(DE SMET, SD) – Horizon Health Care, Inc. (Horizon) and De Smet Dental Services, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, are pleased to introduce two dental students who are doing their clinical rotations in De Smet from September 11 – October 9.
The two students visiting De Smet are Jake Stricherz of South Shore, SD, and John Weber of Milbank, SD. Jake attended University of Minnesota for his undergraduate degree, and then joined the Air Force, prior to moving back to Minneapolis for dental school. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, and watching his younger brother play football. After dental school, he plans to work in Western MN for a small practice.
John completed his undergraduate degree at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling, and anything that involves the outdoors. When he was younger, John participated in many wrestling and basketball tournaments in the De Smet community. After graduation, John plans to come back to South Dakota to join a dental practice. “I am very excited to return to my home state to serve and gain experience in De Smet,” said John.
“It is a pleasure to once again welcome the dental students from UMN to De Smet,” said Dr. Michelle Scholtz, Chief Dental Officer of Horizon. “Our partnership has been very beneficial to Horizon, as we have been fortunate to hire six dentists (including Dr. Brady Weispfennig and Dr. Lamar Koistinen of De Smet Dental Services) to work at our dental clinics after their rotations. These dental rotations are a great opportunity to bring dental students back to our rural communities.”
For over 39 years, Horizon Health Care, Inc. has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 105,000 patient visits annually in 31 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Alcester, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Elk Point, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River, Woonsocket, and Yankton. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.