DENTAL CHAMPIONS
DENTAL CHAMPIONS
Class VI: 2013-2014
Click on the individuals name for more information.

Charles Abbick, DDS

Dr. Charles Abbick is a dentist at Salina Family Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in Salina, KS. He grew up in Junction City, KS, where his parents Dr. Marion G. Abbick and Marcia Abbick still reside, and his father has practiced dentistry for nearly 40 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Kansas in 2001. He attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2009.

Dr. Abbick is involved with dental education, the dental community, and his local community. Before joining Salina Family Healthcare, he was a clinical instructor at UMKC School of Dentistry. Currently, he serves on the Professional Advisory Committee for the Manhattan Area Technical College Dental Hygiene Program and the Salina Area Technical College Dental Assisting Program. He is on the Health Services Advisory Committee for Heartland Programs, a preschool/head start organization in Salina. He regularly attends meetings for the Salina Dental Society and the Salina Noon Rotary Club. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Kansas Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He has volunteered with the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation.

He has one brother, Matt, who lives in New York City and works in the restaurant industry. In his free time, Dr. Abbick enjoys cycling, jogging, yoga, eating healthy, photography, singing, playing piano, and playing guitar. He is a member of The Metal Chapter, a rock cover band comprised of dentists that has performed at dental conventions and charity events.

Bob Burk

Bob Burk serves as Director of Dental Operations for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and works with the Dental Director to oversee CHC/SEK’s dental program. He most recently was coordinator for the clinic’s medical and dental outreach programs that includes in-school dental screenings, fluoride varnish and sealant initiatives in 33 school districts in Southeast Kansas as well as a partnership with Head Start to provide physicals, immunizations and dental exams to pre-school children at Head Start centers in 9 counties.

Bob also oversees the Kansas Repository, which collects and redistributes unused medications from adult care homes, mail service pharmacies and medical care facilities to safety-net clinics all across Kansas. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of a website that simplified the ordering process for the clinics, allowing them to see available inventory in real time and order according to their needs.

A native of Southeast Kansas, Bob earned his Bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University and spent 20 years in the radio industry. He is active in the community as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Crawford County. Bob lives in Pittsburg with his wife Alicia.

Barb Conant

Barb has almost 40 years of experience in media relations, public affairs and government affairs/lobbying. She primarily has worked with non-profit organizations and state government agencies with a focus on civil justice, social services and consumer advocacy. She served as a lobbyist for the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and currently is the public policy coordinator for Kansas Advocates for Better Care, a non-profit consumer organization that advocates for improved long term care services for seniors and persons with disabilities. She is a graduate of Kansas State University.

Erika Devore is a registered dietitian and the executive director of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Greater Kansas City Chapter, overseeing all of the organizations administration, programs, and finances. The non-profit provides programming such as the Jr. Iron Chef cooking competition that focuses on food allergies, Asthma Camp teaching kids how to control their asthma, and continuing education for nurses and respiratory therapists.

Previously, Erika worked for non-profits addressing childhood obesity issues. She has several years’ experience in advocacy, outreach, and project development in the areas of food policy, built environment, school foodservice, nutrition and physical activity. She has been engaged with the Kansas City Dietetic Association serving as president 2008-09, “Weighing In” childhood obesity collaborative serving on their steering committee 2008-2012, and serving on the Kansas Built Environment and Outdoors Summit planning committee from 2010-2012.

Erika lives in Lawrence with her husband Dave, two dogs, two horses, and a few barn cats. In Lawrence, Erika serves as the Treasurer for the K-State Douglas County Extension and a county storm spotter. In her spare time, Erika likes to garden, read, and ride horses. She has a bachelor’s in human biology from Temple University and a Master’s in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University Of Kansas Medical Center.

Ali Edwards

Linda Broyles serves as the Deputy Director of the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP). She is also responsible for overseeing the Early Childhood Services Department which includes child care and Head Start services for 900 children aged zero to five. Linda began her journey in the field of early childhood as a licensed child care provider in her home. She became a Head Start parent in 1979 when her youngest child entered the program. Since that time, she has worked within the same program in a variety of positions, including classroom Teacher, Site Manager, Home Visitor, Parent Involvement Specialist, and Transition Specialist.

