Jessica Meeske, DDS, a clinical instructor at the UNMC College of Dentistry, was named the 2023 Pediatric Dentist of the Year by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) during the organization’s 2023 annual meeting in May.
The AAPD Pediatric Dentist of the Year award recognizes Dr. Meeske’s significant contributions to the profession in the areas of clinical practice, academics, policy development and volunteer leadership. She is a leader in the area of Medicaid reform and works to ensure all children have affordable access to dental care.
Dr. Meeske has held many volunteer leadership positions in professional organizations where she has led efforts to make the Medicaid system more amenable to treating children. She has changed mindsets within the dental industry and led her colleagues to join Medicaid reform efforts for the betterment of children in their communities.
“From the time I was in dental school, I was always asking how I could use my gifts to not only take care of my patients but also change policy to improve Medicaid and other programs,” Dr. Meeske said.
Her policy work includes serving in numerous leadership roles for the AAPD, including on the Board of Trustees, Council on Government Affairs, and Council on Dental Benefits.
For the American Dental Association (ADA), she has served as the vice chair of the Medicaid Reform Task Force, the chair of the Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention, and on the CAAP Medicaid Provider Advisory Committee and Council on Government Affairs.
She is the president-elect of the Nebraska Dental Association (NDA) and has helped pass more than 15 bills in the Nebraska Legislature related to access to dental care. She is the current chair of the Nebraska Medicaid Provider Statewide Advisory Committee and serves on the Nebraska MCNA Dentist Advisory Committee.
Additionally, she is the legislative liaison for the Nebraska Society of Pediatric Dentistry and serves on the Healthy Beginnings Health Advisory Board and the Adams County Early Head Start Health Advisory Board.
Dr. Meeske is the senior partner at Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska which has locations in Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, North Platte and Omaha. Among her many honors, she received the University of Nebraska Medical Center Jack G. Eliot Award in 2008, which is the highest distinction given by the University for contributions to the public health of Nebraskans. She was the youngest Nebraskan to receive this award.
Dr. Meeske also is passionate about teaching the next generation of oral health care providers to use their voices to help others.
“I teach dental students that if you don’t like something, you have an obligation to speak up and go in front of a group of policymakers. Sometimes positive change must happen on a policy level, not just an individual decision-making level for your patients,” she said.