Jessica A. Rickert
First American Indian Woman Dentist
In 1975
Jessica Rickert, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, DDS,
became the first recognized American Indian woman
dentist. When this descendent of Chief Whitepigeon
attended the University of Michigan School of
Dentistry in the early 1970s, she was the only
American Indian in a class of about 150 students. This
was also a time when there were very few female
dentists or female dental students.
In 2005 Rickert received the American Dental Association's
2005 Access Recognition Award for leadership in helping
people in need gain access to dental care. In particular,
she was nominated for her work educating American Indians
on dental care and encouraging them to pursue careers in
the field. In 2009 she was honored for her work by being
inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
Since 1982, Rickert has cared for people of all ages in her
private practice in Interlochen Michigan. Her patients come
from the small town of Interlochen as well as the
surrounding rural areas of orchards and farms. Rickert is
the only dentist in the practice. She employs 2 hygienists
along with 2½ dental assistants and one dental secretary.
The cheerful consultation and treatments rooms each have a
different theme. One is decorated in American Indian
designs. The “sailboat room” reflects her love of sailing,
which she shares with her husband. The third room, with
sheet music on the walls, displays her love of music. (She
plays the flute.)
As her schedule permits Rickert works with the Michigan
Dental Association in doing school screenings and elder
care and education. For many years she wrote a column
called "Ask the Dentist" that was published in three
American Indian newspapers. Some of these columns are
available on her website. (To find
the columns, click on "Links".) Rickert is no longer
writing these columns because she is dedicating her time
to being a board member of the Society of American
Indian Dentists.
In 1983 Rickert published a book entitled
Exploring Careers in Dentistry. She has
updated that book and has made a PDF of the book available
on her website.
To find the
PDF of the book, click on "Links". You can download the
book free of charge.
Rickert’s
website is also home to her small business called
Whitepigeon Enterprises. The business is named after
Potawatomi Chief Wahbememe, whose name in English means
“White Pigeon”. Rickert is the fifth generation of Chief
Wahbememe who in 1830 warned settlers in a village in
Southwestern Michigan of an impending attack by other
tribes. In gratitude the village was renamed Whitepigeon.
Journey
Growing up in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rickert was fascinated by the
biological sciences and also liked math. “In about the
sixth grade, I decided I wanted to be a dentist, a doctor,
or a lawyer. As I progressed in school I decided I would be
a dentist or a doctor. In part I think my career choice was
based on my being impressed by doctors who had taken care
of our family, such as Dr. Veltman, who was always kind,
gentle and competent.
“When I went to the University of Michigan for
undergraduate school, I was pre-med. None of my family
members or our friends were professionals. To learn more
about the life of a doctor, I volunteered a little at the
hospital and got to follow some doctors around. That helped
me realize that doctors don’t have much control of their
schedules. Their personal lives have to take a back seat.
“I wanted to have a family and have more control over my
time, so I visited the dental school and learned all that I
could. I particularly liked the fact that after 4 years you
completed your basic education. Unlike medicine, you didn’t
have to spend years in a residency program. I was also
fascinated with the emphasis on working with your hands and
doing fine detail.”
In 1971 Rickert was the first American Indian to enter the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Most of her
approximately 150 classmates were Caucasian males. There
were only 6 women.
Rickert remembers that she and the other 5 female students
experienced some sexist behavior from a few of the
professors and male students. Some of the behavior was mean
and cruel. “I didn’t take it personally,” she recalls, “I
just thought they were ignorant and ignored them. It did
bother some of the other women to a great degree. They
didn’t drop out though.
“I’m the oldest of 7 children. I have 4 brothers and 2
sisters. I guess I was used to boys acting ridiculously at
times, although my own siblings were never mean or cruel.
“I did really well at dental school. I especially enjoyed
being able to do some of the actual treatments. It was
demanding but fascinating.”
During dental school Rickert successfully balanced her
studies with family life. Just before dental school, she
and her husband had their daughter, Carole. “My family
helped me immensely during Carole’s baby years. She was the
first grandchild. My mom and dad and siblings were always
ready to do anything I needed. The same was true of my
aunts and uncles. Without their ready support, our lives
would have been very difficult.”
Early
career
“I always knew
I wanted to be in private practice. I love Michigan and
didn’t want to leave it, so I set up a practice with one of
my dental classmates, Dr. Bruce Rosenblum, who is from
Detroit. In dental school they didn’t talk about setting up
a business. Luckily my friend’s father is a pharmacist. He
and his network of family members and friends helped us.
“Bruce has remained my true friend and supporter since we
were cubicle neighbors in 1971. We still call each other at
any time for advice.”
In addition to private practice, Rickert was involved with
3 organizations that worked to get dental care for American
Indians living in Detroit – the Grand Rapids Intertribal
Council, the North American Center for Indians, and the
Michigan Urban Indian Health Council, which set up dental
clinics.
Rickert also served as the dentist for the Children’s Aid
Society in Detroit, which cared for foster children of all
backgrounds. Medicaid did not provide adequate payment for
the dental care of these children, so Rickert and Rosenblum
provided dental care in their clinic. Frequently, Rickert
gave talks on Career Days that typically were aimed at
encouraging young girls to enter careers in math and
science.
In 1979, Rickert and her husband had a second child, a son,
Thomas. During her maternity leave, Rickert pulled together
the material that she had used for her Career Day talks and
wrote
Exploring Careers in Dentistry, which she
aimed at both girls and boys.
In 1982, Rickert and her husband welcomed another son,
Brandon, into their family.
For many years, Rickert and her husband had wanted to
settle in the northern part of Michigan. In 1982, they
moved with their daughter and two sons to Traverse City,
Michigan, so they could be close to beautiful Lake
Michigan. Rickert opened her current practice in nearby
Interlochen.
Advice
Rickert says,
“If you want a job where you are providing a great service
for people and are never bored, then you should consider
dentistry.” She hopes that her book
Exploring Careers in Dentistry will be helpful
to interested students.
A picture of Dr. Rickert's is on the cover of the September
2007 issue of Woman Dentist Journal. In that issue, Rickert
is the focus of Kristen Wright's article entitled "Native
American Roots".
You
can find a interview of Dr. Rickert at pinkTooth.net