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Dr. Rickert completed her DDS at U-M’s School of Dentistry in 1975. She is featured in the Sindecuse Museum’s Student Reflections exhibit, which states she “was one of six women in her class of 140 and the first female American Indian dental student.”

In addition to practicing dentistry in the state of Michigan and giving presentations to a wide variety of audiences, Dr. Rickert is a founding member of the Society of American Indian Dentists. She’s also an author, creator of a multi-use, tooth-shaped pillow for children, was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2009, and is profiled in the National Institutes of Health’s 2017 book, The Power of Role Models: A Collection of Native American Role Models. 

Dr. Rickert's Early Background

In 2013, Dr. Rickert was interviewed by Juliet Farmer for the Student Doctor Network where she discussed her childhood education: 

"The public schools in Michigan are excellent. I attended Class B Public schools in Kentwood and Wyoming, Michigan, and a 6th-grade teacher, Mrs. Yonkee, noticed my aptitude for science. She encouraged me to explore more than was in the lessons. Our family also had an excellent pediatrician, Dr. Veltman, who encouraged me to consider a career in medicine. My family has always had a spirit of giving back to our community; they were my encouragement and security in life’s challenges. In the 6th grade, I decided to become a professional, because this would be the best way to help others. There were no professionals in my immediate family, so I voraciously used the school and public libraries to read about successful professionals. Dentistry was not specifically considered. But, because I wanted to become a professional, the college track was the only course I considered, and I realized I had to excel. 

The full interview can be found HERE. 

Rickert at the University of Michigan

In 2013, Dr. Rickert was interviewed by Juliet Farmer for the Student Doctor Network where she discussed her childhood education:

"I went to the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, because my high school counselors told me this was the best option to be accepted into a professional school. At the University, I informally visited the law school, the medical school, and the pharmacy school. Law was not a good fit for my personality and aptitude. My organic chemistry professor suggested I also visit the dental schools. I visited the University of Michigan Dental School when an open house was announced.

The moment I walked into the pre-clinical lab, I was fascinated by what was going on, the subject matter itself, the processes, and the intensity of the students. The students enthusiastically demonstrated what they were doing and chatted non-stop about the school. My final though as I left was, “I can do this! I would be really good at this, and I could help a lot of people!”

I began the more formal process of applying to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. My undergraduate counselor made an appointment with the admissions counselor at University of Michigan School of Dentistry. When he looked over my transcript, he was glad that I had been on the pre-medical track, because I had all the needed prerequisites. He encouraged me to apply, and walked me through the process. I am grateful to the University, because I had no professionals in my immediate family to advise me. So, I chose University of Michigan School of Dentistry, because I was there, on campus, and the staff was helpful.

Although I expected the subject matter to be difficult, the amount was overwhelming, at first. All the prerequisites are so necessary, but the School of Dentistry courses were more difficult than anything I had taken in my undergraduate studies. Also, the students were truly the top of the top. As we students talked, it became more and more obvious that we would hold the very health of our patients in our hands, a huge responsibility which was always in the back of my mind. I kept thinking, “I have to master this, to take the best care of my patients.”

There were extremely few women or minority professional students. I do not remember a single woman professor. Although a few professors, staff and fellow students were kind, most were not. We often encountered prejudice, bias and even cruelty. We few women did form a close group and encouraged each other. I will always be grateful to the women students, African-American students, Jewish students and some Caucasian men who were helpful."

The full interview can be found HERE. 

Coloring Book Project

Dr. Rickert has been long concerned about American Indians in the dental field as there were only about 450 American Indian and Alaskan Native dentists practicing in the United States in 2022. For parity with the general population, there should be three thousand. One contributing factor to the low number of American Indian dentists is a lack of role models. She noted that, “Never having seen an American Indian dentist, students do not imagine themselves as dentists.”

One way she hopes to change this is through a Coloring Book which features her story and likeness. The book was created in 2022 through a partnership with the Sindecuse Museum and has been distributed to thousands of young tribe members. 

You can contact museum staff at dentalmuseum@umich.edu or (734) 763-0767 to receive copies of the coloring book. Or you can download individual pages HERE.

Activism and Outreach

Dr. Rickert is a founding member of the Society of American Indian Dentists.  

While she is retired from private dental practice these days, Dr. Rickert is the Anishinaabe Dental Outreach Specialist for Delta Dental Insurance of Michigan. The program reaches out to different communities with under-served populations around the state. They raise awareness of the benefits and availability of preventative dental services. In her role, Dr. Rickert travels to all twelve Michigan reservations and to the Urban Indian Centers. Learn more about the The Anishinaabe Dental Outreach Program HERE

In 2022, Dr. Jessica Rickert was presented with one of the top honors bestowed by the American Dental Education Association, the William J. Gies Award for Achievement for her tireless advocacy of diversity in dentistry and especially the need for more American Indian dentists.

Dental Career

Jessica A. Rickert, DDS, was a general dentist with the Michigan Community Dental Clinics in Northern Michigan. Prior to this, she was a general dentist in private practice with Dr. Bruce Rosenblum in Allen Park, Michigan, from 1975 to 1980, and director of the dental clinic for the Children’s Aid Society in Grand River from 1975 to 1982. From 1980 to 1982, Dr. Rickert was a general dentistry associate in the private practice of Dr. James B. Phillips in Birmingham, Michigan. Dr. Rickert opened her own private practice in 1982, serving the Interlochen, Michigan, area from 1982 to 2012. She was also a contract dentist with National Health Resources, Inc. providing general dental services to the Department of Corrections for the State of Michigan from 2007 to 2010.

Dr. Rickert is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Society of American Indian Dentists, American Association of Women Dentists, and National Association of Women Professionals. She has served on the Board of Directors for both the Michigan Urban Indian Health Council and Society of American Indian Dentists. She was the Chair of the Oakland County Dental Society’s Speakers’ Bureau, a member of the Michigan Dental Association’s Public Relations Committee, and president of the Resort District Dental Society. Dr. Rickert has been published in the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association, Association of American Indian Physicians Journal, American Association of Women Dentists Journal, Dentistry Today Journal, and University of Michigan Dental School Alumni Magazine. In 2009, Dr. Rickert was inducted in the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame for being the first female American Indian Dentist in the world.

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