Celebrating our heroes at the School of Dentistry
By Annemarie Hunter
It was Dec. 20, 1966, in Da Nang, Vietnam, and Lt. Cmdr. Peter Steinhauer and his medical team
treated mass casualties as rain poured down for hours. Among the injured was a Marine with an open jaw injury and a metal object lodged in his neck. That object, X-rays revealed, was a live grenade.
Using great care, Steinhauer and his fellow surgeons removed the grenade, which explosive experts then carried out of the hospital and detonated, shaking the operating room.
“My year in Vietnam was the most difficult and yet rewarding of my career,” said Steinhauer (D.D.S. ’62).
He was not alone. “Of the 25 dental officers in our company, six were UMKC graduates, including my commanding officer, Capt. Louis Cordonier (D.D.S. ’45),” he said.
For nearly a century, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry has held an enduring connection to its students, alumni and faculty in the military. From organizations and
ceremonies to health-care services that support soldiers’ well-being, the dental school continues to prove its commitment to those who serve and have served.
These soldiers are equally committed to their roles in both the military and the dental profession.
Steinhauer, Derek Williams — who served in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps — and Macila Arnold and Adam Bennett of the U.S. Army credit their military service with making them better dental professionals and their dental education with making them better soldiers through life-changing service to others.
While in Vietnam, Steinhauer treated extreme facial and jaw injuries and was assigned the unpleasant but important task of soldier body identification through dental examinations.
“I also cared for Vietnamese civilians and started a program to correct cleft lip and palate in children, as no Vietnamese doctors did this surgery where we were,” Steinhauer said.
Following his service with the Navy Dental Corps from 1965–67, Steinhauer ran an oral surgery practice in Colorado for 33 years. In 1989, his admiration for Vietnam and its people drew him back.
“Being confronted with life- threatening injuries, and in the position of providing the best care, led me to a life of volunteerism,” said Steinhauer, who documented his experiences in his book, Remembering Vietnam 1966- 67.
“I’ve returned to Vietnam 26 times since 1989, working in medical settings and sharing my professional skills.”
Like Steinhauer, Williams (D.D.S. ’87), clinical associate professor in the Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, is a Navy Dental Corps veteran. A retired Reserve commander, he served 11 years on active duty and 12 years in the Reserve.
“The Navy allowed me to complete a dental residency that helped me prepare and gave me the credentials to pursue a career in dental education,” said Williams, who joined the UMKC faculty in 2003.
In addition to teaching, Cmdr. Williams officiates a commissioning ceremony and administration of
oaths each May during the school’s Hooding Ceremony. During this event, dental school graduates enter the military as commissioned medical officers — pledging to serve as both military leaders and dentists.
Each year, between one and three graduates are commissioned. “As they become military officers, these graduates are not only responsible for their patients’ oral health but will lead those who serve under them — many fresh out of high school,” said Williams. “Our graduates who enter the military find themselves transported into a new world overnight, and their responsibilities will extend far beyond dentistry.”
During Williams’ time in the Navy, he worked as a division officer on the USS George Washington, managing the daily activities of enlisted crew. Many of them were new to the Navy and had never been on a ship before.
“I was also the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation Fund Custodian, the ship’s triage officer and in charge of the flight deck battle dressing station,” Williams said. “Dentistry was a small part of the job. Being a dentist in the military holds a future with many more experiences than most graduates could ever imagine.”
Like fellow veterans Steinhauer and Williams, Macila Arnold (B.S.D.H. ’23) has had military and health-care careers that centered around service, although her Army experience focused on a different type of soldier — the kind with four legs.
An Army reservist from 2011– 23, Arnold was initially an animal care specialist and sergeant with
the Veterinary Corps, completing two tours overseas. During her first mission in Kuwait, she cared for military dogs, assisted with surgeries, educated soldiers on animal safety and worked with Kuwait Army horses.
During her second tour in Africa, she provided animal care and education to local populations.
After a decade of working with animals, Arnold wanted to make a change. Her last two years in the Reserve, she reclassed to the Dental Corps as a dental sergeant, similar to a dental assistant. During this time, Arnold discovered UMKC’s dental hygiene program and enrolled in Fall 2021.
“I have a passion for helping others, and dental hygienists have many options to give back to the community, including school-based programs and working with low-income and veteran communities,” she said.
With family and financial commitments to consider, Arnold’s military education benefits provided the resources she needed to pursue her degree. She soon realized her new journey would require the same strength she relied on in the military.
“When I started the program, my husband and I were still serving,” she said. “Early in my first semester, my husband deployed for a year, leaving me as a solo parent. There were late nights, early mornings…finding ways to be a present mom and excel in my studies.”
While in school, Arnold also continued her staff sergeant duties, leading soldiers on drill weekends. The highest-ranking soldier on the dental team, she worked with the lead dental officer to set up missions and training.
Managing this rigorous schedule was made even more challenging when Arnold was forced to cope with the loss of several family members. She found invaluable support at UMKC through the Student Veteran Organization. Members helped her navigate the challenges, and she enjoyed the uplifting camaraderie of fellow veterans.
Arnold completed her mission and graduated last May.
“Looking back, I’m proud of what I overcame, despite the challenges and fears of not making it through,” she said. “I’ve been resilient to everything that came my way.”
Veteran Adam Bennett, D.D.S., A.E.G.D, also has a servant’s heart. A current resident who will complete the Advanced Endodontics program next year, Bennett graduated from Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health in 2014 and served in the U.S. Army from 2014–22. Bennett’s military career started at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he provided dental care for soldiers completing basic and other training. He was then stationed at Camp Buehring in Kuwait.
“We had a four-chair clinic in a mobile trailer and served approximately 6,000 soldiers,” Bennett said.
Back in the States, Bennett completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Fort Bragg and spent his last two years of active duty with the 10th Special Forces Group. He was one of five dentists who provided care for these elite soldiers.
“I had opportunities to serve brand new recruits and leading medical commanders,” he said. “My patients’ achievements humbled me on a daily basis.” Despite his many accomplishments while serving, one of Bennett’s greatest achievements has been his adjustment to life outside of active duty. When he arrived at UMKC, Bennett did not anticipate the complex emotional journey he would have to navigate.
“I thought the transition from military to civilian life would be seamless,” he said. “I was wrong. For me, the changes have been unsettling and lonely. Thankfully, the military and UMKC recognize this and have provided access to mental health services to help
ease stress.”
Bennett’s program director, Ken Frick (D.D.S. ’86), served in the Air Force, and he encourages Bennett to celebrate his past as a military dentist, which makes a world of difference to a future endodontist who will always be a soldier, too.
“From continuing Reserve service to wearing my OCP scrubs in the clinic during military holidays, UMKC has encouraged me to maintain my military connection,” Bennett said.