Linda has served in an array of leadership roles within the early learning community, most recently as President of the Region VII Head Start Association. She also serves on the board of the National Head Start Association and was just elected Vice President. Linda is a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Association of Community Action Programs (KACAP) and serves on the Executive Committee as Secretary. Other leadership service includes the Early Childhood Advisory Board of Pittsburg State University and the Board of Directors of Families and Children Together, an affiliate of the Crawford County Community Center for Mental Health. Her expertise has been gained through real experience working in the field of early childhood over the past 32 years.

Tammi Engel, RDH-ECPII

Tammi Engel has lived most of her life in Northwest Kansas and currently reside in rural Rawlins County with her husband Jim and two sons Justin, age 17 and Jared, age 14. She received her dental hygiene degree from Colby Community College and Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin in 2002. After graduating, she worked in private practice for seven years before joining the Rawlins County Dental Clinic in Atwood. She currently serves as the director for the Northwest Kansas Outreach, which provides education and preventative dental services to children at WIC, Head Start, & public schools. She also provides services to people with developmental disabilities and residents in nursing homes. The Rawlins County Dental Clinic currently serves eight counties and is looking to expand into Southwest Nebraska. Engel was the recipient of the Oral Health Kansas 2012 Outstanding Dental Hygienist award.

Jennifer Ferguson, RDH

Jennifer Ferguson is the Children’s Oral Health Program Manager for the Bureau of Oral Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She began working for BOH in December of 2010 and oversees the School Screening Program and the School Sealant Program. She also collaborates on other BOH activities.

Jennifer is a Registered Dental Hygienist who graduated from Johnson County Community College in 1999 and began her clinical hygiene career in private practice. After 8 ½ years of full time clinical hygiene, Jennifer became a Professional Relations Representative with Delta Dental of Kansas working with dental offices and front office staff members in the eastern 1/3 of the state. In addition to her PR role, Jennifer also participated in a Process Improvement Team and she served as a committee member for P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness).

Currently Jennifer is the Immediate Past President for the Johnson County Community College (JCCC) Alumni Association, the dental section chair for the Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA) and she serves on the conference planning committees for both KPHA and Oral Health Kansas.

Ferguson’s formal education includes an Associate of Arts degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan, Associates of Science in Dental Hygiene from JCCC and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Capella University.

Jennifer has a wonderful spouse, Jason, who is an International Award winner Sheet Metal Journeyman and 3 amazing children Madison, Riley and Aiden! In their spare time you can find them at either a soccer game, Boy Scout event or camping at one of the state parks in Kansas or Missouri.

Robyne Goates

Robyne Goates comes from Ohio where she worked for her brother, Michael D. Kinser, D.D.S. while attending Miami University of Ohio. She moved to Topeka, Kansas, with her husband at the time, in 1982. She has worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) since 1987 and is currently the Manager of Professional Relations (PR).

As the Manager of PR, Robyne’s duties include overseeing contract administration and education for the provider community. Her continued desire to achieve and grow both professionally and personally offered the opportunity to be accepted into the BCBSKS Leadership program in which she graduated in 2010.

Robyne is active in the community serving on the Board of Directors at the Marian Clinic as well as serving on the Educational Advisory Committee at Washburn Technical College. She served as President of the American Academy of Professional Coders and recently as Vice President of Membership for the BCBSKS Toastmaster’s Chapter where she received the Competent Leadership Award.

Robyne and her daughter, Megan, have served as volunteers at the Kansas Mission of Mercy project. Megan is Robyne’s only child and lives in Lawrence as she finishes her degree in communications at the University of Kansas. Robyne is a participating fan of March Madness events and of course, when it comes to baseball, is a Cincinnati Reds fan.

Jackie Leakey, RDH, BSDH, ECPII

Jackie Leakey graduated from Flint Hills Area Vocational Technical School- Dental Assisting program in 1988 and served as a dental assistant and office manager for the next 10 years. She then went on to UMKC and graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene in 2000.

Jackie has been active in the Kansas Dental Hygiene Association where she has served as President. She is currently serving as a Delegate for the association. Jackie has also been active on the Nation level and is currently serving on the Ethics Committee for the American Dental Hygiene Association. Jackie was just appointed to the Kansas Dental Board in July. She is a CRDTs and WREB Dental Hygiene Examiner. Jackie is Co-Dental Director for Special Smiles with Special Olympics. Jackie also served with Oral Health Kansas as a Parent Educator, and is also helping the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with School Screenings.

