2024 Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Graduates

The following 3 students completed the requirements for the Oral and Craniofacial Sciences MS degree. Congratulations!

Thesis Projects:

Dr. Brandon Knapp: Effect of Build Angle and Print Layer Thickness of Clinical Accuracy  of 3D-Printed Orthodontic Models

Dr. Charlie Boehm: Digital Indirect Bracket Bonding in Orthodontic Practice

Dr. Brandon Simister: Job Satisfaction in Orthodontics: Private Practice Versus Corporate Practice

Annual Dinner Honors Scholarship Donors and Recipients

“I remember sitting here as a student at the scholarship dinner and feeling so thankful, and also a little in awe of those in the room who had donated to make all of the scholarships possible.”

Crystal Walker (DDS ’04, PEDO ’06), Rinehart Foundation chair, shared her personal story at the annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner on Monday, October 14 in Pierson Auditorium, with a room full of student scholarship recipients and their donors. She received the Myrtle Rinehart Scholarship, wife of Dr. Roy J. Rinehart, the namesake of the Rinehart Foundation, that she is now the chair of.

“It’s up to us to continue this tradition of support,” she continued, “Because as you can see tonight, you are truly changing the lives of UMKC School of Dentistry students through your generosity.”

This dinner tradition is one that students and donors look forward to each year, to get have an opportunity to meet and mingle with donors, and even play some cross-generational trivia.

This year, the school distributed an outstanding 407 scholarships to 210 students, totaling $1,558,782.77 in educational support – breaking the school’s and the Rinehart Foundation’s record in scholarship support once again.

Fourth year dental student Justin Harper shared with donors “Your donations make impacts that reach well beyond our short time at UMKC. The relief from educational debt allows students like me a “foot in the door” when it comes time to buy into or start a practice, thus allowing us to impact countless lives in our communities.” He finished his remarks saying “[I] look forward to one day returning alongside my classmates to attend this event again, next time in the role of supporters of the dental program and future students.”

View group photos of students and donors here.

View candids from the event here.

 

UMKC Health Professions Students Selected for Missouri AHEC Scholars

by West Central Missouri AHEC

The West Central Missouri Area Health Education Center has selected seven medical students from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine and ten students from the School of Dentistry to join the nationally recognized AHEC Scholars program. Local AHEC Scholars will join health professions students from all over Missouri and nationally to participate in activities designed to promote a greater understanding of the issues that impact individual and community health care.

Selected medical students are Ethan Nguyen, Eric Chai, Katelyn Junghans, Libby Lueck, Rachel Perera, Shekhar Gugnani, and Vani Patel. Selected dental students are Ann Coleman, Arnulfo Pulido, Caleb Kline, Chad Blaylock, Caitlin Ruth, Elise Baumann, Hannah Lehnhoff, Kylee Meloy, Maddie Janes, and Peyton Kusgen.

AHEC Scholars is a two-year program designed to promote a greater understanding of the issues that impact individual and community healthcare. The program provides opportunities for students to improve the health status and outcomes in their communities through service projects and civic engagement, interdisciplinary training in rural and underserved clinical settings, and by increased awareness of topics including, behavioral and oral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation, and other current and emerging health issues.

“Missouri AHEC Scholars are a part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals to become leaders in interprofessional, transformative practice who serve those who need it the most,” said Stephanie Taylor, Director of the West Central Missouri AHEC. “These students will collaborate with other students representing various health professions including nursing, medical, dental, pharmacy, therapy, and allied health fields and position themselves to join or lead a diverse and culturally competent health workforce. We are very excited to include students from UMKC programs in this group.”

AHEC Scholars is funded by the Health Resources and Administration Association (HRSA) with support from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information about the AHEC Scholars program contact Stephanie Taylor at 816-634-3346 or email stephanie.taylor@hccnetwork.org.

SNDA/HSDA Hosts Veneer Restoration Opportunity

This October, Student National Dental Association/Hispanic Student Dental Association (SNDA/HSDA) hosted a veneer restoration lecture and hands-on activity, co-sponsored by Ivoclar, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and increase the clinical experience of members.

