Dentistry Graduate Students Receive Graduate Assistance Fund Awards

On March 7, the UMKC Women’s Council honored 69 women in graduate programs at UMKC with $98,322 in Graduate Assistance Fund (GAF) awards.

The UMKC Women’s Council is an organization of campus and community members who actively support the education of women graduate students by providing financial assistance and expanded opportunities to enhance and enable their educational experience and careers. This is done in part through their Graduate Assistance Fund, which financially supports women currently enrolled in graduate programs at UMKC.

The 2024 recipients for GAF awards from the School of Dentistry included Shiva Daneshmehr and Claire Houchen.

The mission of the UMKC Women’s Council is to “support women who will change the world while they pursue their goals as graduate students at the university.

Claire Houchen echoed that mission after receiving her awards, which included the Maxine N. Tishk Award, Patricia Brous Award and an additional award for outstanding merit.

“I’m very grateful to the UMKC Women’s Council for their support,” says Houchen, “which enables me to attend this conference where I will be able to share my research, hear from my peers, and meet colleagues in the craniofacial field as well as individuals from NIDCR. It’s important to me to advocate for women in science, and it feels especially poignant that this support comes from the Women’s Council. It is my hope that one day I can pass on the support I have received to the women in science who come after me.”

The award funds her travel to the AADOCR Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, where she is presenting her research on craniofacial development. Her project “seeks to identify the cause of birth defects in skull and jaw bones and to investigate novel minimally invasive therapies for children born with skull and jaw malformations.”

Fellow GAF and merit award recipient Shiva Daneshmehr, PhD Student and Research Assistant with Cox Lab, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, is working on “understand the basis of a common clinical condition, called craniofacial microsomia, that is characterize by pronounced facial asymmetry.”

From left, Dr. Rose Wang, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Dr. Erin Bumann, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Claire Houchen, PhD Student and Research Assistant with Bumann Lab, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences and Dr. Sarah Dallas, UM Curator’s Distinguished Professor, Lee M. and William Lefkowitz Endowed Professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.

Congratulations to Shiva and Claire on their outstanding achievements!

Advocating for Dentistry at MDA’s Dental Day

On March 6, delegates from the UMKC School of Dentistry, including 27 students and three faculty, traveled to the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City for the Missouri Dental Association (MDA) Dental Day. This event, which is attended by dentists throughout the State of Missouri, gives our students the opportunity to speak with their legislators about issues affecting the dental profession.

“This is one day, in a series of 364 other days where you could make contact, but this one day of physical presence, is needed each year to demonstrate the magnitude of the problem and to show the number of providers that insist on change,” says the MDA.

According to Dr. Wendy Weimer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Restorative Clinical Sciences, most students met with at least three legislators each, bringing up points on change that “some of the more seasoned dentists hasn’t thought of. They were great ambassadors.”

Dr. Weimer stressed the significance of students attending the events, “It is important the students know how invaluable their voice is in changing our profession for the better.”

Faculty Attendees
Dr. Erin Bumann, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
Dr. Jared Gerhardt, Clinical Assistant Professor, Restorative Clinical Sciences
Dr. Wendy Weimer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Restorative Clinical Sciences

Student Attendees
Nik Wickerhauser
Sarah Godwin
Robert Ward
Van Hopkins
Ayden Henry
Hannah Sells
Angela Marulanda
Olivia Horton
Chandler Hill
Mary Inman
Layne Konneman
Hannah Ragsdale
Lauryn Allison
Allison Lawler
Claire Freeman
Megan Dart
Alexis Overton
Sophie Rosen
Anh Nguyen
Niyati Bhakta
Katie Roe
Dillon Trinh
Rebecca Otten
Kylee Townsend
Mackenzie Kortz
Alayna Wallace
Elizabeth Quinn

Photos courtesy of Dr. Wendy Weimer. Lunch for delegates provided by Greater Kansas City Dental Society.

Dentistry Hopefuls Gather at UMKC for 2024 Pre-Dental Symposium

Aspiring dental and dental hygiene students came together for an opportunity to learn about the UMKC School of Dentistry and the journey to get here at the 2024 Pre-Dental Symposium.

Attendees met with dental school admissions staff, faculty and current students while also being able to connect with other interested students to help support them along the application process.

Throughout the event, they participated in a number of interactive activities and hands-on projects including interview tips and practice, a dental school tour, a typodont tooth preparation and a radiology workshop.

In addition, the event offered enriching presentations to help guide attendees towards getting accepted into their respective programs.

View photos from the event here.

Teaming up for TeamSmile with the Royals

Each year, student and faculty volunteers join forces with TeamSmile and Kansas City’s professional sports teams to deliver dental care to disadvantaged children. On February 16, volunteers saw over 200 children at the Royal’s TeamSmile event at the Urban Youth Academy.

According to their website, “By partnering with professional sports organizations, we create an experience that develops bonds between children’s organizations, oral health professionals, surrounding communities, and the athletes that solidify the message that oral health care is vitally important to long-term health.”

Thank you to our student and faculty volunteers for taking your time to make a difference in the lives of children in the Kansas City area!

