MICHIGAN – The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) recently honored Dr. Jessica A. Rickert, the first female Native American dentist in the United States, with its prestigious Public Relations Award. The recognition highlights her outstanding contributions to dentistry and advocacy for Native communities.
Dr. Rickert, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, received the award from MDA President Dr. Todd Christy. He praised her for her national reputation and her lifelong commitment to improving dental care and encouraging American Indian youth to pursue careers in dentistry.
“Dr. Jessica Rickert is a name known not only to dentists in Michigan but across the country,” said Dr. Christy during the award ceremony. “She has been a tireless advocate for better dental health and for inspiring Native American students to enter the dental profession.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Rickert has worked to amplify Native voices in dentistry and to address health disparities in underserved communities. After practicing dentistry, she became a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and consultant.
In addition to her professional work, Dr. Rickert writes monthly dental columns for 14 tribal newspapers and urban Indian centers. Her goal is to make dental education accessible and culturally relevant to Native audiences.
Her impact extends beyond dentistry. Dr. Rickert advises Interlochen Public Radio on Anishinaabe-language programming that focuses on news from Great Lakes Native communities. She has also served on the board of the Society of American Indian Dentists and mentors Native youth through outreach programs. These include her involvement with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
As the Anishinaabe Dental Outreach Specialist, Dr. Rickert partners with Michigan’s twelve Anishinaabe tribes, three Native-serving community colleges, and three charter schools. Together, they work to promote oral health and inspire the next generation of Native dentists.
Dr. Rickert’s achievements have earned her multiple awards, including the American Dental Association’s Access Award, the University of Michigan’s Ida Gray Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, and the American Dental Education Association’s Gies Award for Innovation and Community Involvement. She is also an inductee in the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
In her acceptance speech, Dr. Rickert reflected on her heritage. “Before 1492, what did the people living in Michigan call themselves? The Anishinaabe,” she said. “The language the Anishinaabe spoke on this very spot next to this river for hundreds of years is Anishinaabemowin.”