Presiding, Dr. Steven Haas, Dean of the School of Dentistry noted “the Hooding Ceremony, this afternoon, and the Commencement Ceremony, on Sunday morning, are important moments for our dental school community to celebrate and recognize the successes and accomplishments of our graduates. This is especially true for the graduates before us today whose education has been so different, on a daily basis, for the last two years due to the worldwide pandemic – a major disruptive force in all our lives but especially in dental education.” Dean Haas acknowledged the numerous commendable class accomplishments, leaders of our student organizations, represented the school at regional and national meetings, volunteered in the local and regional community, participated in oral health outreach through opportunities like Give Kids a Smile, Mission of Mercy, Team Smile, JayDoc, and provided COVID vaccinations through our school dental clinic and the “Our Healthy Eastside Project”. He further notes “you’ve worked hard to fulfill degree requirements, pass boards, jurisprudence exams, and clinical licensure exams. Most importantly, you’ve cared for patients through extramural rotations across the state and while in our school clinic where you treated 7,906 patients. To be at this point in your journey has required a great deal of dedication, sacrifice, resilience, effort, humbleness, stretching, care, and accomplishment. I know that everyone here is in agreement when we say we are so proud of you!”
The class will be heading off for new challenges Missouri, Kansas, throughout the U.S., and even across the globe in Kuwait! Your plans include:
5 graduates who will be serving in the military
12 graduates who will be entering positions in public health clinics
49 graduates entering private practice
27 graduates entering a specialty/residency program
7 Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency
9 General Practice Residency
7 Pediatric Dentistry Residency
1 Periodontics Residency
2 Orthodontics Residency
1 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency
2 Oral Surgery Fellowship Residency
The ceremony included the special tradition honoring graduates entering the United States military upon graduation. The commissioning of the 2 uniformed dental graduates and oath were administered by Dr. Derek Williams, Commander, United States Navy Reserves, and Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences.
Dean Haas shared a bit of the history, tradition and significance of the regalia, the cap, gown and hood before each graduate was called forward by name.
The hooding was performed Dr. Eric Gottman, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences and Team 2 Coordinator or a family member that is a dental alum or dentist.
The Dean’s Academic Distinction Award was presented to Dr.) Katherine Hayes, honoring the graduate who completed the dental curricula with the highest academic rank.
Each year the graduating class recognizes a faculty member whom they selected as the most influential to their development as dental professionals. (Dr.) Nicole Kurlbaum, Class President, offered remarks and presented the 2022 Teacher of Excellence Award to Dr. Becky Smith, Clinical Professor, Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences and Team 1 Coordinator.
A reception followed and UMKC’s Commencement ceremony was held at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday.
Find photos from the hooding event and reception here.
Photos from the military commissioning ceremony here.
Photos of the grads being hooded.
Portraits of the dental grads from the hooding ceremony are here.
Class group photo.
Photos of dental school grads taken at UMKC Commencement at the “K” here.