Ann Arbor, MI — October 27, 2009 — A University of Michigan School of Dentistry alumna has been inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame as the nation’s first female American Indian dentist. Dr. Jessica Rickert, who earned her DDS from U-M in 1975, received the Life Achievement Award from the Michigan Women’s Studies Association today in Lansing.

Rickert, who runs a private practice in Interlochen, is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Through her grandfather, she is a descendent of Chief White Pigeon. A founding member of the Society of American Indian Dentists, she is the author of Exploring Careers in Dentistry, a book published in 1983 that describes the profession and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career. Rickert is active in the ADA, MDA, the American Association of Women Dentists, the National Association of Professional Women, and was president of the Resort District Dental Society (2001-2002).

As a pre-med undergraduate student at U-M, Rickert said she began considering dentistry as a possible career after meeting Assistant Dean Dr. Donald Strachan at a School of Dentistry open house. Strachan directed the admissions office for 20 years until he retired in 1988. Rickert said she made her final decision following a second visit when she watched and talked to a dental student who was casting a gold crown. “I was intrigued with what I saw and how the student used his skills to make the crown that would make someone’s life better,” she said. Those experiences and conversations with oral health professionals “convinced me that dentistry would be a perfect fit for me and allow me to help others and balance a career and family,” she added.

Recalling her four years of dental education, Rickert said, “When I entered the School of Dentistry, there were no women on the faculty. There were only six women students in my class, including me. Every day,” she added, “I had to deal with issues regarding my ethnicity and femininity, but couldn’t dwell on them because those were intense and challenging times and the coursework was often difficult.” Rickert also recalled “having plenty of homework, especially preparing for dental appointments since each patient had a different problem I had to address.”

Two memorable professors she recalled were Professor Albert Richards, who was recently inducted into the School of Dentistry’s Hall of Honor, and Dr. Donald Huelke, who taught gross anatomy at the Medical School. “Professor Richards’ X-rays of flowers were beautiful and fascinating,” she said. Huelke investigated the use of seat belts in automobiles and co-authored the textbook Dental Gross Anatomy, a Dissection Guide for Freshman Dental Students.

Talking about her nearly 35 years in private practice, Rickert said “the ability to make a difference in the quality of people’s lives is a reward that is difficult to describe.” She added that dentistry “has offered the balance in my life that I was hoping for when I considered oral health care as a career. It has enabled me to pursue many professional interests as well as raise a family.” Two of Rickert’s three adult children are U-M graduates, the third graduated from MSU. Rickert said she enjoys returning to Ann Arbor at least once a year to participate in continuing dental education.

Contact: Sharon Grayden, Communications Director (734) 615-2600, dentistry.communications@umich.edu, or Jerry Mastey, Editor, School of Dentistry (734) 615-1971, jmastey@umich.edu.