Visitation and funeral services will be Feb. 10 and 11 for Joan Sivers, DDS, a “conscientious and beloved” emeritus associate professor in the UNMC College of Dentistry, who died Feb. 2.
Dr. Sivers first joined the UNMC College of Dentistry faculty in 1983 as an assistant professor of fixed prosthodontics before being promoted to associate professor in 1989. In 1995, Dr. Sivers was named the Carlson Professor of Dentistry, an endowed position in the UNMC Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry. She was named assistant dean of clinics in 1998, a role she would hold until her retirement in 2020 – serving more than 37 years at UNMC.
Read Dr. Sivers’ obituary here.
John Reinhardt, DDS, former dean of the college, recalled that as assistant dean of clinics, Dr. Sivers handled the role – which called for managing the staff and directing operations of the college’s educational clinics – superbly, with the calm demeanor, perseverance and dedication that always characterized her work.
“She was a steady, dependable, well-organized, conscientious and beloved colleague,” Dr. Reinhardt said. “She was also a skilled prosthodontist, teacher and positive representative of the college. Her service as a member of the Nebraska Board of Dentistry and an examiner and leader for the Central Regional Dental Testing Service are among many examples of her commitment to the dental profession. I am only one of many who will miss Joan and always remember her kindness.”
During her more than 37 years of dedicated service to the college, Dr. Sivers served as interim chair of two different departments on three occasions, was a graduate faculty member and served on numerous UNMC committees, including the UNMC Faculty Senate. Dr. Sivers was involved in the dental profession at both the local and national levels, serving in several leadership roles.
Read more about Dr. Sivers’ local, regional and national impact.
Julie Marshall, DDS, an associate professor and longtime colleague of Dr. Sivers, said her institutional knowledge was invaluable, not only for implementing strategic initiatives but also for facilitating successful leadership transitions.
“Among her many leadership strengths was her ability to actively listen and to develop collaborative teams,” Dr. Marshall said. “She had a remarkable and positive relationship with the college’s support staff, the critical foundation necessary for implementing the positive work of the college’s faculty.”
She was an outstanding mentor, Dr. Marshall said, impacting numerous colleagues, both at UNMC but also within the larger dental communities, often through her leadership with professional organizations such as the American Association for Women Dentists.
“All of these efforts focused on developing service-oriented professionals, promoting ethical standards and encouraging colleagues to use their talents to serve their patients and communities,” Dr. Marshall said. “We are so grateful for her lifetime of dedication to UNMC, our students, patients, staff and faculty.”