The University of Iowa College of Dentistry celebrated three dental alumni during its annual Alumni Reception on Sept. 12, 2025, at The Graduate Hotel in Iowa City.

Garland Hershey ('65 DDS, '71 MS), Eric teDuits ('90 DDS, '92 MS, '92 PDEO), and Sara Stuefen ('10 DDS) were named the 2025 Educator of the Year, Alumnus of the Year, and inaugural Rising Star Awardee, respectively. 

The annual weekend invited alumni from graduating classes ending in 5's and 0's to Iowa City. The weekend included Continuing Education courses, pregame social, game watch party, and the alumni reception.

Garland Hershey, 2025 Educator of the Year

Hershey, a 1965 graduate from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, was recognized for his decades-long career in academic dentistry and healthcare management, as well as his enduring love and support for the University of Iowa. 

A native of Iowa City, Garland spent over two decades of his early life on campus, from preschool through his orthodontic residency. After serving as a U.S. Army dentist in Germany, he returned to Iowa to complete his residency in orthodontics. Though he initially planned a short stint in academia, he went on to become an internationally recognized leader in dental education and healthcare management.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Garland served in multiple roles, including professor, associate dean, and vice chancellor for health affairs at the UNC Medical Center, one of only a few dentists in the country to lead a major academic health center. Throughout his academic career, he continued to treat orthodontic patients and mentor future dental educators.

Despite the distance between Chapel Hill and Iowa City, Garland has remained a passionate advocate for the University of Iowa and the College of Dentistry. He has chaired capital projects and personally recruited prospective students, and continues to be an ardent alumni supporter.

Eric teDuits, 2025 Alumnus of the Year

teDuits, a 1990 graduate from the University of Iowa, was honored as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year for his commitment to children's oral health, education, and advocacy.

As a pediatric dentist in Madison, WI, Eric has spent over 30 years caring for underserved children. His multi-location practice is known for welcoming patients with special healthcare needs, complex conditions, or Medicaid coverage.

He has supported the Dane County Head Start program for more than 25 years, providing care to over 1,000 children annually. He also led the Give Kids a Smile program locally and worked alongside the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin to promote access and awareness.

In addition to clinical care, he mentors the next generation of healthcare providers. He hosts Iowa dental residents in his practice, lectures on managing Medicaid patients and practice management, and encourages students to treat vulnerable populations with empathy and purpose.

Sara Stuefen, 2025 Rising Star Awardee

Stuefen, a 2010 graduate from the University of Iowa, was honored with the inaugural Rising Star Award created to recognize outstanding early-career dentists who are making an impact. 

Stuefen, a solo practitioner in Vinton, IA, also serves on the American Dental Association’s Board of Trustees, representing the 10th District. “It’s an incredible honor,” she says of winning the award. “My goal is to leave the profession in a better place than I found it.”

Her journey to becoming a dentist began as a patient. Growing up in Fort Madison, she made regular trips to Iowa City for dental care. On one of those visits, a faculty member encouraged her to consider dentistry and arranged for her to tour the college. Stuefen knew she wanted to work in healthcare, and, after a few years of studying at Iowa, she committed to dentistry. 

Stuefen is a proud supporter of the college and served as an adjunct faculty member in family dentistry from 2010 to 2018. She lectures to dental students nationwide as part of the ADA’s Success Speaker program, emphasizing the importance of working through failures and frustrations and prioritizing mental health. 

Stuefen is most likely the youngest ADA trustee in the organization’s history, and she is proud to be tackling challenges such as access to fluoride and dental insurance reform. She is also working with other trustees to stabilize the ADA’s finances and leadership