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.
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.
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.
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.
The UMKC Office of Student Involvement hosted the Lunch on the Lawn and Connections Fair on August 28 at the UMKC Health Sciences District.
Students got to meet with different campus groups, play games and enjoy lunch.
The Dr. Roy J. Rinehart Foundation invited the DDS Class of 2028 and the Dental Hygiene Class of 2026 to a barbecue lunch catered by Jack Stack to learn about the foundation and how it has impacted the school and continues to do so.
Students received embroidered UMKC pullovers courtesy of the Rinehart Foundation.
The UMKC School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics has partnered with Smiles Change Lives to provide access to life-changing orthodontic treatment to children from families that cannot afford the full cost of braces.
Smiles Change Lives, originally the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership, has treated more than 16,000 children since 1997, when they initially partnered with the dental school, and has emerged as the nation’s leader in providing access to orthodontic care for qualified youth.
This July, orthodontic residents renewed the partnership and began treatment for six patients, selected by Smiles Change Lives.
Hear from Erin Cahil, star of multiple Hallmark films, about the organization’s mission and how you can get involved here.
American Student Dental Association (ASDA)
Each fall, ASDA celebrates their annual Crawfish Boil as a kick-off to the new school year and to welcome in the new D1 class. Not only is it fun event for all students to attend, but it helps us raise funds to send students to conferences.
In October, ASDA sent 8 students to represent theschool at ASDA’s National Leadership Conference in Chicago. This was an amazing experience for all who got to go as they were able to receive continuing education, network with students from all over the country, and learn how to strengthen the local chapter.
In the spring, ASDA was able to send a large group of students to Jefferson City to participate in ASDA’s Missouri Lobby Day. Participants were able to actively participate in organized dentistry and advocate for their profession to our state’s lawmakers.
In March, ASDA sent three students to ASDA’s Annual Session in Colorado, where ASDA executives can vote on national ASDA legislation and policies. This is another great opportunity for our students to get to participate in organized dentistry and contribute to efforts that support dental students nationwide.
This September, ASDA also sent four students to the ASDA district’s leadership retreat in Okoboji, Iowa. The local chapter leaders were able to collaborate with chapter leaders from 6 other dental schools to learn about how we can better support and grow our local chapter.
ASDA has goals and plans to more than double conference attendance and to bring more resources to students than ever before. Major ASDA events coming up are this year’s National Leadership Conference in Chicago in November, the ASDA District 8 Conference in St. Louis in January, ASDA’s National Lobby Day in March, and ASDA’s Annual Session right here at UMKC in March.
Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA)
HSDA earned the 2023-24 Chapter of the Year award for its outstanding dedication to diversity, community engagement, and student empowerment. In partnership with the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), the chapter organizes key initiatives like Impressions Day and the Shaping Smiles Shaping Futures program. These programs are designed to provide high school and college students interested in dentistry with valuable information about the profession, an introduction to the school, hands-on dental activities, and direct exposure to both dental students and faculty. Through these efforts, the HSDA not only inspires the next generation of dental professionals but also strengthens its ties with the broader community.
Additionally, the chapter holds monthly general body meetings that serve as vital opportunities for members to share resources, explore new opportunities, and build a strong support network. To further foster a closely knit community, the HSDA hosts a new student welcome dinner and social, which helps new students connect with older students and learn about the various organizations within the school.
These combined efforts highlight the chapter’s leadership, dedication, and far-reaching impact, making it a deserving recipient of the Chapter of the Year award.
Executive members took to New York City to attend the HDA Student Regional Conference this summer. Click here for HSDA’s overview of their time.
Student National Dental Association (SNDA)
Dental students from the UMKC Chapter of SNDA recently went to Las Vegas to attend the 52nd Annual SNDA National Convention, and went home with some well-deserved recognitions including:
Click here for a full recap from SNDA on their experience.
Dr. Luke Wezeman, Clinical Assistant Professor, as been named the new Vice Chair of the Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, after having served as interim.
Dr. Wezeman received his bachelor’s degree from Seattle Pacific University in 1996, and in 1997, he earned a Washington state teaching certificate and master’s degree in teaching in 1999. Following his schooling, Dr. Wezeman went back to Whidbey Island, where he grew up, and taught middle and high school for five years, then, in 2004, began dental school at New York University’s College of Dentistry where he graduated with his DDS degree in 2008. Dr. Wezeman became the owner and operator of a private practice for ten years, then after choosing to sell his practice in 2018, worked as an associate dentist for two and half years.
He joined the dental school in 2021 as Clinical Assistant Professor, where he’s successfully united his passion for dentistry and teaching. This passion is evident to the dental school community, as he’s received numerous teach awards including Faculty of the Year multiple years running, Lecturer of the Year and Pre-Clinical Lab Faculty of the Year. He was also selected to be the DDS keynote speaker for our Transitioning to the Profession Ceremony. Dr. Wezeman has served as a course director for two major courses in the Department of Restorative Clinical Sciences, teaches in the student clinic four to five days a week, manages and administers a Fixed Prosthodontic competency for the D4 class and helps to prepare students for success in the clinical board exams.
Currently, Dr. Wezeman maintains memberships with the American Dental Association, American Dental Education Association, Missouri Dental Association, Kansas Dental Association, and the Greater Kansas City Dental Association.
by Jimi Sode, Senior Manager of Dental Admissions and Smiles and Sets Event Lead
The first-ever Smiles & Sets: UMKC School of Dentistry Spike Showdown was a huge success!
Held at The Sandbox on Saturday, August 17th, this inaugural sand volleyball tournament brought together students, faculty, staff and alumni for an exciting day of friendly competition. The event had teams representing various different UMKC School of Dentistry constituents. The atmosphere was electric with excitement and camaraderie.
The sun was shining, the sand was hot, and the play with fierce, as everyone came together to celebrate the start of the academic year in the best possible way. There were clever team names with the winner of the best team name going to the “Drill and Kill”.
The dual-division tournament allowed players of all skill levels to compete, and in the end, the top teams were awarded well-deserved prizes.
Maddie Janes (D2) served as the captain for “79 Courts” who won the Upper Division Championship and Jimi Sode served as captain for one of the faculty and staff teams called the “The Floss Bosses” who won the Lower Division Championship.
The Smiles & Sets truly set the tone for an unforgettable year at the UMKC School of Dentistry, bringing the community closer while showcasing the spirit of friendly competition.