Jackie is married to her husband Rich, and they have three children, Lance 21, Jacob 19, and Laramie 17. Jackie enjoys reading and traveling with her husband and kids. Jackie and Rich coach a Special Olympic Bocce ball team.

Lisa Metzen, DDS

Dr. Lisa Metzen graduated from Kansas State University in 2005 with a B.S. in Biology. That fall she began her studies at University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2009.

Dr. Metzen began practicing dentistry in Olathe with Rhoades Family Dentistry after her graduation. In January of 2011, she and her husband, Joe, moved to Minneapolis so she could join her friend and classmate from dental school, Dr. Ashley Swisher, in practice at All Smiles Dental Care. Both Lisa and Joe grew up in smaller communities and wanted the same for their family. Joe is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Salina. Her love for the field of dentistry first began while working in an orthodontic office while in college. Lisa cherishes her relationship with her patients and is passionate about prevention in dentistry, especially for children. She has volunteered multiple times at the Kansas Mission of Mercy and is anxious to become more involved in helping with access to care issues in our state.

Lisa and Joe have two children, Olivia and Will. In her free time, Lisa enjoys volunteering within her community and church, spending time with family and friends, jogging, playing volleyball, reading and supporting her KSU Wildcats.

Nicole Moser, RDH, ECP II

Nicole Moser grew up as the oldest of five children in a rural community in Northwest Kansas, farming and ranching. She moved to Kansas City, in 1996 and started her career in the dental field as a dental assistant. She then moved back to her hometown to get her Associates of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Colby Community College in accreditation with Northcentral Technical College, graduating in 2003. After graduation she moved to Denver where she worked in private practice for several years. Living in Denver allowed her to be closer to her family farm. Since 2011 she has been working for the First Care Clinic in Hays, KS, as the Dental Outreach Coordinator with her ECP II, she established and continues to expand the dental outreach program. Nicole is currently working on her Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene from Wichita State University.

Nicole lives in Hays with her 2 year old daughter and 7 year old Boxer and enjoys getting the nieces and nephews together as often as possible.

Natalie Olmsted

Natalie Olmsted is the business manager for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at Wichita State University. With 14 years of experience working in private dental practice, she supervises and monitors the business aspects of the WSU Dental Clinic, which is open to the public.

Following her years of dental office management from 1992 to 2006, she spent six years with the Wichita State University Foundation as a special projects manager and planned giving associate. Prior to her arrival in the College of Health Professions at WSU in 2012, she served as the Director of Development for KMUW-Wichita Public Radio.

An alumna of WSU, she is a dedicated Shocker as a season ticketholder of men’s basketball, supports the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Wu Crew, a community volunteer group with the university.

A native of Wichita, she believes in community involvement and supports area businesses as she and her husband own their own small business, Concrete Colorscapes, a decorative concrete company. In her free time, she continues to write and publish short stories, and is currently working on her first novel.

Lucynda Raben, DDS

Lucynda is 3rd of the 8 children of Cy and Lou Raben (2 boys & 6 girls) Her father was a dentist and Lucynda has a sister who is also a dentist, practicing in Texas. Although the siblings are now scattered all over the world but they still enjoy getting together to laugh, argue and toast a few.

Lucynda graduated from Russell High School, then the University of Kansas before heading off to Dental School at the University of Iowa. After dental school, she completed a General Practice Residency and attended the New York Institute of Clinical Oral Pathology, in New York City. She then returned to Kansas to practice dentistry with her father in both Russell and Wichita. After several years they sold the office in Russell and Lucynda bought the practice in Wichita and her father became her employee.  They enjoy being remembered as the first father daughter team in Kansas. Dr. Raben has cared for patients as young as 8 months and as old as 102 and enjoys everyone in between.
Dr. Raben has a firm commitment to lifelong learning. She has completed certification with the prosthetic program with the Misch International Implant Institute as well as achieving fellowship and mastership with the International College of Oral Implantology. She has been fortunate to present for the International College during events in Chicago IL, Hamburg, Germany, and Montreal and Vancouver, Canada.

