Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Champion, Class of 2023, was honored by Kansas City University with a Hero Award. This award is a colleague-appointed recognition, and is guided by KCU’s mission to improve the well-being of the communities the university serves.

Katie is a general dentist who recently transitioned into academics from private practice, joining Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine in 2021 as their Director of Clinical Operations. She is an Ohio native who lived in South Florida for 15 years before moving to Missouri. She was recruited to KCU to help with the development of the College of Dental Medicine, which will open its doors in July 2023 for its inaugural class of 80 students. Currently, she is involved with chairing the admissions committee, developing clinical curriculum, and designing and implementing clinical systems for the 96-operatory dental clinic within KCU’s Oral Health Center. Her academic and research interests lie in the areas of adult learning theory, foundational occlusion, and holistic admissions processes.

Katie received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami, her dental degree from Nova Southeastern University, and is currently obtaining her Masters in Medical Education from Harvard University. She is actively involved in organized dentistry, currently serves on the Jasper County Mental Health Tax Fund Board and maintains involvement in several local community outreach committees.

Katie lives in Joplin with her husband, Rob, their 3 dogs, and 1 cat. She loves traveling, reading, and trivia. We invite you to meet Katie during the remaining sessions for the Class of 2023 to congratulate her in person, or you can send an email to kchampion@kansascity.edu.