From the Summer 2019 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
CDA Exceptional Leadership Award: Dr. Nate Kunzman
Dr. Nate Kunzman is a true ambassador for the profession and organized dentistry. He is a natural leader and has dedicated himself to serving the Weld County Dental Society and the CDA while balancing his family, practice and community involvement.
He is a past president of the Weld County Dental Society, a member of the CDA Board of Trustees, a chair of the CDA Membership Council for four years and an innovator for the CDA.
While he started as a dentist member representing the Weld County Dental Society, it didn’t take long to detect that he was more than “just a volunteer.” The moment he starts talking, he captivates and motivates others, leading by example. He has brought the CDA’s most valuable asset—our members—to the forefront by working tirelessly to bring value and new member benefits. He has spearheaded membership initiatives, creating infrastructure around how the CDA recruits and retains members. His influence and development of several initiatives resulted in continued membership growth and the largest membership to date last year.
Dr. Kunzman’s commitment to oral health doesn’t end with the CDA Membership Council. In October of 2018, Dr. Kunzman was a site chair for the Colorado Mission of Mercy in Greeley, Colorado. Under his leadership, over 1,200 volunteers—220 of them dentists—volunteered at this clinic. Over $1 million in dental care was donated over a two-day period to over 1,000 patients. COMOM was a huge success due to a full year of endless work that Dr. Kunzman and his team did in preparation to secure a venue, recruit volunteers, acquire dental supplies, seek donations from the community, plan for security, safety and patient flow, and countless other things. His dedication to oral health and drive to accomplish something he believes in is an incredible thing to observe. Dr. Kunzman is a visionary, a doer and a leader.
CDA Exceptional Service Award: Dr. Shaheen Moezzi
Dr. Shaheen Moezzi has been a longtime board member of the CDA New Dentist Committee (NDC) and has served as its vice-chair and chair. He is passionate about NDC and its mission. NDC fosters a community where likeminded dentists can network with colleagues during the critical years of establishing themselves as dental professionals. Dr. Moezzi is a key example of the effectiveness of this group. His unending dedication and leadership have made a tremendous impact on the CDA and its members.
While Dr. Moezzi doesn’t like the spotlight, he is consistently working behind the scenes to get things done and foster better relationships and solutions. Throughout the past year, he has helped lead and mentor the New Dentist Committee, working shoulder-to-shoulder with past leaders as well as current leaders to fulfill the NDC’s robust schedule of social events, study clubs, student mentoring events and family gatherings. And he’s done this all while opening a brand-new dental practice and working as a part-time clinical instructor at CU. He is a board-certified diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology. Throughout his year as NDC chair, the ever popular G.V. Black Tie event reached a record attendance of over 270 people. He has fostered positive relationships with companies that support the NDC’s mission, collected over $50,000 in sponsorship support, worked with the committee to increase the credibility and visibility of NDC, and continued building a team of young, talented and committed committee members to carry on the legacy.
Dr. Moezzi is respected by everyone who knows him. His personality is infectious, and he can always be found with a smile on his face and enthusiasm to conquer any task in his path.
CDA Foundation Scholarship Award: Jillian Stacey
Since 2005, the CDA Foundation has been supporting a scholarship endowment that recognizes outstanding CU School of Dental Medicine students.
This year, the CDA Foundation supported a truly outstanding CU dental student with its scholarship award. Jillian Stacey will be a third-year dental student this fall and has already committed herself to bettering the profession. She strives to share her passion for being a leader in the dental field with students, faculty and patients. Jillian believes that being a voice in advocating for the best interests of dental students will give her the perspective she needs to become a dentist who is compassionate, qualified and invested in her patients’ lives.
Jillian is the newest Colorado ASDA president. She serves on the CDA Board of Trustees and the CDA Membership Council. Jillian has served as a National ASDA Council on Membership Associate, District 9 ASDA Membership Liaison and District 9 ASDA President’s Panelist.
Jillian has been a Colorado Mission of Mercy Volunteer for the past six years. She also volunteers to lead tours and orientations as a student ambassador for the dental school. When she is not at school or fulfilling duties as president for her Colorado ASDA chapter, she loves spending time with her dad, Dr. Tim Stacey, and family in Colorado Springs.