Events

A Movember to Remember: Psi Omega Dental Fraternity Holds Competition for Men’s Health Awareness

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

On November 30, Psi Omega held a Mustache Competition to celebrate Movember with all proceeds going the Movember Foundation – the leading organization fighting male suicide, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer.

As part of Movember, participants are asked to grow a mustache from November 1 to December 1, as a symbol representing healthier men and a healthier world.

The month kicked off with faculty and staff wearing fake mustaches all around the clinic floor.

Photo courtesy of DJ Davis

DJ Davis, Psi Omega member and DDS Class of 2025, says this, “set a great tone for everyone and helped bring awareness to the event, which I am so thankful for. Thank you Dr. Weimer (Dr. Wendy Weimer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences) for helping us start out!”

Participants got together for the competition at the dental school, which required a $5 donation towards funding game-changing men’s health projects.

Those that wanted to advocate for the cause but were unable to grow mustaches could still show support by sporting a fake mustache, courtesy of Psi Omega.

“The event became much more meaningful to us when we were told there were survivors of prostate cancer at the dental school,” said Davis. “The event was serious in nature due to the cause, but allowed us all to add some silliness to the month of November that I hoped lifted the spirits of the school.”

Categories for the competition included: Best Student Mustache, Best Staff/Faculty Mustache, Most Creative Mustache and Best Attempt Mustache.

Mustache Competition Winners

Best Student Mustache
Evan Andrews, DDS Class of 2024

Best Staff/Faculty Mustache
Dr. John Ball, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences

Most Creative Mustache
Jake Jardon, Class of 2027

Best Attempt Mustache
Michael Gimotty III, DDS Class of 2025

All winner photos courtesy of DJ Davis

View photos from the event here.

 

Advanced Endodontics Program Hosts Microsurgery Seminar

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

On November 10, the UMKC Advanced Endodontics Program hosted a Microsurgery Seminar with Dr. Syngcuk Kim and Dr. Samuel Kratchman of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, bringing in both local and out-of-state residents and faculty for a day of didactic and hands-on learning.

“Both Dr. Kim and Dr. Kratchman have been pivotal in setting the stage for modern endodontic surgery in the United States and around the world,” says Dr. Ken Frick, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics. “Through their numerous literature publications, authorship of two textbooks, establishment of a microsurgical training center at the University of Pennsylvania, and their busy schedule of international lecturing, their name and work are well known throughout the field of endodontics.”

Over 40 attendees came together to attend what Dr. Frick calls the first of its kind.

“UMKC is proud to be able to host this first of its kind one day seminar event for Midwestern Endodontic Programs to attend and network together in. Endodontic Residents from the University of Nebraska, St. Louis University, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Tennessee will join with UMKC Endodontic Residents for this unique educational event,” he said. “We are thankful to Brasseler USA for making this event possible by their sponsorship of Drs. Kim and Kratchman, thus making this a no-cost event to attendees. To add to the camaraderie an evening social event for resident attendees, hosted by High Five Inc., will be offered at a local establishment.”

Dr. Frick hopes to host more events like this in the future, bring together leading endodontic educators and clinicians.

Dr. Miranda Jimenez, current endodontic resident at the UMKC School of Dentistry, pictured above, right, says, “Not only did we gain invaluable insight from two of the top contributors to endodontic microsurgery, but we were also able to collaborate with residents and faculty from other endodontics programs across the Midwest. I feel very lucky to have spent the day in the company of such talented and knowledgeable endodontic professionals.”

To view photos from the day, click here.

Prospective Students Attend Showcase Day at the Dental School

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

The dental school hosted more applicants on Friday, November 10 for another showcase day, where students met each other, faculty and staff and got the opportunity to learn more about the dental school experience and what they could expect when attending the UMKC School of Dentistry.

After being introduced to faculty, staff and the dean, attendees were led on a tour of the school.

In addition to getting to know the facility and clinics, attendees enjoyed a  “Class 1 Prep” activity, where they were led through an operative experience to show the students what they can catch a glimpse of their first two years of dental school.

Attendees were invited for a social gathering at Vested Coffee, then rounded out the day at Beacon Hill Apartments for some tours to see living options on campus.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Revealing the Future of the UMKC Health Sciences District

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

The building will provide leading-edge pre-doctoral dental clinics and technology, enhancing our ability to graduate top-notch dentists and reach more patients than ever.

Rendering of Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building

Renderings by Clark & Enersen of the UMKC Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building

The University of Missouri-Kansas City at a Tuesday event revealed the design of its largest capital investment to date: the $120 million Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building. UMKC expects to break ground next year on this new building, with key funding from the state of Missouri and visionary Kansas City donors coming together to support this cornerstone project that will launch a new era for the UMKC Health Sciences District and health-care access. The six-story 200,000-square-foot building will be constructed on what is now a parking lot at 25th and Charlotte streets. The project will enable the university to provide state-of-the-art education for the next generation of health-care providers, find newer and better ways to serve patients in need, strengthen collaborations with surrounding neighborhoods and facilitate greater interdisciplinary partnerships to fuel innovation and research.