Organized dentistry has also held an appeal for Dr. Raben as she has been an active member of both the Wichita District Dental Society and the Kansas Dental Association. She has served WDDS as a board member and president and has been a delegate to the Kansas Dental Association. Dr. Raben currently serves on the board of directors of Delta Dental of Kansas and the board of directors of the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Corporate board and was recently named as Chairman of the Board of the Foundation.

Dr. Raben has been the Dentist for the Ask the Dentist segment of the morning television news program for KWCH /MyCW for nearly fifteen years. Her teaching is not limited to television however; she has also had teaching roles with the Wichita Area Technical College and Baker University.

Numerous indigent and service programs have enjoyed Dr. Raben as a participant. She is on the Board of Directors as well as being a volunteer dentist for Project Access. Other volunteer dental positions include the Wichita area school check programs, the Wichita/Sedgwick County Department of Public Health, the Kansas Dental Association and Donated Dental Services.

In addition to dentistry, Dr. Raben enjoys gardening, spoiling her three rescued dogs, and reading. She enjoys music and theater, particularly live events. She has been a participant in numerous long distance sports events, both running and bicycling and enjoys hiking whenever she can find a trail. Dr. Raben is an avid Jayhawk and Shocker Basketball Fan and looks forward to March Madness every year.

Dan Rector, RDH

Dan Rector is a dental hygienist with the United States Public Health Service. He is the dental hygienist at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Dan graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in 2008. Upon graduation, Dan was commissioned in the United States Public Health Service in July of 2008.

Originally from Iowa, Dan was enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1988-1992. He was a dental technician in the Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Dan returned to Iowa and eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University in 1998. Dan worked as a dental assistant in two different private practice offices in Iowa from 1993-2006.

Dan has volunteered with the Kansas Mission of Mercy since 2008 as well as 2 years with the Iowa Mission of Mercy. Through volunteering with the Mission of Mercy Dan learned about the Oral Health Kansas Dental Champions program.

Dan and his wife, Bon, have been married for 13 years and have a 2 year old son, Will. They grew up in the same small town in southern Iowa and enjoy residing in Kansas due to the similarities they find with Iowa and Kansas. When not working, Dan enjoys woodworking, outdoor activities, and volunteering with the Knights of Columbus in Basehor, Kansas, where they reside.

Cindi Sherwood, DDS

Dr. Cindi Sherwood began her career in dentistry in 1975 with a degree in Dental Hygiene from Wichita State University. She worked at the Rock Road Dental Center in Wichita and continued her education at WSU achieving her Bachelors of Dental Hygiene in 1976. Realizing that she loved dentistry and wanting to do more, she continued her education at WSU in order to have the prerequisites to apply for dental school. Cindi graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1982 receiving the Endodontics Award for her class.

Cindi returned home to Independence Kansas to practice General Dentistry. She enjoys her rural dental practice because you “get to do a little of everything”. Cindi has been active in organized dentistry serving the Kansas Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and American Dental Association in numerous roles. She is currently Vice-President of the Kansas Dental Association and will serve as President in 2014-15. She served as on the Board of Trustees for the Academy of General Dentistry representing the states of Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi for 6 years. She also served on the ADA Council on Dental Practice for 4 years. She is a national spokesperson for the AGD and also serves on the AGD national Budget and Finance committee.

For the past 10 years Cindi has volunteered for the Kansas Mission of Mercy projects, Oklahoma Mission of Mercy and Missouri Mission of Mercy projects. She served as local co-chair for the KMOM held in Independence in 2010. She serves on the Kansas Mission of Mercy Advisory Board and the Donated Dental Services Advisory Board.

Cindi is married to Byrle, an architect, and they have three adult children: Eli, married to Niki, and living in Chicago; Audrey living in New York City and Daniel, living in Dallas. She is an active volunteer with her church and Chamber of Commerce and loves to read and watch Jayhawk basketball.

Elisa Storbeck, RDH, ECP II

Elisa Storbeck is originally from México, D.F.  were  she earned her Bachelor  Administration Degree from Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Morelos University in 1994. Elisa is a Registered Dental Hygienist, with an Extended Care Permit II. She graduated with her Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene in May 2008 from Mohave Community College in Bullhead City, Arizona. Elisa is currently enrolled in the ECP III Training Course Sponsored by UMKC School of Dentistry.

