Thirty-eight faculty members from schools across the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus were recognized at a reception on May 10, 2023. University leadership, deans and directors were in attendance along with many of this year’s honorees. Each faculty member received a commencement medal, emblazoned with the seal of the University of Colorado, in appreciation for their service.
Honorees from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU SDM) include Clinical Assistant Professors David Geck, DDS ’97, MS, and Kevin Patterson, DDS ’89, MD. Before joining the faculty, they each put in four years as students at the dental school: Geck earned his DDS in 1997 and Patterson in 1989.
CU SDM Senior Associate Dean of Clinics and Professional Practice Lonnie Johnson, DDS, PhD, has worked alongside Geck and Patterson for their entire tenure at the dental school, and then some. “I was fortunate enough to teach both [Geck and Patterson] when they were students and then welcome them as colleagues.” he said. “They continue to demonstrate quality dentistry and teaching in each of their respective specialties.”
David Geck, DDS '97, MS
Clinical Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry
CU School of Dental Medicine
Geck is a Colorado native. He graduated from the University of Denver, where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees. He graduated with honors from the University of Colorado School of Dentistry in 1997 and completed a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Denver. Geck enjoys teaching and places great importance on staying current with the latest trends in dentistry, dedicating many hours to continuing education each year. Along with his wife and children, he enjoys making Colorado his home. Geck is a member of the American Dental Association and Colorado Dental Association.
Kevin Patterson, DDS ’89, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Sciences & Surgical Dentistry
CU School of Dental Medicine
Patterson is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and practicing in Colorado since 1998. He received his degree in biology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1983 and continued his education at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, completing his doctor of dental surgery degree in 1989 and a general practice residency in 1990. From 1992-1998, he attended the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, completing a six-year oral and maxillofacial surgery residency. While completing his residency, Patterson received his doctor of medicine degree in 1996 from Mayo Medical School.
Patterson is the current vice president of the Colorado Dental Association and past president of the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society and Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is the past chair and current board member for Kids in Need of Dentistry and is on the board of directors for Dental Lifeline Network, JP Opioid Interaction Awareness Alliance and Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.
Congratulations and thank you to this year’s 25-years-of-service honorees:
COLORADO SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Angela Brega, PhD
Michelle Sarche, PhD
SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE
David Geck, DDS ’97, MS
Kevin Patterson, DDS ’89, MD
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Michael Allen, MD
Marsha Anderson, MD
Thomas Bak, MD
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD
David Bentley, PhD
Daniel Burke, MD
Hong Chu, MD
Mair Churchill, PhD
Matthew Daley, MD
Denise Damek, MD
Robert Davies, MD
Karen Dodd, NP, PNP, MS
Charles Edelstein, MD, PhD
Brigitte Gottschall, MD
Gwendolyn Kerby, MD
Steven Kolpak, MD
Lisa Ku, MS, CGC
Susan Ladley, MD
Charles Little, DO
Naresh Mandava, MD
Luisa Mestroni, MD
Max Mitchell, MD
Robert Montgomery, DNP, CNS
Michael Moore, MD
Carol Okada, MD
Angie Peltz, PA
Lori Szczukowski, MD
Andrea Taylor, CRNA
Joe Wathen, MD
Cara Wilson, MD
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Jared Brown, PhD
Sam Ellis, PharmD, BCPS, CDE
Robert L. Page II, PharmD, MSPH, BCPS (AQ-cards), BCGP, FAHA, FHFSA, FCCP, FASHP
Sheryl Vondracek, PharmD
Honorees don their 25-years-of-service medals at the 2023 reception. Left to right: Mandava, Bentley, Vondracek, Page, Ellis, Bennett, Ku, Mestroni, Edelstein, Sarche, Davies, Peltz, Ladley and Geck.