Each year the University of Missouri – Kansas City recognizes outstanding alumni for their lifelong commitments and contributions. The UMKC School of Dentistry was proud to have both an alumna and a family recognized at the 2025 Alumni Awards event held Friday, April 25th.
Dr. Jessica Meeske (DDS ’96) is the 2025 School of Dentistry Alumni Achievement Award recipient, one of twelve representing the university academic units who have achieved notable success in his or her professional field and rendered outstanding service to the community. Dr. Meeske is a pediatric dentist in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska and the senior partner of Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska. After graduating from Hastings College, Meeske graduated with her DDS from UMKC and followed it with further training in pediatric dentistry and public health at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Meeske has been an advocate to the American Dental Association, president of the Nebraska Dental Association, helping pass more than 17 bills relating to access to dental care. She has held numerous roles in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, including past trustee and councils of membership, dental benefits and government affairs. She is on the faculty of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, has lecture extensively on children’s oral health issues and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors including the AAPD’s Pediatric Dentist of the Year, NDA’s 2003 New Dentist of the Year, the ADA’s 2002 Golden Apple New Dentist of the Year, the Nebraska Rural Health Association’s 2002 Health Care Provider of the Year and UMKC School of Dentistry’s 2003 Young Alumnus of the Year.
The Legacy Award recognizes one family with a tradition of attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has a record of outstanding service to the University, the Alumni Association, their community or profession and this year it was awarded to the Mahaffey family, Dr. Charles Mahaffey (DDS ’72), Dr. Darren Mahaffey (DDS ’05), Dr. Sarah Mahaffey (DDS ’05) and Dr. Samantha Mahaffey (DDS ’22).
For three generations, the Mahaffey family has made an impact on the dental profession, the Springfield, Missouri, community and oral healthcare throughout Missouri. Charles Mahaffey graduated from the UMKC School of Dentistry in 1972 and then completed a general practice residency through the United States Air Force before settling into private practice in Springfield in 1975. Though Charles is now officially retired, the practice continues to thrive under the leadership of his family. He has been a loyal and active member of both local and state levels of organized dentistry for 49 years, including the many leadership positions he held, which led to him receiving two Distinguished Service Awards.
Following in his footsteps, his son, Darren Mahaffey, graduated from the School of Dentistry in 2005 along with his wife, Sarah Mahaffey (Brown). With such a great example of leadership and patient care set by Charles, it is no surprise what Darren and Sarah have accomplished. Darren has served in numerous leadership roles at the local level, including as president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary of the Greater Springfield Dental Society. He has also contributed at the state level, serving as a board member of the Missouri Dental Foundation since 2011, and as its president for the last three years. Darren and Sarah had a vision of starting a large-scale dental clinic to provide free oral healthcare to patients of all ages who cannot otherwise afford or have access to care in Missouri. They executed the first Missouri Mission of Mercy (MOMOM) in 2011 – when 1,100 volunteers provided more than $1 million worth of free dental care to 1,856 patients. That was just the beginning. There have been subsequent clinics and the Mahaffey’s have played a role in each one.
Much like the need she and her husband saw for MOMOM, Sarah saw a need for mentoring and supporting new dentists and bringing new energy to organized dentistry in Missouri. She created a new dentist conference in conjunction with the Missouri Dental Association (MDA) called Connect4Success. The inaugural conference tapped into a sense of informal inclusion and development that has since generated many strong MDA leaders. Over time, this event has grown to include all members and has become the annual meeting of the MDA.
Even with their numerous commitments at the local and state levels, the Mahaffey’s have stayed active and engaged with the UMKC School of Dentistry. There isn’t a Midwest Dental Conference without at least one Mahaffey family member present. Charles has served as president of the Dental Alumni Association Board and Sarah is currently serving as a vice president. Not only do they give their time, but they also give and support the Rinehart Foundation, earning medallions and pins for their lifetime giving contributions.
The School of Dentistry was happy to welcome another Mahaffey family member to our community with Samantha Mahaffey (DDS ’22), granddaughter to Charles and niece to Darren and Sarah. Samantha, who is now practicing at Mahaffey Family Dentistry, graduated a few years ago and went on to pursue an advanced education general dentistry residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Prior to entering dental school and throughout her time as a dental student, Samantha participated in several MOMOM events, embodying the family’s legacy in providing care and service to the community.
Photos from the event here.
