Each year, the University and School of Dentistry recognizes an outstanding alumnus or alumna for lifelong commitment to the profession, the community, and the School. We are privileged to recognize Dr. Brenda Bohaty and Jo Ann Weatherwax as this year’s honorees.

Dr. Brenda Bohaty is Chair of the UMKC School of Dentistry’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry and concurrently the Director of the Residency Program in Pediatric Dentistry at the Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics in Kansas City, Missouri. During her nearly 35 years of service to the School, Dr. Bohaty has accomplished a long list of academic and research endeavors including her instrumental role in initiating and running the Dental Clinic at Operation Breakthrough. This program allows children who attend day care at Operation Breakthrough to receive comprehensive dental care at no cost to their care providers. An impactful experience for both the children in the community and dental students. Dr. Bohaty serves as one of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry representatives on the Commission for Dental Accreditation Review Committee as a site visitor, she received a national appointment to serve as a member of the Review Committee member for the National Commission on Dental Specialties, she serves as Chair of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Graduate In-Service Examination Committee and as an expert consultant on the Council of Pre-Doctoral Education. She also serves on the Rinehart Foundation Board.

Jo Ann Weatherwax serves as the founding Dental Program Director for the Volusia County Health Department in Daytona Beach, Florida and has dedicated her career to help solving the national issue of access to oral healthcare services. Jo Ann, the first dental hygienist to serve as a dental director at a county health department in Florida, developed a clinical program, added an additional clinic to serve the western area of Volusia County, and established a county-wide school sealant and oral health education program. Her dedication to the Health Department and safety net programs in Volusia County has resulted in the delivery of oral healthcare services to countless children and families. Along with her work in public health, Jo Ann has served in numerous leadership roles including most recently as the President of the Florida Dental Hygiene Association.

Both awardees will be recognized at the UMKC campus-wide celebration on April 29th

Photos from the reception honoring the awardees here.

The Midwest Dental Conference’s “live tour” concluded Sunday after four days of long-awaited in-person reunions and lessons on the latest in dental education. On the morning of the final day, the annual Dental Alumni Trustees’ and Alumni Past President’s Breakfast was followed by three more scientific sessions. The last of the more than 2,500 attendees exchanged farewells after getting the band back together and hit the road to put into practice all the lessons learned over the course of the conference.  Sunday photos here.

Saturday’s activities started with Orthodontics meetings over breakfast at the Sheraton. Courses took up much of the morning at MDC 2022, before the Alumni Recognition Luncheon. The highlight of the event was a generous donation from GEHA to the UMKC School of Dentistry. The luncheon also honored outstanding alumni, including the class of 1972, which is celebrating its 50^th reunion this year! The day’s scientific sessions addressed a wide range of topics, from emerging trends in periodontics to the lessons learned in dental care during two pandemics: HIV and COVID-19. The day’s events wrapped up with the annual Presidents’ Reception, where they honored donors atop the Westin at Benton’s.  Saturday photos here.

Pouring from the Heart celebrated its 22^nd year in 2022. We were back in-person at the Westin Century Ballroom Thursday evening for an evening filled with delicious food and wine pairings. While the food and wine made it an evening to enjoy, this party was also filled with purpose. Pouring from the Heart raises money to provide crucial funding to help care for those in need. Guests enjoyed a scrumptious three-course meal put together by the Westin staff with a wine pairing for each dish. Silent auction items ranged from a getaway to New Orleans, to a Caribbean Vacation in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel or Isla Mujeres.  Enjoy photos from the Gala  Find the selfies taken by the Photo Bus here

The band is back together, live in Kansas City! The UMKC Dental and Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Associations welcomed 2022 Midwest Dental Conference attendees to the first of four days of meetings, reunions, celebrations, technical exhibits and scientific sessions at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel and Westin Hotel at Crown Center. Old friends and new, happy to be back seeing each other face-to-face, met up at registration and throughout the day. The conference’s wealth of Continuing Education offerings began, with four sessions in the morning and four sessions in the afternoon, separated by the Fedi Patron’s luncheon. Please enjoy these photos from the day and look for more photos from our Pouring from the Heart event, the annual fundraising gala that capped a rock-n-rollin’ first day of the Midwest Dental Conference.  Thursday photos here.