DENTAL CHAMPIONS
DENTAL CHAMPIONS
Class IV: 2009-2010
Click on the individuals name for more information.

DeeAnn Richards Behrens, DDSDeeAnn Richards Behrens, DDS is a native of Kansas City, Kansas where she now has her dental practice, iSmilekck at 6420 Parallel Pkwy, providing innovative dental health for all ages.

After earning a B.A. in Human Development from the University of Kansas, Dr. Behrens received her D.D.S. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry in 1987.

Her husband is Rev. Rick Behrens, co-pastor of Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, a bi-lingual Spanish/English church at 17th & Wilson Blvd in KCK. They have two boys, Sam Behrens, a sophomore at Oberlin College in Ohio and Lucas Behrens, a sophomore at Sumner Academy in KCK. The family shares a love of music and football.

Dr. Behrens is a member of the American Dental Association, the Kansas Dental Association and a board member of Business West. She has been voted “Best in the West” Dentist in 2004, ’06, ’07 and ’08. She was in Leadership 2000 in the year 2000. Her practice was voted KCK Chamber Small Business of the year in 2004.

John Fales, DDSDr. Fales earned his B.S. degree in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas in 1978. He then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1982. He completed a residency in Pediatric Dentistry in 1991 at The Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Also in 1991, Dr. Fales earned a Master of Science in Oral Biology from UMKC School of Dentistry.

Dr. Fales has presented numerous lectures to pre-school and public school students, as well as to parents, teachers and community organizations. Additionally, he has presented seminars to dental professionals regarding laser dentistry.

He gives back to the community by volunteering with the Danforth Foundation, Kiwanis International, Boy Scouts of America and the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation.

His professional affiliations include the American Dental Association, the Kansas Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentistry, Fifth District Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, Kansas Association of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Kansas City Association of Pediatric Dentists.

Dr. Fales and his wife have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys flying, gardening, woodworking, water gardening and spending time with family and friends. He is a member of the Advent Lutheran Church, where he sings in the Chancel Choir.

Karen Finstad is the Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation. She is located in the Delta Dental office in Overland Park. She has been with the Foundation since it began in January 2004. She graduated from Washburn University in 1985 with a degree in Political Science. Karen is a lifelong resident of Kansas growing up on a dairy farm outside of Lawrence and spending most of her adult years in Wichita working in the non-profit community. She spent 6 years in Washington D.C. as the President & CEO of the National Fund for the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Karen also participates through the Delta Dental Foundations Executive on Loan program as the KAMU Dental Hub Coordinator working with all the Dental Hub 1, 2, & 3 participants and the KAMU staff on a weekly basis.

She is a member of the Oral Health Kansas Board of Directors and serves as the Resource Development Committee Chair; she also serves on the Board Development Committee and the Advocacy Committee. She belongs to the Central Exchange in Kansas City/Overland Park. She is a Smiles Change Lives Advisory Council member for the Kansas City program and she also serves on the Kansas Early Childhood Oral Health Advisory Council. She serves on The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park as the board Vice President of Development and was the Sponsorship Committee Chair for Stems, A Garden Soiree held June 27, 2009.

Professionally, she belongs to The Association for Small Foundations.

Karen has two grown children, Marci, who lives in Wichita and is a stay at home mommy of three of Karen’s grandsons: Nicholas, Christian, & Jacob, and Patrick who lives in Overland Park and works in Topeka as the chief legal counsel for the Governor in the Dept. of Administration. He and his wife Allison are the parent’s of Karen’s other two grandsons, Sam & Ben.

Kim GronnigerKim Gronniger, administrative director of marketing and communications for St. Francis Health Center, has an English degree from Washburn University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. She joined St. Francis Health Center in January 2002 as director of community relations.

She has worked as public relations manager for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president and director of marketing and communications for the FHLBank of Topeka and as senior director of corporate communications for Western Resources (now Westar Energy). She also was employed as vice president for Fleishman-Hillard Inc. with public relations and public affairs responsibilities for SBC Kansas (now AT&T).

Gronniger is a 1991 Leadership Topeka graduate, an adjunct professor for Baker University and a magazine free-lance writer. She chairs the Kansas Children’s Service League Community Council and serves on the YWCA board of directors and the Hayden High School board of trustees.

She and her husband, Dan, an attorney with KVC Behavioral Health Care, have two children, Joe and Catie.

Cathy HardingCathy Harding has been the Executive Director for the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) since November 2007. KAMU is the Primary Care Association of Kansas, and represents 41 member organizations dedicated to the mission of ensuring access to health care for Kansans regardless of their ability to pay. Prior to her employment with KAMU, Cathy worked in the “safety net clinic” field through management positions with the Flint Hills Community Health Center (Emporia, KS) and Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium (Anderson, MO). She also served as President of Midwest Support Services Company, LLC, a consulting and specialty grant writing business based in Emporia, Kansas.

