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We are proud to share that , director of community learning and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, was presented with the 2024 Texas Dentist of the Year Award. 

Every year, the Texas Academy of General Dentistry (Texas AGD) selects one dentist to honor as the Texas Dentist of the Year, the highest honor a Texas dentist can receive. This year, 11 nominees were chosen throughout the state from local societies and components of the Texas Dental Association and Texas AGD. This is the second year in a row that a �����Թ� faculty member has received this prestigious award, with Jon M. Dossett, DMD, FACD, FICD, FADI, MAGD, ABGD, assistant/clinical professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry receiving the honor in 2023.

Meiners was nominated by the San Antonio Academy of General Dentistry. The awardee is determined on their contributions to dentistry, service to the community, dedication to principles of continuing education and other activities that indicate character and excellence. 

“We are so excited to recognize that for the second year in a row, one of our outstanding faculty members was named Texas AGD Dentist of the Year,” said , associate dean of patient care and interim chair in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. “Meiners is an alumna of our program and has now returned to serve as faculty for us.  She has been instrumental in calibrating our faculty across community clinics and clinics inside our campus.  She brings great energy and enthusiasm to dental education.  With her love of the profession, it is no surprise that she was given this great honor and are very grateful for her contributions to our program.” 

Since being named director of community education at the School of Dentistry last year, Meiners has been spearheading the administration of predoctoral community-based dental outreach programs while also fostering opportunities for outreach to diverse patient communities in South Texas and enhancing the curriculum to create more culturally competent, service-oriented oral health providers.

Meiners completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at �����Թ� School of Dentistry through the Dental Early Acceptance Program (DEAP) . After graduation, she worked part-time as an associate in a private practice and as a clinical professor at the university. She was then appointed as an adjunct faculty member overseeing dental students during their clinical rotations at CommuniCare Health Centers, a non-profit community clinic she also rotated through as a dental student.  She was a general dentist at CommuniCare for 11 years. 

Meiners participated in the American Dental Association Institute for Diversity in Leadership program and serves on multiple committees at the local, state and national levels of various organizations. She is a member of the Texas Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Hispanic Dental Association. She has also served as president of the San Antonio District Dental Society, San Antonio Academy of General Dentistry and the Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association.  Meiners is currently serves nationally as immediate past-president and interim executive director of the Hispanic Dental Association. 

Meiners’ leadership and dedication to the community have helped her become the recipient of HDA’s National Service Award. She is also a fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International and the International College of Dentists. 

Please help us congratulate Meiners on this incredible award!