katsev - Mike & Tracey Katsev, DDS (Father & Mother 1986)
Annemarie LaBarca - John LaBarca, D.D.S. (Father 1994)
Conner Massey - Mark Massey (Father 1995)
Ashley Michel - Nealy Newkirk, D.D.S. (Aunt 2005)
Hannah Ragsdale - Rachel Ragsdale, D.D.S. (Sister 2020)
Saxon Teubner - Daniel & Glenn Teubner, D.D.S. (Father & Brother 1985 & 2022)
Jay Trivedi - Vaidehl Trivedi, D.D.S. (Sister 2020)
Matthew Wahle - John Wahle, D.D.S. (Father 1987)
Lauren Wilson - Wendy Reynolds, D.D.S. (Mother 1995)

Military Commissioning Ceremony

Megan Keller, Captain, United States Air Force
Stationed at: Kessler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi

Cole Johnson, Lieutenant, United States Navy
Stationed at: Great Lakes Naval Base, Chicago, Illinois

Annemarie LaBarca, Captain, United States Army
Stationed at: Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia

Students Training in Academia, Health and Research (STAHR) Program Participants

Quynh Anh Nguyen
Shonté Reed
Andrew Thompkins
Jay Trivedi

Kuwait Program Participants

Ahmed Alhouti
Ali Ali
Fares Alsafar
Fatema Behbahani

Where Graduates are Going

Celebrating the Transition to Patient Care

“Congratulations for choosing to live a life that matters.”

Dean Steven Haas addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 people who came to the school’s annual Transitioning Ceremony on Friday, May 31 at Unity Temple on the Plaza. There, the new clinicians from the Dental Class of 2026 and Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 were welcomed to clinical practice. The ceremony is a momentous occasion celebrating years of rigorous study and preparation.

“You have committed yourself to service above self — and committed yourself to caring for others,” said Haas.

“As health-care professionals, you have chosen to live a life that matters, one guided by ethical principles. And because you have, many individuals will have a better quality of life, go to bed without pain, have a beautiful smile, live longer, healthier lives, walk a little taller — and you will know in your heart that you have made a difference.”

Proceedings were led by Keerthana Satheesh (D.D.S. ’05) who is chair of the Department of Periodontics. Each class also selected an influential keynote speaker. The dental class selected Prof. Cat Boles in the Department of Periodontics, and the dental hygiene class selected Prof. Katie Hayes. Each class composed its own “Code of Ethics” which students read aloud in unison after the keynote speeches.

Dental students were presented with a white coat, and dental hygiene students were given a scrub jacket, signifying what Satheesh described as the beginning of their professional lives and a constant reminder of the students’ commitment to their patients, peers and the dental profession.

Boles echoed Satheesh’s sentiment, noting the opportunity that students now have as they begin their clinical journey.

“Going forward, you have the chance to personalize each day with your patients,” Boles said. “And each patient is an opportunity for learning and growth. This is your chance to display your character, and, let me say, allows you to display your best character.” Each student then signed their respective code, reaffirming their commitment.