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 studentsa year, often on scholarship. Continue reading
Author: Ken Honas
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. Continue reading
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!
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. Continue reading
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.
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. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
Explorer Summer 2023: Alumni Magazine
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