Drs. Raymond Gist and Shelia Brown Lauded at Annual King’s Feast

Ann Arbor, MI — March 23, 2011 — An annual dinner organized by the U-M School of Dentistry’s chapter of the Student National Dental Association recently honored two graduates who have become leaders in the dental profession.

During the 30^th annual King’s Feast celebration, which commemorates the life and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Raymond Gist (DDS 1966) and Dr. Shelia Brown (DDS 1985) were lauded for reaching the pinnacle of their respective dental organizations.  Gist is president of the American Dental Association.  Brown is president of the National Dental Association.  She also organized the first King’s Feast in 1981 when she was a dental student at Michigan.

The timing of the dinner and the rise to the presidency of their respective organizations by both Drs. Gist and Brown couldn’t have been better, according to Dr. Marilyn Woolfolk, assistant dean for Student Services.  “It’s the first time two U-M School of Dentistry graduates have concurrently served in leadership roles as president of a national dental organization,” she said.  “We are proud of them and what they have achieved.  We were honored they joined us because both are role models for our dental students.”

Expressing appreciation for the recognition he received from SNDA, Gist encouraged dental students to become involved in organized dentistry and emphasized the importance “of pursuing their goals, regardless of the barriers they might perceive.”  Noting that both he and Brown “are examples of what is possible when dentists get involved,” Gist said he will continue advising students to have far reaching goals.

Brown said she enjoyed returning to U-M and “was honored to receive the award” in her role as president of the National Dental Association and as a past president of the SNDA chapter at U-M and organizer of the first King’s Feast.

Dean Peter Polverini said “there are no better ambassadors for Michigan and the School of Dentistry than Drs. Gist and Brown.  This affirmation of their leadership by their peers is a credit to their commitment and personal investment in the dental profession and its future.  We applaud their achievements, and I’m thrilled our students honored these special alums with this recognition.”

Third-year dental student Crystal Rosser, chair of the committee that organized the event and president-elect of the School’s chapter of SNDA, said the local organization was thrilled to have both Drs. Brown and Gist present at the Feb. 12 program at the Michigan League.  “I hope that we left understanding the importance of what it means to be a leader and how leaders, such as Drs. Gist and Brown, can motivate others,” she said.

Rosser said the keynote remarks of Dr. Edward Mack, who earned a certificate in endodontics from the School of Dentistry in 2006, were also inspiring.  “He reminded us that although we will face difficulties, that we should do so with determination because overcoming them will pave the way to a brighter future for us and for those who follow,” she said.

Membership in the Student National Dental Association includes students and faculty committed to promoting and encouraging an increase in the number of minority students enrolled in dental schools nationwide.  SNDA members are also engaged in outreach, working in communities to address the oral health care needs of minorities and the underserved.