Elisa currently works full time at Health Partnership Clinic in Olathe, KS.  She also organizes outreach efforts as a means to increase access to care, prevention, and increase oral health awareness in Johnson County. She does dental screenings and utilizes mobile outreach dental equipment to provide preventive dental care on-site in diverse places such as Head Start Early Childhood Centers, SMSD, Olathe School district, and Project Eagle.

Elisa participated in Project Healthy People 2020 at Marian Clinic with Oral health Kansas in Topeka, KS in 2012 by providing dental screenings, preventives services, and patient education for diabetic patients.  As a Healthcare Professional Elisa feels very fortunate to share her knowledge and believes that providing oral health care awareness she can change one life at the time!

Chris Tilden, PhD

Chris Tilden is the Director of Community Health at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. He joined the health department in October of 2012 after working the previous two years in Idaho where he served as the executive director of a non-profit health and social service agency in Boise. Prior to working in Idaho Chris served 10 years as the Director of the Bureau of Local and Rural Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. His work has consistently focused on service to underserved populations, including rural communities, minority groups (including migrant health workers, refugees, etc.), and both underserved youth and seniors. He has also worked extensively on health systems development including primary care, mental health, emergency medical services and hospitals.

Chris’ current work includes coordination of county-wide efforts to implement a community health plan in Douglas County. The community health program at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is a relatively new undertaking. The program has three staff, all new to the health department in the last three years. The program is seeking to improve community understanding of the determinants of health as well as the most effective and achievable means for improving the health of the community. The newly developed county health plan will focus on increasing access to healthy foods, improving physical activity, enhancing awareness of mental health, increasing access to health care, and reducing poverty by improving opportunities for employment among area residents.

Chris completed his undergraduate degree at Kansas University. He holds a Master’s in health administration from KU and a PhD in biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke University. He has held adjunct appointments at several universities including The Ohio State University and KU. At KU he has served on the faculty of the Departments of Anthropology, Preventive Medicine, and Health Policy and Management. Outside of the office Chris enjoys cycling, running, and swimming. He also appreciates quality literature, good music, tasty food and wine, and spending time with family and friends.

Becky Tuttle

Becky Tuttle holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Arts from Appalachian State University in Student Development Administration. She has over eighteen years of professional experience working with youth and adult coalitions on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as physical activity, healthy eating, oral health, and worksite wellness.

Tuttle currently serves as the Health Promotion Coordinator for the Sedgwick County Health Department. Her main responsibilities include collaborating with community and state partners towards common goals of improving health of the public through health education initiatives and coordinating program planning and services with other community and state agencies. Based on identified needs of the agency and communities, Tuttle develops new or strengthens existing health education and health promotion programs (research, assessment, program framework development, implementation, evaluation).

She also collaborates with Sedgwick County Communications to ensure Health Department Communication Plans implementation. Tuttle ensures accountability for staff and program performance and for the effectiveness and efficiency of all health education directed programs. Prior to working at the Sedgwick County Health Department, she served as the Kansas Tobacco Quitline Manager for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Tobacco Use Prevention Program. She also served that agency as an Outreach Coordinator for South Central Kansas, but had the opportunity to work with grantees and local coalitions in all six districts of the state.

Tuttle is a Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute Cycle VII Scholar and a 2013 Advance Kansas participant. Tuttle serves on the Sedgwick County Sustainability Task Force, Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition Board of Directors, American Lung Association Board of Directors, Kansas Public Health Association Board of Directors, Health and Wellness Coalition Board of Directors, Tobacco Free Wichita Board, Wichita Sedgwick County Oral Health Coalition, 2013 Kansas Mission of Mercy Board, Sedgwick County Health Department Wellness Committee, Sedgwick County Health and Human Services Division Wellness Committees and is the Sedgwick County Health Department Betterment Committee Chair.

Career highlights include numerous local, regional, state, and national awards, including serving as the Coordinator for Tobacco Free Youth Initiative in Indianapolis, Indiana, which received the 2001 American Public Health Association-GlaxoSmithKline Partnership for Healthy Children Award. Tuttle is the recipient of the 2012 Kansas Public Health Association Virginia Lockhart Health Education Award. Tuttle was also nominated and selected to be the recipient of “Dedication to Teamwork Award” for Sedgwick County Health Department for 2009 by her staff and peers.




Follow Us