SSUF Receives Two Major Gifts from SSU Alumni to Support Dental Hygiene.
Drs. Williams and Christine Sikora of Sikora Family Dentistry. Dr. Christine Sikora is a Class of 1985 graduate of the SSU Dental Hygiene Program.
The Shawnee State University Foundation is pleased to announce a gift of $10,000 from SSU alumna Dr. Christine Sikora (Beebe) and a pledge of $10,000 from SSU alumna Dr. Amy Heim to the Shawnee State University Dental Hygiene Program.
A 1985 graduate of the Shawnee State Dental Hygiene Program, Dr. Sikora has dedicated her life and career to serving others through dentistry. She hopes her recent gift to her alma mater will enhance the learning experience for current SSU students and inspire other alumni to give back.
“I've been blessed with the resources to be able to give back,” said Dr. Sikora. “I encourage alumni to want to give back as well, because it feels good. I was back to visit Shawnee State a couple months ago, and I looked at the students in the clinic, watching them learning and growing. You forget how these young people are such sponges. They want to soak up this knowledge. And if my donation can directly help future graduates and give them a chance to grow in this field, it’s all worth it.”
Reflecting on her time at SSU, Dr. Sikora fondly recalls her early experiences with faculty. “I had wonderful instructors.” she said. “I looked up to them. They were strong leaders, Linda, Sherrie, Liz, Barbara, and especially Dr. Kadel. They really made the program feel cohesive and made you feel safe and secure. I just felt like I was where I was supposed to be.”
Dr. Sikora describes her time in the program as both challenging and fulfilling, noting that she “didn’t see it as work,” but rather as an exciting opportunity to learn an important skill. The friendships she formed during this time were also pivotal. “It was the first time I'd been away from home and the friendships I made with the women in the program were so tight. We worked hard, and we played hard together. We formed friendships that last a lifetime.”
Shawnee State Dental Hygiene Class of 1985
“It was the first time I'd been away from home and the friendships I made with the women in the program were so tight. We worked hard, and we played hard together. We formed friendships that last a lifetime.” - Dr. Christine Sikora
Born in the small town of Chesire, Ohio, Christine Sikora (maiden name Beebe) attended Kyger Creek High School and enrolled at Shawnee State in 1983. After graduating the SSU Dental Hygiene Program in 1985, she moved to Richmond, KY and worked as a Dental Hygienist under Dr. James Murphy. “He was a great mentor for me,” she said. “He practiced into his 90s, and he was quite the teacher in his own right. My experiences with him and at Shawnee gave me the confidence to go to dental school myself.”
She soon enrolled at the Ohio State College of Dentistry, where she met her future husband, Dr.William Sikora, and earned her degree in 1991. Together, they built a thriving dental practice in Dayton, Ohio, before eventually founding Sikora Family Dentistry in North Olmsted, Ohio, where they continued their successful careers for over 30 years. They also used their skills to help others abroad, volunteering on multiple mission trips to Honduras to help with dental needs in several small villages. The Sikoras recently sold their practice, and while Dr. Christine Sikora is now officially retired, she has invaluable advice for current and prospective Dental Hygiene students.
“It’s not just about cleaning teeth. Dental Hygiene is about taking care of the whole patient. It's caring and educating another human being. It’s about developing relationships and caring for people. Studies have proven that you can have a healthier overall body if the oral cavity is maintained properly. Your body is completely connected. It all starts with how you take care of your mouth.”
When asked about her decision to make the $10,000 donation to SSU’s Dental Hygiene Program, Dr. Sikora explained the immense impact that financial support can have on students. “It can improve those students’ experience at Shawnee State. It can make a world of difference as they grow and develop a foundation and confidence. SSU Is a really special place in my heart. We’ve been blessed, and it’s all been very rewarding. And it all started at Shawnee State.”
Dr. Sikora’s generous donation is in support of the on-going Dental Hygiene Campaign, a fundraising effort led by the SSU Foundation that featured the naming ceremony for the James Kadel Dental Hygiene Clinic late last year. The campaign has received widespread support from numerous SSU Alumni, including a recent $10,000 pledge from Dr. Amy Heim (Class of 2009), a local dentist who has worked closely with the Dental Hygiene department since her days as a Biology major at Shawnee State.
“Giving back to support the efforts in dental hygiene at Shawnee is in appreciation for all that has been given to me.” - Dr. Amy Heim
“I am where I am today professionally because of all that Shawnee gave to me,” said Dr. Heim. “Not only did I receive a top tier science education that well prepared me for dental school, but I also received individualized personal attention from all my professors, who knew me by name. I was never just a number. I was always a student and friend with a story and a dream---to be a dentist.”
Dr. Heim graduated from Shawnee State in 2009 with a Biomedical Science degree, which she then used to springboard into the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. She also credits the SSU Dental Hygiene program with giving her an immediate advantage in the OSU College of Dentistry by allowing her to take Dental Anatomy classes as an undergraduate.
“I am forever grateful to the SSU Dental Hygiene department for allowing me to participate with their students for a semester.”
For the last 10 years, Dr. Heim has helped facilitate Give Kids a Smile—an event within the Shawnee State Dental Hygiene clinic that sponsors free dental care to area elementary school children. Dr. Heim also serves on the SSU Dental Hygiene advisory committee and regularly hosts seminars within the department.
“Giving back to support the efforts in dental hygiene at Shawnee is in appreciation for all that has been given to me,” said Dr. Heim. “My heart has always been in Southern Ohio, and I feel extremely proud to live, work, and play where my roots have always been – in Scioto County.”
Dr. Amy Heim hi-fives a patient at the 20205 Give Kids A Smile Day in the SSU Dental Hygiene Clinic.
As the fundraising campaign continues into 2025, Dental Hygiene Program Director and Associate Professor Georgeann Kamer is full of gratitude for the overwhelming support for the Dental Hygiene program. She also hopes that the generous gifts from Dr. Sikora and Dr. Heim inspire others to support current SSU students in the program.
“Our donors' generosity drives our success,” said Kamer. “Their contributions enable us to invest in our students by providing cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning opportunities. They help ensure that highly skilled dental hygienists are prepared to enter the workforce and serve our communities.”
To learn more about the Dental Hygiene Program at Shawnee State University, visit this link. https://www.shawnee.edu/areas-study/college-health-human-services/health-sciences/dental-hygiene
To make a gift to the Dental Hygiene Campaign, click the button below.