A current member of the Oral Health Kansas Board of Directors, Cathy is directly involved with KAMU’s ‘Dental Hub’ project designed to increase access to care for underserved populations throughout the state through a ‘hub and spoke’ model. The Dental Hub program is a public/private partnership with funding from the State of Kansas and every Kansas-based health foundation. Altogether, this program has contributed over $5 million over the past two years to increase access to care in more than 50 Kansas counties.

A native Kansan, Cathy earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Pittsburg State University. She resides in Emporia, and commutes daily to the KAMU office in Topeka.

Schaunta James-BoydSchaunta James-Boyd is a graduate of Wichita State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Service Organization and Policy, with a Minor in Spanish. Mrs. James-Boyd has over 17 years in the area of health care, beginning while she was in college. Presently, she ably serves as Executive Director ofthe E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic. She has worked relentlessly for the last eight years to breathe new life to a dying clinic. She runs the clinic with a firm and fearless; but passionate hand; meaning that under her skillful guidance the Tyree Clinic has developed several programs aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles behaviors. The Clinic serves not only as an access point to health care, but a home where patients are empowered to make life changing decisions through hands on education and skills development regarding adoption of healthy lifestyles and various medical conditions. She and her entire staff moded the Clinic mission “To Provide Exceptional Healthcare and Exceptional Service through Exceptional People” as they seek to serve the needs of clients.

Further, Mrs. James-Boyd work does not end as Executive Director of the E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic; she is deeply committed to and continuously engaged with her community. Some of her involvements include: past President and member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Board of Directors of the NonProfit Chamber of Service, Business Plan Advisor for the Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas, member of the Sedgwick County Oral Health Coalition, member of the Healthy Congregations Committee of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, member of The Health & Wellness Committee of the Kansas West Conference, member of Unicare Community Advisory Committee, and Chairperson of NE Community Partners Project (a community effort to encourage and engage residents in northeast Wichita to become self-determiners of their health care and lifestyles).

Last, but not at all least Mrs. James-Boyd is married to Damany James Boyd and they are the proud parents of three princely sons: Waladi Akil, age 11, Sha’air Bakari, age 9, and Jadon Joseph Taalib, age 5.

Gail KennedyGail Kennedy is Dental Outreach Coordinator and Lead Dental Assistant for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg. A lifelong resident of the area, she has devoted more than 40 years to a career in dentistry. Prior to joining CHC/SEK, she worked for several dentists in their private practices including an oral surgeon where she completed the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ Anesthesia Assistant Program. She is certified in orthodontics, endodontics and general dentistry.

As Outreach Coordinator, she has facilitated a very successful program that includes in-school dental screenings, a fluoride varnish and sealant initiative and partnerships with Head Start, WIC and long-term care facilities. In 2008, more than 17,000 children benefited as a result of this outreach program. She also supervises ten dental assistants at four sites in three counties.

She is active in her community and church and served on the USD #508 Board of Education in Baxter Springs, on the Cherokee County Mental Health Board of Governors and is a Past President of Beta Sigma Phi and of the Ruth Group of the First Christian Church.

Her commitment to children and their needs comes naturally to Gail who has six children and eight grandchildren. She and her husband Bob live on a farm on the Kansas/Missouri state line where they raise Angus cattle.

Cathy LandwehrCathy Landwehr is a Gerontologist with 23 years experience initiating, implementing and maintaining programs and services for older people. She has a 17 year history with the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging, most recently managing the Client Assessment, Referral and Evaluation Program. Ms. Landwehr Bailey began working with her agency to provide educational and professional dental screenings and services to older adults three years ago in response to the growing need for affordable oral health for older adults.

Cathy lives in Wichita in a historic neighborhood and is president of her neighborhood association. She serves on the Wichita Public Library Board and is a volunteer guardian for the Kansas Guardianship Program.

Patty Martinette, RDH, ECPIIPatty has been involved in the dental professional for the past 25 years. She is a registered dental hygienist and holds an extended care permit with the state of Kansas. Her work experience has included clinical practice in both general and periodontal dentistry. In addition to her work in private practice, she has been involved with community dental health and clinical dental hygiene instruction. She discovered her passion for community health while leading dental hygiene student based programs in affiliation with UMKC School of Dentistry. This led to her connection with Oral Health Kansas and her current position as the Northeast Kansas Regional Children with Special Health Care Needs parent oral health educator. Additionally, her interest in research on health and nutrition has given her the opportunity to write a bi-monthly health feature article for a regionally based, nationally circulated magazine: LO-Profile.

Her hobbies include golf, gardening and spending time with her husband and 2 sons.

