avenues I have participated in over the years, I get the most satisfaction out of the forensic work I do. For the last several years, I have assisted various law enforcement agencies with forensic dental and anthropo- logical victim identification. I find the forensic work challenging, and it’s gratifying when you can give a grieving family some closure.
In terms of being a member in organized dentistry, what is something you’d like to be involved in or see accomplished? Where do you feel most that there is more work to be done—both from an organizational and in- dividual member standpoint? I think that organized dentistry is respon- sible for some great improvements in our profession over the years. Their legislative efforts, the support, review and dissemination of cur- rent research, as well as recognizing excellence and philanthropy, have all been of great benefit to dentistry. I would like to see a high-profile media presence for public outreach. The public, as well as member dentists, should be apprised of significant research findings, polling and legislative actions that affect their oral health care. Limiting the dis- semination of information to the dental community is really “preaching to the choir”. While dentists should and do communicate individually with their patients, we don’t reach the ones who don’t routinely visit their dentist. A sustained media presence on oral health would serve to remind patients to call a dentist for care, and help to increase the value of oral health within our culture.
We’re awarding an outstanding new dental leader award at the House. Have you been involved since being a new dentist, or did your involvement come later? In either case, what encouraged you to participate in more leadership roles and what would you say to mentor others aspiring to a similar commitment as yourself? I have had the privilege to have been mentored by several dentists in the MDA. All of them told me that my volunteer efforts would return the personal and professional satisfac- tion of having fought the battle to preserve our wonderful dental profession.
Tell us your favorite hobby/past time. In my younger days my hobbies were a little more exciting: scuba diving, flying, skydiving … I even tried figure skating, until I broke my wrist. So, I enjoy less-risky pastimes now. I paint some, read some, walk my dogs and love to play golf. Although the Ninja Warrior thing looks like a lot of fun!
In closing … I would like to say that I was only one part of a very large effort to keep fluoridation in Battlefield. I would like to express my thanks to the ADA, MDA, Greater Springfield Dental Society and the Missouri Oral Health Coalition for all their support. Special thanks to Vicki Wilbers, Dr. Lisa Castleman, Dr. Jody Vance, Mendi Green, Nida Wilson, Dr. John Dane, Dr. Johnny Johnson, Dr. Nick Hein, my staff Rosamary, Julie and Crystal and all who wrote letters of support and attended the PWSD meetings.
Outstanding New Dental Leader
leadership qualities, professional and ethical conduct, and volunteer activities in their community and organized dentistry.
Dr. Riordan is being recognized for her commitment to activities within the dental profession since becoming a dental student. During her dental school education and as a new dentist, she has served in various leadership positions at the local, state and national levels of organized dentistry, including: American Dental Association Council on Membership; MDA Trustee; and, Greater St. Louis Dental Society (GSLDS) Delegate to the MDA House of Delegates and New Dentist Committee founding member. She is slated to become the GSLDS president in 2021. She is distinguished as a Fellow of the American and International College of Dentists and of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. In 2016 she received the Greater St. Louis Dental Society Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Riordan serves as adjunct faculty for UMKC to enable dental students to come to St. Louis to participate in its Give Kids A Smile charitable dental clinic under her supervision, and is a board member of the MDA Foundation. She also provides care to patients through the Donated Dental Services program, which provides free, comprehen- sive dental treatment to vulnerable people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile.
Dr. Riordan received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2010 and began practicing with her father, Dr. Mark Zust at Family Dentistry of St. Peters, afterward. She and her husband, Nick, have three children, Daniel, Grace and Alice.
Among the various dental-related activities you participate in, which experience(s) has been the most rewarding and why? I would have to say that the most rewarding experience has been working with Give Kids a Smile St. Louis. I have made it a priority not only to be there and share my skills with the kids who need it most, but also to help inspire others to do the same. Being able to transform the smile for a child who oth- erwise would have no means is so unbelievably rewarding. I say all the time that I don’t know who benefits more, the patients receiving the care or the practitioners administering it. I also thoroughly enjoy work- ing with the UMKC dental students on the clinic floor. I love seeing the new faces and hearing about their passion for learning. I enjoy teaching them and talking to them from a private practitioner standpoint. They are always so eager to hear my perspective, and I am always happy to give them any pearls I can!
Dr. Danielle Riordan
The Outstanding New Dental Leader award is designed to recognize a member of the MDA who has been in practice 10 years or fewer and has demonstrated outstanding
You have done some recent work with ATSU-MOSDOH in St. Louis— welcome events and receptions for students. As you get farther away in years from being a dental student, are there things you notice with today’s current students—in terms of their questions or concerns for their future—that are different than when you were in school? One thing that has really changed since I was in school is the practice model. When I graduated, many of my classmates went out into private practices as either associates or practice owners. Some bought practices and a se- lect few started practices from scratch. Some joined the armed forces and others entered public health. DSOs were just starting to pop up when I was nearing graduation, so I had several classmates who joined the corporate model, but I would say private practice was still fairly high on the list post-graduation. Students now seem almost shocked when I tell them that I bought into a practice right out of school. The students who are graduating are now faced with higher debt-to-
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