ZAZELL STAHELI CUMMINGS | 35

Lead Dentist

Maniilaq Health Center Dental Clinic

“You can do anything you’re big enough to.”

– Grandpa

Hometown: Kiana Current City: Kotzebue

Education: Kiana High School, 2004; Associate of applied science degree in professional piloting, UAF, 2007; Associate of science degree, UAF, 2009; Bachelor of Science in biological sciences, minor in aviation technology, UAF, 2010; Doctor of dental surgery, Marquette University School of Dentistry, 2016; Airline transport pilot certification

Community Work: Induction for Fellowship in the International College of Dentists, acceptance deferred to October 2023 meeting; Coastal Dental Society President for Alaska Dental Society, 2022-present; Kotzebue Board Member for Alaska Airlines Community Advisory Board, 2022present; Sponsored four dental school students to attend the Inaugural Institute for Women’s Leadership Gala at Marquette University, 2022; Selected participant in the American Dental Association’s Institute for Diversity and Leadership, 2021-2022; “Diversifying Dental Care Under the Northern Lights,” presentation as New and Emerging Speaker series, American Dental Association’s Smilecon, Las Vegas, October 2021; State of Alaska SHARP Award Recipient, 20202022; Secretary, State of Alaska Community Health Aide Program Certification Board’s Dental Academic Review Committee, 2020-present

Family: Husband, Jared; children, Joe, Atigan and Brett; siblings, Lexy Staheli Willis, Lee “Big Boy” Staheli and Julie Reed; parents, Lee and Heanie Staheli; grandparents, Lee Staheli and Lillian Monson

What is your favorite place in Alaska and why?: Northwest Alaska: I am proud to call this area home. I enjoy being able to get out of town and into this beautiful country with my family.

Name the person you respect and why: My grandpa, Lee Staheli. I respect him for many reasons, including for how hardworking he was in his lifetime. He really lived by the mantra “treat people the way you would like to be treated.” There were very few people in his life with whom he did not get along. Whenever I spoke with him about flying or life in general, he always listened and was very didactic and thoughtful in his reply There were no excuses in his time, and he always found a way to make things work. He did a variety of different things in aviation in Alaska, which includes starting our family’s air taxi service in Kiana, raising a family of pilots to follow in his footsteps. Technology has changed aviation tremendously since he first flew in the Aleutians in the U.S. Navy back in the 1940s. For the lifestyle that pilots in his time had, it makes me wonder if he ever thought he’d live to be almost 100!

What is your favorite pastime or hobby away from work?: Watching my children play basketball. I love traveling and hunting with my husband. We take any chance we can to get our children out in the country with us.

What was your first job?: My “official” first job was as a surveyor’s assistant in Kiana when they came to survey the runway. Growing up, we all were a part of the family business. My siblings and I were taking on many jobs in our family’s local store, and as the local airline agents and in our air taxi service; it really takes the whole family to make it go.

What has been your most rewarding community service?: Initiating the inaugural National Children’s Dental Health Month activity in our community. I had zero budget the first year and all financial support came from local businesses. It gave me the feeling that our local businesses can come together to support community events addressing health. Many kids and adults were present at the first event. We ran this event until, like many things, it was affected by COVID-19.

Although my time commitment was reduced with the activity this year, my staff put together the first post-COVID-onset National Children’s Dental Health month activity in Kotzebue. It is a start to get back on track to bettering the oral health of our people through community involvement.

In your professional life, what has been a project or achievement you have found to be the most fulfilling?: In my professional life I am fulfilled by the ability to ease a person’s pain. If you have ever had a toothache, you know it is almost debilitating. I am always grateful for the opportunity to help better a person’s oral health.

On a personal level I am proud to have been able to achieve my doctor of dental surgery degree. This degree, along with the personal dedication, is also a reflection of my family and community. I come from a rural part of Alaska, where many have big hearts. Numerous friends, family and community members have put their blood, sweat and tears into my dream of becoming a dentist. Many small scholarships added up to support my educational costs. My optimism is that others like me see that it is attainable to achieve higher education. It is possible to move back home after school or training. It is doable to make a difference in your community. My goal is that others can see someone like themselves and take that as inspiration for their own educational endeavors. Cont. on Page 56

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