Blanche ParksBlanche C. Parks, is the Senior Manager at the Kansas Department on Aging and is responsible for the statewide Oral health Services for the HCBS/FE Waiver Outreach Program. The agency program was recognized by the Administration on Aging (AOA) as a Program Champion in 2008. She is also responsible for other statewide programs with emphasis on improvement of the quality of life for Kansas senior citizens.

She is a lifelong Kansan with Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Washburn University and a graduate of the Certified Public Manager program through the University of Kansas. She has an extensive background in state government in a variety of management positions including the development and implementation of the Kansas Learning Quest College Savings Program which was ranked in the top five plans in the nation.

Blanche is a past Chairman of the Board of Regents of Washburn University and is a graduate of the Leadership Kansas, and Leadership Greater Topeka programs. She has received numerous awards and recognition for community service such as the “2001 ABWA Woman of Distinction” and was recognized in the “Top 100 Most Influential Topekans” by the Topeka Capital Journal, Special Edition, 2000.

Julie was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas and is a graduate of Shawnee Heights High School and Washburn University. She graduated from Washburn with a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communication in May 2009. Before coming to work for Oral Health Kansas, she worked at Walgreens for 9 years. Julie joined the OHK staff in August 2008 working part time, before coming back full time in March 2009, as the Office and Communications Manager. Julie has been married to her husband Mark for a year and a half; they have one son, Aydin who is 1 year old.

In her free time, Julie enjoys to be outdoors, to play softball, tennis, scrapbook, and to spend time with family and friends. She also is the director and coordinator of her church nursery team and is also a member of her church worship team. Julie loves to travel, to experience new places and cultures, has been to Europe twice and cannot wait to go back.

MaryAnn PercyMaryAnn Percy is Registered Dental Hygienist, with an Extended Care Permit II. She graduated from Johnson County Community College’s Dental Hygiene program in 1979. In May 2007, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. Currently she works three days a week as a dental hygienist in a private practice with Dr. Sean McReynolds, in Humboldt, Kansas. She works part time for the Office of Oral Health as an Outreach Coordinator focusing on training medical professionals on conducting oral assessments and applying fluoride varnish.

MaryAnn is a volunteer with the REACH Healthcare Foundation’s Project Ready Smile. As part of this program she conducts screenings and applies fluoride varnish twice a year at a daycare in Allen County. For the past three years she has voluntarily conducted dental screenings at school enrollments as part of our Allen County SAFEBASE program. Most recently she has started working with The Foundation for Aging and Care of Elders of Kansas. In this program she trains nursing home and assisted living staff to complete dental assessments on residents and how to perform daily dental care for the residents.

Amber SellersAmber Sellers received her BSE degree in Sports Science from The University of Kansas in 2005. Immediately following her 2 year stint as a student athletic trainer, Amber graduated with her MSE in Health Education from KU in 2007. Her experiences in community health education have allowed her to work in various capacities from tobacco prevention to health promotions and outreach for the medically underserved.

In April 2008, Amber returned to her hometown of Wichita, taking a position Child Start Inc, Wichita’s Head Start/Early Head Start and Child Care Resource Agency. As the Oral Health Coordinator, Amber provides oral health education to children, staff and parents of Head Start as well as oversees quarterly dental screens and fluoride varnishing for Head Start/Early Head Start. Amber is a proud member of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Oral Health Coalition and holds a CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) credential from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. (NCHEC).

In her free time, Amber is a dedicated and active member in her sorority (Sigma Gamma Rho) as well as a committee member for her church’s Health Ministry Team. She enjoys spending time traveling and surrounds herself with the love and support of her family and friends.

Douglas Stefek Douglas Stefek is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Ellsworth County Medical Center. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1970 and graduated Fort Hays State University 1989, with a B.S. Psychology. He was an adolescent youth counselor for 8 years, was a counselor at Ellsworth Correctional Facility for 3 years. Mr. Stefek was previously employed by the State of Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitations Services were he worked for 14 years, as well as serving 4 years in the United State Army. Mr. Stefek is very involved in the community, in the past he was a member and a Commander of Ellsworth Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6485, an elder for his church, also in the past he was a member and the president of the Ellsworth Kiwanis club. He is currently a member for Drover’s Hall of Fame, Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Ellsworth County Multidisciplinary team, the Ellsworth County Drug taskforce and is also a member of Ellsworth County Community Forum.

Robert StilesRobert Stiles received his Masters in Public Health from University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2006. He began working with the Primary Care Office in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in 2001. He is currently Director of the Primary Care Office. Previously, he served as the Primary Care Clinic Coordinator and a Regional Case Manager in the Kansas Statewide Farmworker Health Program. In his current position, Robert works on issues of access to oral health services for underserved populations as well as dental workforce issues in Kansas.

