Who We Are

SAID is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the unique needs of Indigenous dentists, while also increasing the number of Indigenous dentists in the United States.

Since its founding in 1990, SAID has promoted dental health in American Indian communities, encouraged AI/AN youth to pursue careers in the profession of dentistry, provided role-model leadership, and promoted and supported the unique concerns of AI/AN dentists.

Founded by George Blue Spruce Jr., DDS, MPH along with five other American Indian dentists, the organization has grown to establish its visibility for improving both the status for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) dentists within the overall profession of dentistry, and as an educational pathway for AI/AN students.


The primary source of support for the SAID comes from donations and annual dues.

The Society of American Indian Dentists holds annual meetings each summer. These meetings are usually held in association with a dental school and American Indian Tribes located in the vicinity of the institution.

 Board of Directors

Dr. Cristin Haase

Cristin Haase, DMD, MPH 
Cheyenne River Sioux
President

Dr. Adrian Sandoval

Adrian Sandoval, DDS
Navajo Nation
Vice President

Dr. Felicia Frizzell

Felicia Frizzell, DDS
Mescalero Apache
Treasurer and
Immediate Past President

Dr. Sarah Rodgers

 Sarah Rodgers, DMD
Quapaw Nation
Secretary

       

Dr. George Blue Spruce

George Blue Spruce, Jr., DDS, MPH
Pueblo (Laguna/Ohkay-Owingeh)
President Emeritus and Founder

Tamana "Bunny" Begay

Tamana "Bunny" Begay, DDS
Navajo, Seneca, Mohawk
At-Large Board Member

Dr. Chloe Craig

Chloe Craig, DMD 
Cherokee Nation
At-Large Board Member

Dr. Joseph Jagers

Joseph Jagers, DMD
Laguna Pueblo
At-Large Board Member

       

Keyonah Lambert, DMD
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
At-Large Board Member

Dr. Lucinda Lewis

Lucinda Lewis, DDS
Navajo Nation
At-Large Board Member

   

Past Presidents

  • 1990-2006—George Blue Spruce, Jr., DDS, MPH, Pueblo (Laguna/Ohkay-Owingeh)

  • 2006-2011—Dave L. Smith, DDS (Oneida)

  • 2011-2013—Ruth Bol, DDS (Comanche)  

  • 2013-2014—Drew Preston, DDS (Navajo)  

  • 2014-2017—Darlene Sorrell, DMD (Navajo)  

  • 2017-2019—Winifred J. Booker, DDS (Piscataway)   

  • 2019-2021—Frederick John, DMD (Pyramid Lake Paiute)

  • 2021-2022--Felicia Frizzell, DDS (Mescalero Apache)

 

Staff

Janice Morrow

Janice Morrow
Executive Director

Mary Altenberg

Mary Altenberg
Program Director

Frances Kim Headshot

Frances Kim, DDS
Student Programs Manager

Vikki Driving Hawk
Conference Coordinator