Student Volunteers:

  • Hannah Ragsdale
  • Bethan Castro
  • Riley Katsev
  • Matthew Wahle
  • Kendell Cline
  • Davis McCallister
  • Sarah Godwin
  • Sam Douglas
  • Nicole Riggs
  • Alex Cook
  • Sophie Rosen
  • Mackenzie Kortz
  • Cole Anderson
  • Jay Trivedi
  • Tessa Travelute
  • Halle Bucher
  • Mackenzie Clark
  • Ashlyn Harbaugh
  • Lydia Winger
  • Adison Basey
  • Olivia Hombs
  • Anastasia Krueger
  • Alexis Parke
  • Anna Daveline
  • Riley Purdun
  • Amy Schmiemeier
  • Abby Loch
  • Derick Lopez
  • LillyAnn Swyers
  • Jessica Woods
  • Mahdi Banai Nejad
  • Jamaica Lovan
  • Madison Lara
  • Anaisa Garcia-Flores
  • Olga Besestre

Faculty Volunteers:

  • Dr. Becky Smith
  • Dr. CJ Ehrenberger
  • Dr. Kim Bray
  • Prof. Tanya Villalpando Mitchell

View photos from the event here.

School Hosts Multicultural Luncheon

As part of ASDA Diversity Week, students, staff, and faculty participated in a Multicultural Luncheon, supported by ASDA, Office of Student Programs, and Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, to celebrate and learn about the different cultures represented within the school and community.

Representatives provided perspectives on their cultures and history to create an opportunity for everyone in attendance to learn together. In addition, food representing a variety of cultures and ethnicities was enjoyed by all.

View photos from the event here.

Giving Smiles for Children’s Dental Health Month

Every February, National Children’s Dental Health Month brings together professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their families and caregivers.

For over 15 years, the dental school has participated in observing the event championed by the American Dental Association. A big part of the month includes Give Kids a Smile, which offers free dental care to children in the Kansas City area, 0 – 17 years old in need of dental exams, teeth cleanings, dental sealants and fluoride treatment. Kids are shown how important oral health care is in a fun, interactive environment.

Rather than spend a day giving kids smiles, this year, the school hosted Give Kids a Smile for a week to spread smiles to as many community members as possible.

View photos from the event here.

Showing Off our Chiefs Spirit!

As the Chiefs head into Super Bowl weekend, our School of Dentistry family is showing their spirit in anticipation!

Submitted by Prof. Tanya Villalpando Mitchell, Dental Hygiene

Submitted by Andrew White, showing his spirit in Australia

Submitted by Valorie Moore Porter, Building & Business Office Associate

Submitted by Meredith Krause

Submitted by CSR

From the clinics and labs, to our offices and as far as Australia, there was not shortage of red and yellow! Take a look back at our past Super Bowl spirit here.

 

Dental Hygiene Students, Alumni and Faculty Volunteer at Missouri Special Smiles Event

This February, several Dental Hygiene students, alumni and faculty volunteered their time in St. Joseph, MO, offering comprehensive oral health care screening, instructions and helpful tips to Special Olympics athletes as part of the Special Smiles discipline of Healthy Athletes.

This is one of the many screening events the Dental Hygiene department continues to be a part of to serve the community. Participating faculty, students and alumni include:

Macila Arnold RDH, Alumna
Shannon Finneran RDH, Alumna
Ashley Hobbs RDH, Alumna, Faculty
Phillip Montoya DDS, Alumnus
Shannon Finneran, Faculty
Lilly Ann Swyers, Dental Hygiene Senior
Tessa Travelute, Dental Hygiene Senior

 

Photos courtesy of Ashley Hobbs, RDH

Welcoming Our Inaugural Advanced Standing Dental Program Students

On January 16, the dental school hosted an orientation for the nine inaugural Advanced Standing Dental Program students. The program focuses on training dentists who have a degree from a foreign dental school and are now U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Many students have worked as dental assistants, dental hygienists, researchers, and educators while living in the U.S. and now desire to have a United States dental degree from a CODA approved institutional program, allowing them to be eligible to practice in the United States.

It includes a semester-long didactic, laboratory and patient care orientation to the school’s dental curriculum and course of study. The cohort will then “transition” into the third-year dental class, the DDS Class of 2026, during the summer term and complete the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) curriculum.

Hosted by the Interim Program Director, Dr. Gustavo Leal, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, and Dr. Yesim Stevens, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, students met with school leadership and faculty, including Dean Steven Haas, department chairs and team leaders.

After introductions, students learned about what will make them successful in dental school and the tools and resources available to them to do so, followed by computer checks, composite photos and gathering their instruments. After a full day of learning all that they will be doing now that they’ve joined UMKC, students got together for lunch and a group photo.

Cohort Profile: 9 students
Gender: 8 females, 1 males
Countries Where Dental School Completed: Cuba, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates
Average Dental School GPA: 3.72
Passage of Integrated National Dental Board Exam: All Students
U.S. States of Resident: California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina

Congratulations to our inaugural program members! Wishing you every success as you begin your journey with us.

For more details on the program, click here.

To view photos from the day, click here.

School Comes Together for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Dozens of UMKC School of Dentistry students, staff, faculty and friends from GEHA Solutions assembled 2,000 dental hygiene kits for the school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 15.

Kits were delivered to Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Welcome House, Amethyst Place and City Union Mission.

Supplies for the kits were provided by the School of Dentistry Departments of Dental Hygiene and Dental Public Health, UMKC Bookstore, GEHA Solutions, and Proctor & Gamble.

Appreciation goes out to everyone involved in participating in this day and helping live out the legacy of service and community while remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

View photos from the event here.