MCDC Board of Directors

Introducing your Board of Directors:

Patrick Shannon, J.D., M.P.H., Ed.D., Board Chairman

Director of Charter Schools, Bay Mills CC, Brimley

Daniel Sarya, D.D.S., M.P.H.

Orthodontist, Traverse City

Lonnie Stevens, M.A., Board Secretary

Executive Director, Thumb Rural Health Network, Port Huron

Mert Aksu, D.D.S., J.D., M.H.S.A.

Dean, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, Detroit

Wilhelm Piskorowski, D.D.S.

Director, Community & Outreach Programs, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor

Arlene Brennan, M.S.N., M.P.H.

Executive Director, Traverse Health Clinic and Coalition, Traverse City

Kevin Cawley, M.H.S.A.

C.E.O., Sheridan Community Hospital, Sheridan

MCDC Administrative Staff

Introducing your Administrative Staff:

Executive Director and President

Dr. Thomas J. Veryser, DDS, MHSA

Dr. Thomas J. Veryser, DDS, MHSA

After graduating from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in 1970, Dr. Veryser was engaged in private general practice for over twenty years in rural Michigan. In 1992, he completed the master of health services administration (MHSA) program at The University of Michigan, School of Public Health’s department of Health Services Management and Policy.

Since that time, Dr. Veryser has been involved in dental and medical healthcare consulting, working on projects to empower groups of physicians and dentists to deal effectively with the changing healthcare marketplace, and developing dental benefit plans.

From 1997 until 2004, before joining Dental Clinics North, Dr. Veryser was a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and served as the Assistant Dean for Community and Outreach and the Director of the Center for Practice Administration.

In 2004, Dr. Veryser joined Dental Clinics North, a division of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, serving as its Dental Director.

As director of Community and Outreach Programs, Tom helped develop the University of Michigan’s state-wide program that provides dental students, dental hygiene students, and dental residents clinical experience in community health clinics, where they have the opportunity to provide services to meet the oral healthcare needs of the underserved.

In addition, Dr. Veryser developed and presented the six-course Continuing Education Continuum on practice administration topics – Pathways to Productivity – administered by Michigan and sponsored by the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), and has co-authored an extensive workbook that accompanies that program.

From 2005-2008, Dr. Veryser served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, and currently serves as a consultant to the MDA’s Access to Care Committee.

Dr. Veryser is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and was Chief of Dentistry on the Medical Staff as well as a member, including Chairman, of the Board of Trustees of Huron Memorial Hospital for eighteen years.

You can reach Tom at his e-mail address, tveryser@midental.org.

Chief Operating Officer - Dental Director

Dr. Gregory P. Heinschel, DDS

Dr. Gregory P. Heinschel, DDS

Dr. Heintschel began his formal education at the University of Toledo where he earned bachelor’s degrees in secondary education and biology. He then attended dental school at The Ohio State University, after which he completed his formal education by attending a hospital based General Practice Residency at the Medical College of Ohio. Realizing that his formal education only provided the minimal skills and knowledge to practice dentistry at the highest level, with the greatest business acumen, Dr. Heintschel has since sought out and attended the finest continuing education courses available, including all aspects of clinical dentistry and business management. In that regard, Dr. Heintschel is continuing his lifelong learning experience, working toward an MBA through Lawrence Technological University.

Dr. Heintschel has also sought out some of the finest clinicians in the country, including Dr. Roger Levin, Dr. David Hornbrook, Dr. Bill Dickerson, and Dr. Frank Spears as mentors, as well as close personal friends.

Dr. Heintschel has been a member of many professional dental associations, including the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the Academy of Practice Administration, the Crown Council, and the International Association for Orthodontics. He was honored to have been recognized by, and inducted into, the Pierre Fuachard Academy, an honor society recognizing the top clinicians in the world. Dr. Heintschel has served on several boards for organized dentistry, and in 2006 was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The highlight of his professional career occurred in 2003 when he was awarded the national Cosmetic Practice of the Year. This honor is given to only one general dentist in the country annually, and represents recognition by peers for having demonstrated the highest clinical and business skills in the field of cosmetic dentistry.

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Keith Sherwood

Keith Sherwood

Keith joined the Michigan Community Dental Clinics, Inc. (MCDC) executive leadership team as the Chief Financial Officer in 2007. In this role he is able to combine his 28 years of diverse finance experience to contribute to the expansion of Michigan Community Dental Clinics, Inc.

Keith completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Master’s Degree in Finance from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. After a brief time in the manufacturing business, Keith joined the ranks of the not-for-profit health insurance industry, where he worked for almost 20 years. Keith worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and Priority Health before joining Community Care Plan (CCP) in 2001 as Executive Director. It was at Community Care Plan that Keith was first exposed to the rewards of working with the Medicaid population. Under his direction, CCP nearly doubled its membership and revenue, and was one of the most profitable Medicaid-only health plans in the State of Michigan. CCP also received the highly coveted Benchmark award from the State of Michigan.

After assisting with the sale and transition of CCP to a national insurance company in 2004, Keith became director of a multi-specialty health center serving the needs of the Medicaid and uninsured population. Under his direction, the operating results improved by $1 million by implementing LEAN process improvement strategies and open access scheduling, and by improving financial reporting tools. The highlight of this time, however, was the eye-opening experience of working directly in a setting that provides health care to the most vulnerable members of society.

Keith has served on the Board of Directors of the West Michigan Consortium and Kent Health Plan. He has also been a member of the Health Communities Access program (HCAP) of Kent County, Health Financial Management Association, Medical Group Management Association, National Management Association, and the Walsh College Association.

Director, Operations

Ms. Sandy Kilmer

Sandy Kilmer

Sandy has worked in public health for more than 15 years, and started working in the dental field when Dental Clinics North (DCN), a division of The Health Department of Northwest Michigan, was created. While working at DCN, she supervised the Operations staff, including front desk personnel, at DCN's ten dental clinics in northern Michigan.

When Michigan Community Dental Clinics, Inc. was formed, she was excited to transition to the new organization as Director of Operations.

Please feel free to contact her via email at skilmer@midental.org.

Director, Quality Assurance

Dr. David Murphy, DDS

Dr. David Murphy, DDS

Dentistry has been Dr. Murphy's life passion since graduating from the University of Michigan in 1969. After a tour in the U.S. Air Force, private practice occupied the next quarter-century. After leaving practice due to back problems, Dave spent the last several years teaching students in the clinic at U of M and in the clinic and classroom at KVCC School of Dental Hygiene.

In 2007, he assumed the role of Quality Assurance Director for MCDC.

Dave's e-mail address is dmurphy@midental.org.

Regional Clinic Coordinator

Ms. Wendie Rodriguez

Wendie Rodriguez

Wendie began her career in the dental profession in 1970. She has worked as a chairside assistant, scheduling / financial coordinator, and office administrator, in both large city and rural practices.

In 1987 she was asked to join Linda L. Miles & Associates in Virginia Beach, VA. While with Miles & Associates, Wendie traveled throughout the United States and Canada, conducting in-office consultations, seminars and workshops for dental staffs.

In 1996, Wendie joined DBS Professional Practice Brokers / Dental Business Systems in Bay City, assisting dentists in the sale and acquisition of dental practices. Following her time at DBS, she returned to private practice in Kalamazoo.

Wendie joined MCDC in 2008. When not visiting our clinics, she works remotely from her home in Kalamazoo.

Wendie's e-mail address is wrodriguez@midental.org.