Douglas StuckeyDouglas Stuckey is the Chief Financial Officer of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, the state’s largest safety net dental clinic, and current treasurer of Oral Health Kansas. He is a certified public accountant with 22 years experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including stints as chief accounting officer for two public-held companies, his own accounting firm and supervisory positions at a “Big Four” accounting firm in Houston. He also serves on the finance committee of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved and is a former member of the Kansas Health Solutions Board of Managers.

He graduated from Pittsburg State with a BSBA in Accounting and received a MBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Civic duties include the board of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, Rotary, and external member of the audit committee of the Pittsburg State University Foundation

Jon Tilton, DDSDr. Tilton was born and raised in Salina, Kansas, and graduated from Kansas University in 1970 and the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry in 1974. After two years of active duty in the United States Navy (stationed in San Francisco); he came to Wichita, Kansas in 1976 to join the dental practice of Dr. Ralph Johnson. It was in 1978 that he started his own dental practice, he has enjoyed many wonderful years of providing preventive and restorative dental services.

He is married to his wife, Marilyn, and they have three children, one daughter, Carrie and two sons, Matt and Burke, as well as a fantastic daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and three precious grandchildren, Dru, Chloe and Mauri.

In his free time he enjoys golf, creating with stained glass, and giving back to his community and his profession.

Kathy TrilliKathy Trilli graduated from Sheridan College in Wyoming with an Associate Degree, and moved to Texas where she practiced Dental Hygiene for 25 years before moving to Kansas in 2002.

Her husband, Vic Trilli, was a basketball coach in Texas at 4 different colleges, and now is Athletic Director at Newman University.

Kathy has enjoyed a wonderful and varied dental hygiene career with 2 yrs in a Perio Practice, 8 yrs in teaching Dental Hygiene, and 20 years in a family dental practice setting. In order to teach dental hygiene she received a BS degree from Midwestern State University, in Wichita Falls, TX.

While in Kansas, Ms Trilli has enjoyed serving on the KMOM planning committees for Garden City and Kansas City. Currently she is working as a regional parent educator for children with special health care needs with Oral Health Kansas. As a member of KDHA, Kathy is serving on the membership committee. She also works part time at Park City Dental and has just recently moved to Wichita, KS.

Her greatest joy is spending time with her husband and four children: Shannon, Leah, Jon and Ryan.

Dr. Vanessa Williams received her DDS from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN and MPH from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. Upon receiving her MPH, Dr. Williams worked for several years in the research division at the Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, as an evaluation specialist. While working at MHMR of Tarrant County, she gained valuable experience in program evaluation and epidemiologic activities. As a dental student, Dr. Williams was able to continue her interest in research by exploring the complexity of oral health. She was actively involved in various research-oriented activities including an internship at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in Bethseda, MD. Her genuine interest involves promoting the awareness of dental and public health initiatives.

She enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Pamela Ann YoungerPamela Ann Younger grew up in a military family and lived in Nebraska, Missouri, Delaware and Arkansas. When her father, MSGT Buddy Byler retired from the Air Force, their family, mother Pat, Brother Brad and Sisters Becky and Bridget moved to Webb City, Missouri. After graduating as an honor student from Webb City High School, she attended Missouri Southern State University as an elementary education major. At this time she became interested in dentistry and enrolled in a dental assisting program at MSSU. After completion, she received her CDA and worked as a chair-side dental assistant for several years in a general practice. Returning to MSSU she received an A.S. in Dental Hygiene.

She graduated at the top of her class and received the Friend Golden Scaler Award for clinical excellence. Pam worked as a clinical dental hygienist for several Joplin, Missouri dentists. During that time there was always a yearning to help those people who were in great need dentally, but were unable to receive care because of access to care or monetary issues. Finally, in 2003 the dream to help the underserved came true as she began working with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. It began small, a one room dental office located in a church, but since then the organization has grown exponentially. Pam thanks the Good Lord everyday for the opportunity He has given her to help the "Least of These" receive desperately needed oral health care. After receiving her Extended Care Permit II, she works primarily as an outreach dental hygienist for CHC SEK providing oral screening, ECP dental hygiene, fluoride varnish applications, and oral health education at schools, extended care living facilities, preschools, day cares and Head Start centers. She is a OHK parent educator for children with special health care needs, and is a member of the Missouri Southern State University Dental Hygiene Advisory Board and the ADHA.

Pam and her Husband Don have four children; Tisha, her husband Jason and grand children Isaiah and Marissa of Springdale AR, Eric and his wife Deanna of Oronogo, MO, Seth of Joplin, MO, and Desiree’ Webb City, MO. Pam enjoys traveling, church activities, movies, reading, her friends and playing with her two dogs.




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