“The new Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will be one of a kind,” said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “We know of only one other combined medical and dental education building in the nation, and none other that will include what ours will with a unique combination of collaborative programs focused on elevating health care.”

South entrance of Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building

UMKC will house key assets in the building for the following programs:

UMKC School of Dentistry. UMKC is a regional leader in dental education with the only public dental school in the states of Missouri and Kansas. The new building will provide leading-edge pre-doctoral dental clinics, enhancing our ability to graduate top-notch dentists. The new space also means students can serve more patients in need through advanced equipment, greater efficiency, expanded hours for acute dental care and the ability to implement teledentistry. Currently, the School of Dentistry provides $750,000 annually in uncompensated dental care for the community. The new facility will house UMKC’s acute dental care programs – such as oral surgery, endodontics and emergency procedures – plus program space for radiology, lab work and a high-tech dental design lab to produce crowns, bridges and implants.

UMKC School of Medicine. UMKC has the highest-ranked public medical school in Missouri for primary care. The new facility will allow the School of Medicine to provide cutting-edge simulation labs, including dedicated space to practice essential medical procedures; a full-scale operating room and patient exam rooms to practice patient communication and care. The collaborative learning spaces for students encourage a culture of communication and better prepare them to work with colleagues in their professional lives.

UMKC Health Equity Institute. The institute brings together researchers, government and community organizations to improves the lives of the underserved and bridge health-care gaps. The institute combines its research strengths with community groups’ grassroots involvement to identify, quantify and reduce those gaps. In the new building, researchers will collaborate to tackle health disparities and provide access to health care with initiatives including Our Healthy Jackson County that brings free vaccines, health screenings and other resources into neighborhoods and places of worship. The institute’s new space will include a kitchen lab to teach healthy meal preparation.

UMKC biomedical engineering. In the new building, doctors, dentists and engineers will work side by side, creating faster, more effective collaboration between science, engineering and the medical world. Product development will accelerate in areas such as medical implants, imaging technology and surgery tools, and UMKC can expand access to the in-demand biomedical engineering degree program with potential global impact. On average, a single engineering position creates 1.5 staff jobs and brings 2.5 households to the Kansas City area, positively impacting Kansas City’s economy.

Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center. In partnership with MU and other University of Missouri System universities, UMKC leads a center focused on creating new advances in data sciences and analytics. The new space in the building will provide the center opportunities to focus the power of data science on transforming the way we personalize health care. The data center within the new facility will provide high-performance computing for industry, government and nonprofit organizations within our region to solve data-intensive computing problems.

University Health. Our clinical partner will occupy two floors of the new building for office space.

Southeast corner

The project is close to being fully funded:

  • Included in the last two budgets from Governor Mike Parson and passed by the Missouri General Assembly, the state of Missouri has committed $60 million,
  • The Sunderland Foundation has pledged $30 million,
  • The Hall Family Foundation will contribute $15 million and
  • $10 million will come from federal funding secured by former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.

Groundbreaking will occur in 2024 with project completion expected in 2026.

Northwest corner at night

Story from Stacy Downs, Strategic Marketing and Communications

Honoring Our Scholarship Donors and Recipients

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

The UMKC School of Dentistry held its annual Scholarship Recognition dinner Monday evening, October 16, at Student Union on the Volker Campus. Richie Bigham, Assistant Dean for Student Programs, welcomed the audience, and Dean Steven Haas followed, presiding over the recognition of the scholarship donors and recipients.

This year, the school distributed awards to 193 students, totaling more than $1.5 million.

“Scholarships offer individuals the chance to access higher education, making it an attainable dream,” said Dean Haas, “Scholarships effectively lessen the burden of student debt, thereby expanding the range of career opportunities available to serve the needs of our society.”

This year’s new scholarships included the Class of 2008: Dr. Jeffrey Higgins Memorial Scholarship, the Paul E. and Mrs. Doris Hund Scholarship, the Thomas Jones Scholarship and the Prabu and Woon Mi Raman Scholarship. Special recognition was also given to GEHA Solutions, whose two-year commitment has provided scholarships to 23 dental and dental hygiene students totaling $315,000, plus $55,000 to support participants in our STAHR pathway program – one of the largest gifts of its kind in the school’s history.

In addition to hearing from school administration and a game of trivia between students and their donors, attendees got to hear from Kristina Nguyen, a fourth-year dental student and Abby Loch, a senior dental hygiene student, who both received scholarships this year.

Kristina shared her journey through the last four years of dental school, from the ups and downs, to the many organizations she’s become involved with, but her time in the clinic, she says, it’s what’s solidified her love for dentistry.

“I look forward to coming to school and interacting with my patients,” she said, “I love hearing their stories, working with them to improve their oral health, and just being a small part of their lives. Seeing the difference that a cleaning, filling, or a crown can make for someone reminds me of how the dental work I have received growing up has helped to improve my confidence and my smile. It is in those moments, where we see the difference my classmates and I have on our patients’ lives, that your donations have the greatest effect. You are helping us help others.”

Abby emphasized the feeling of family she’s experienced from her classmates in the Dental Hygiene Class of 2024, noting the array of backgrounds and personalities that make up the class, but that there is a clear common thread.

