The School of Dentistry hosted the annual meeting of the Society of American Indian Dentists, June 6th through 8th. About 40 American Indian dentists, dental and pre-dental students, and dental personnel from across the country were here to attend a variety of professional development, business, cultural, and social events. Procter and Gamble, Oral-B, Midmark, Voco, Adec, Sullivan-Schein, and Zimmer Dental provided corporate support to the program, as did Mystic Lake and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Local planning was spearheaded by Dr. Mike Madden, SOD interim assistant dean of admissions, and the school faculty provided a broad program of continuing education programs.
Dr. David Born and Mr. Larry Aitken, a tribal elder and pipe carrier from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, met twice with students to discuss bi-cultural identity issues and the blending of western medicine and traditional healing systems. A highlight of the two-day event was an honoring ceremony, complete with traditional dancers, singers, and an honor guard, for the society president Dr. George Blue Spruce, Creighton alum and the first American Indian dentist. Dr. Blue Spruce is president of the Society of American Indian Dentists and a former Asst. Surgeon General in the U.S. Public Health Service, and has been tireless in efforts to recruit American Indians into the dental profession.
A new scholarship was established in Dr. Blue Spruce’s name. The Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Sullivan-Schein each contributed $10,000 toward the establishment of an endowed fund. A request for matching funds will be filed with the University Foundation.
ADA Article on the Conference