“The event turned out great,” said HSDA president, Gabriel Martin Sasamoto. “It was very rewarding to see that everyone was enjoying themselves and learning.”

Isabel Guevara, HSDA treasurer, expressed gratitude for the more personalized experience outside of regular class time with instructors Dr. Gustavo Leal, president of the Missouri Section of American College of Prosthodontics, and Dr. Derrick Williams. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to further develop my personal relationships with our incredible faculty and our organization’s members in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month,” she said.

Daysha Thorne, SNDA president, echoed that statement. “The hands-on activity was very helpful. I learned a lot of valuable skills that I can use not only in school but in practice as well.”

View photos from the event here.

 

 

 

School Hosts Prospective Students for Showcase Day

The dental school hosted a group of eager applicants on Friday, September 27 for a Showcase Day, where students met each other, faculty and staff and learned about the dental school experience.

From school tours, to a Class 1 Prep activity, applicants and their families got an inside look at what to expect if they attend.

Attendees also enjoyed a social gathering at Vested Coffee.

To view photos from the event, click here.

School Teams Up with the Kansas City Chiefs for TeamSmile

On September 24, student and faculty volunteers from the UMKC School of Dentistry made their way to Arrowhead to team up with the Chiefs for another TeamSmile event, sponsored by Humana, Sun Life/DentaQuest, Hunt Family Foundation, and SKYGEN, to deliver dental care to disadvantaged children.

According to TeamSmile, “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.”

See photos from the event here.

Students Participate in JayDoc Memorial 5K in Honor of Caroline Trupp

The JayDoc Memorial 5K took place on September 14 at Shawnee Mission Park. The event benefits the JayDoc Free Clinic which provides medical and dental care for the uninsured and underinsured Kansas City community. The clinic operates on the help of both student and physician/dentist volunteers and is funded entirely through donations and grants. This 5k is one of the many efforts to raise funds so that the clinic can afford lab testing, medications, and supplies.

The school has a long history with the JayDoc clinic, and is involved in multiple events, including a “pediatric night” of free dental care, where ten dental students in conjunction with pediatric faculty supervisors provided free dental care to 10 children who presented for care at the evening clinic.

The run honored Caroline Trupp, who was a rising second-year medical student who was an avid runner and passionate about giving to the underserved and the JayDoc Free Clinic.

See photos from the run here.

Health Sciences Campus Celebrates Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building Groundbreaking

The UMKC pep band could be heard throughout the Health Sciences Campus on Hospital Hill as the new Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building groundbreaking celebration kicked off on September 11.

Dental and medical students lined tents leading to the main event space showcasing their latest technologies and helped greet visitors as they gathered to celebrate the $145 million Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building – the university’s largest capital investment to date.

The event took place on the corner of 25th and Charlotte streets, home of the future five-story, 160,000-square-foot signature building.

Speakers at Wednesday’s event included former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi, UM Curator Chair Robin Wenneker, students and UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal.

Tim Nguyen, a third-year dental student and UMKC Trustees’ Scholar, pictured above, said: “The Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will provide leading-edge pre-doctoral dental clinics, allowing students to serve more patients in need through advanced equipment, expanded hours for acute dental care and the ability to implement teledentistry for those where access to care is limited. With advanced clinical simulation labs and modern research spaces, UMKC will be able to continue to foster high standards in education and patient care in its future healthcare leaders.”

Read the full story from UMKC Today, here.

View photos from the event here.

Dental Alumni Association Takes New Students Out to the Ballgame

The UMKC Dental Alumni Association hosted the incoming dental and dental hygiene classes by taking them out to a Royals game. Students, alumni, faculty and staff attended the Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels game on August 20, at Kauffman Stadium. Attendees enjoyed a pre-game tailgate with grilled favorites before heading inside. Although the Royals didn’t bring home a win, the UMKC Dental Alumni Association was thrilled to meet and greet with the new students and enjoy a night out at the ballpark once again.

View photos from the event here.