Each year, the UMKC Alumni Association and the campus celebrate the outstanding achievements of UMKC graduates through the Alumni Awards Gala. The upcoming program will honor the class of 2019 recipients on March 15. It’s a chance to share with the world the kind of graduates this institution sends out its doors at each Commencement ceremony. Caps and gowns fluttering in the wind, they leave UMKC to make their way in the world and to make it a better place for all of us.
Join us in extending our congratulations and appreciation to the the 2019 Alumni Achievement Award recipients for the School of Dentistry.
2019 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DENTAL
Terry G. O’Toole (DDS ’81)
Dr. Terry O’Toole (DDS ’81) dedicated many years working with the Veterans Affairs Office of Dentistry in Washington, D.C., to help improve oral health for thousands of veterans in need. In addition to managing medical and dental care deployment for about 8,000 patients each year, Dr. O’Toole was at the forefront of the VA’s efforts to evolve its electronic health record system.
Over his 35 year career within the Veterans Health Administration, Dr. O’Toole served in various roles including staff dentist, clinic coordinator, chief of dental service and, most recently, director of dental informatics and analytics. For nearly a decade he has focused on advancing the technology while serving as head of software development, where his team identified needs and created solutions that helped providers deliver more effective care. Additionally, the evolved electronic health records system enables the VA to effectively track data on patients and treatment protocols to measure outcomes and provider performance to drive system-wide improvements.
Dr. O’Toole also has led the way for teledentistry. He was one of the first to implement resolutions through the American Dental Association that allow dentists to serve patients virtually – making a huge impact on access to care. He has served as chair of the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Practice and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the ADA as well as a representative to the ADA Standards Committee on dental informatics.
His impact on the profession has earned him the 2019 UMKC Alumni Achievement Award for the School of Dentistry.
2019 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT – DENTAL HYGIENE
Rebecca Stolberg (MSDH ’96)
Rebecca Stolberg has been a leader in dental hygiene and dental hygiene education, recognized by the 2019 UMKC Alumni Achievement Award for the School of Dentistry – Dental Hygiene. After graduating from UMKC in 1996 with her master of science in Dental Hygiene, she began her career in dental hygiene education as interim director of the Texas State Technical College Dental Hygiene Program. Following her time at Texas State, Stolberg led the Department of Dental Hygiene at Eastern Washington University for 15 years — the only undergraduate degree program of its kind in that state. During her time in academia, Stolberg received more than $450,000 in grant funding and the ADEA/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Allied Dental Educator Fellowship in 2016. Rebecca also served as course director for LEAF (Leadership Essentials for Adjunct Faculty). This program promotes leadership and professional development opportunities for part-time dental hygiene faculty. Rebecca’s expertise and path in dental hygiene education has now led to her current position as senior director of allied dental education and faculty development at the American Dental Education Association.
2019 YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Dr. Jonathan Copeland (DDS ’09)
Dr. Copeland completed his DDS in 2009 at UMKC and went on to complete a hospital based dental residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Dr. Copeland and his wife, Stephanie (DDS ’10), live in the St. Louis area with their young family. Despite his busy schedule at his private practice, Town Center Dental in Wildwood, Missouri, Dr. Copeland finds time to give back to the profession and his community. He has spent countless hours serving on committees, councils and boards. To name a few: He is a board member of Missouri Dental Insurance Services Inc., a council member for Dental Lifeline Network, a founding member of the Veteran’s Dental Care Coalition and the Missouri Section chair for the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He also had a seat in the Missouri Dental Association House of Delegates, was chair for the Missouri Dental Association’s New Dentist Committee and serves as the SPEAR Study Club Leader. He shares his passion for lifelong learning through presenting CE courses on implants and through his instrumental leadership in helping start Missouri’s first Connect 4 Success, a continuing education weekend for New Dentists. Because of his dedication to his patients and the profession, Dr. Copeland received the ADA’s 10 Under 10 award recognizing dentistry’s rising stars. He has been described as highly respected amongst his peers and an integral part of organized dentistry since he graduated from dental school. He is a wonderful representation of UMKC and so deserving of being named the 2019 Young Alumnus of the Year.