“Together we are kind, ambitious, and hard working future dental hygienists who have a passion for helping others,” she said. “We have become a family. This family would not have been possible without the help of donors that have helped students to pay for school, be the best clinicians for our patients, and pursue our future ambitions.”

Dr. Nick Rogers, alumni, donor and Chair of the Dr. Roy J. Rinehart Memorial Foundation, also addressed the crowd, sharing why giving back is so important.

Thank you to our generous donors for your ongoing support of the school and our students!

Click here to view candid photos from the event.

Click here to view group photos from the event.

 

 

Golfing “Fore” Student Scholarships

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

Alumni, friends and students enjoyed a day on the course Friday, October 13, at the annual UMKC Dental Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament at WinterStone Golf Course in Independence, Missouri. As always, golfers enjoyed food, fun and a few mulligans.

Since its inception, the Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament has awarded over $290,000 in individual scholarships to UMKC School of Dentistry dental and dental hygiene students.

Thank you to the players and sponsors for a great day of golf raising money for student scholarships!

And a special thank you to Dr. Joe Spalitto for his guidance, efforts, and time devoted towards the Dental Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Click here for candids from the event.

Click here for group photos from the event.

Welcoming the DDS Class of 2027

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

The Office of Student Programs hosted incoming dental students at its annual Welcome Reception on Friday, March 10, 2023. Members of the Dental Class of 2027 and their guests came together to celebrate the students’ acceptance to the UMKC School of Dentistry. This pre-orientation event offers a chance for the students to begin to create the bonds they will share for a lifetime with their future classmates, while also learning about the path ahead, the financial aspects of dental school and the resources available to them from faculty, fellow students, and staff. They had the opportunity to tour the building and attend a housing fair to visit with area property managers to learn about local rental opportunities.

The DDS Class of 2027 was selected from a pool of nearly 900 qualified applicants, and hail from Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Hawaii, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Texas, Washington, and Kuwait. They bring extensive community service hours and time spent in the field in preparation for their time at the School of Dentistry. This dental class will be the most culturally diverse class in the school’s history, including the largest percentage of female students. With a science average of 3.75 and a DAT academic average of 20.20, this class is anything but average.

A warm welcome to our 109 future dentists!

See photos from the event here.

*Statistics accurate as of March 2023 and subject to change.

A Medley of Talent at the 2023 Variety Show

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

There was no shortage of talent at this year’s Student, Faculty and Staff Variety Show! The show was held on February 22, 2023, and is sponsored by the Student National Dental Association/Hispanic Student Dental Association.

This annual event has been a dental school favorite, as it’s an opportunity for the dental school community to display their talents and at the same time celebrate the School of Dentistry’s rich diversity. Further, the event coincides with Black History Month and the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

Below are the performers at this year’s event, which was led by Mistress of Ceremony, SNDA Secretary and D2, Precious Hollins, and SNDA Faculty Advisor, John Cottrell:

Casey Aschinger, DDS Class of 2023

Musical Performance: “She Will Be loved” by Adam Levine and “I Want it that Way” by the Backstreet Boys

Brenda Everhart, Staff Supervisor, Clinic

Musical Performance: “Goodness of God and Rooftops”

Anh Nguyen, DDS Class of 2024

Dance Performance to a medley of “Bellyache”, “My Strange Addiction” and “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish

Dr. Bob Hurst, Clinical Assistant Professor, Team 3

Musical Performance: “Part of the Plan” by Dan Fogeberg

Andrew Flanagin, Office Support Assistant, Front Desk

Musical Performance: “O Sole Mio” by Eduardo Di Capua

Sydney Bauer, DDS Class of 2026

Musical Performance: “Life Me Up” by Rihanna

John Cottrell, Director, Faculty Advisor of Minority Programs and SNDA/HSDA

Musical Performance: “Dance with my Father” by Luther Vandross

 

Thank you to all our performers for showcasing your talents!

 

To view photos from the event, click here.

Multicultural Luncheon Leads to Learning

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

On February 10, the Multicultural Planning committee hosted their second Multicultural Luncheon for students, faculty, and staff at the UMKC School of Dentistry.  The goal of the luncheon was to provide broader exposure of the rich heritages and cultures of those within our community so we can more effectively interact in school, patient care, and professional experiences.  Students representing multiple backgrounds including Asian, African American, Kuwaiti, Hispanic and Hawaiian, led various presentations and attendees enjoyed overviews of their cultural histories and dishes from their respective cultures.

Special thanks to the UMKC School of Dentistry Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Office of Student Programs, and Dean’s Office for their sponsorship of the event!

See photos from the luncheon here.

Dental School Hosts Give Kids a Smile

Posted on by Audriana Thompson

The UMKC School of Dentistry provided free dental care to children as part of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile campaign.

 

The event takes place during February which is recognized as Children’s Dental Health month. It’s a chance to show kids how important oral healthcare is in a fun, interactive environment. This year, our faculty, students and staff shared smiles, at-home care kits, and even some bubbles with kids from the community.

View photos from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/x2K6KfNcSArVu3No9

And see YOUR smiles here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/eaajpZeWVVU7LzLTA