Class Notes

from 2019 College of Dentistry Magazine

In Memoriam

Dr. Dennis Gimlin started his fourth chapter in life as an endodontist, serving part time at the Pueblo Community Health Center. His third chapter in life ended in February, when he retired from the army reserve. Dr. Philip Abshere is treating Medicaid kids in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from the Kirtland Air Force Base. He is still active in organized dentistry and will serve as the NMDA program chairman for the 2019 annual meeting. Dr. Abshere and his wife also enjoy owning and managing three VRBO rental properties in New Mexico. Dr. Tom Corwin retired from 33 years of practicing dentistry in December 2018. He spent eight years with the Department of Corrections in Oklahoma, with other time spent on active duty with the Navy Dental Crop, in private practice, in contract dentistry at Fort Sill and as a reserve Navy Dental Officer for 21 years. His new “free” time will be divided between four grandchildren, traveling, camping/fly fishing, flying gliders and woodworking, to name a few. Dr. Kevin Ray sold his practice and retired at the end of August 2018. The new owner is an OU COD graduate as well, Dr. Amelia Hopper. ‘80 ‘81 ‘85

Dr. Jeff Baggett was named president of the Southwest Academy of Restorative Dentistry.

Dr. Charlie Goldsmith has enjoyed visiting all seven continents, including many islands such as Pape’ete, Tierra del Fuego, Half Moon Island and Deception Island. He is pictured here at Tiananmen Square in China. ‘82

Ladies from the Class of 1985 met for dinner and fun several times last year. Pictured left are Drs. Melody McKitrick, Adele Upchurch, Jana Winfree, Gayle Dennehy, Nan Shadid and Debbie Ozment.

Dr. Scott Searcey served as the chairman of Rules and Procedure for the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons House of Delegates for the historic 100th Annual Meeting in Chicago. ‘88

Dr. Mike Morrissette was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in the fall of 2018. He continues to perform cleft lip and palate surgery in South and Central America while his private practice is limited to facial cosmetic surgeries. ‘84

Dr. Kurt Gibson had a new son and five new grandchildren. Recently, he went to Jamaica to help people in need. This coming year he will be expanding his practice and will be bringing in associates. ‘89

Dr. Sandra Windsor moved her practice from Midwest City, Oklahoma to Oklahoma City. ‘91

Dr. Damon R. Johnson had another successful year, as he celebrated 25 years of private practice in Edmond, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Heather, have entered the “empty nest” stage of life. Their daughter Taylor blessed the family with their second child. Erika is continuing her pre-dental courses and is working in the practice learning as much as she can in preparation for applying to OU COD. Claire is a student in the OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and and is a Theta (she has made it clear she has NO interest in dentistry). Damon has recently completed his private pilot certificate and is currently working on his instrument and commercial rating for the next chapter. Dr. Heng Lim started a nonprofit, charitable organization called Hope 4 Cambodia. Dr. Lim and his family return back to the Killing Fields to do mission work. ‘93 ‘94

The Class of 1998 celebrated their 20-year reunion at the college. Those in attendance included Robert Schick, Steve Armstrong, Jonah Vandiver, Mark Smith, Lynh Pham, Geoff Potts, Jweff Hill, Cliff Leffingwell, Amy Croom Kuker, Crystal Bell Norton, Bobby Crittenden, Darrell Daughtery, Frank Miranda, Peggy Dickson, Bill Dickson, Nimer Khalaf, Jennifer Brunig Wrigh and Matt Walls. ‘98

Dr. Bradley Rowe sold his practice in Las Vegas and moved to Washington state in 2007. He and his wife, Kris, celebrated their 25th anniversary this year. Their oldest is a junior in college, then a daughter is serving on a mission trip in Bolivia, followed by a daughter and son who are in high school. ‘99

‘01

Ms. Desiree Margagliano (DH) won the Ladies Open Single Speed 50-mile race at the 2018 Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She also won the Single Speed Women’s 152-mile race at the 2018 Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Mark Unruh’s son Brace, was accepted into the OU COD Class of 2022. The picture is their student IDs 27 years apart. ‘95

Dr. Jason Buschman is now a full-time assistant professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina. ‘96

Dr. Ryan Daniel built his first dental office in the Dallas area.

Dr. Jennifer Blake Hunter welcomed a daughter, Cameron Grace Hunter, on Aug. 23, 2018. ‘08

Misty Smith (DH) and her husband, Justin, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in October 2018.

Dr. Andrew Holloman and his wife, Padgett, along with their children, Sloan, 13, Davis, 9 and Ellis, 7, moved to a new home in Tampa, Florida.

Valerie Suhr Witte (DH) recently got married and included three OU COD alumni, Dr. Darrell Suhr (Class of 1991), Dr. Roberta Suhr (Class of 1986) and Elizabeth Brown Hackerott (DH Class of 2009), in her wedding. ‘09

Dr. Amanda Venk and her husband welcomed their second child, Oliver Randall Venk, in March 2018. He is such a happy child and Charlotte is a great big sister.

Dr. Ryan Theobald and his wife welcomed the arrival of their twins, Harrison and Kate, on May 3, 2018. ‘11

Mrs. Ashley Lock (DH) and her husband, Troy, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Charli Emmaline Lock, into the world on July 16. ‘12

Dr. Phoebe Vaughan and her husband, Dr. Wesley Vaughan (OU Medicine Class of 2012), welcomed the birth of their first child, Harris Wesley Vaughan.

Dr. Lauren Storts and her husband, Dr. Travis Storts (class of 2015), opened their third location of Storts Family Dentistry in Madill, Oklahoma, in May of 2018. They are excited to serve people of Marshall County and southern Oklahoma. ‘14