Dr. James B. "Jim" Trotter was presented with the 2018 Harry M. Klenda Award for outstanding council and committee service at the KDA Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 7, 2018. 

Jim was born in Phoenix, AZ in 1951. His family moved from there, to Denver, CO, then to Raytown, MO in 1965. Jim is the oldest of four boys. Jim’s third brother, Mark (deceased), graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1980. The other two, Jay and Lee, are both pharmacists. 

Jim attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1976. He spent 30 years in private practice in Overland Park and Leawood, KS. Jim married Sandy Ensley in 1974. They have two children David, 34, and daughter, Leslee, 32. They have a grandson, Johnathan, who is almost twelve. 

Jim is a Life Member of the Fifth District Dental Society, KDA, and ADA. He served on and chaired the Council on Peer Review. He served as President of the Fifth District Dental Society in 2006 and was also awarded the Fifth District “Dentist of the Year.” He currently serves as Chair of the Wellness Committee of the KDA, and is Vice President of Heart of America Professional Network (HAPN), a non-profit organization serving healthcare professionals in Kansas who suffer from substance abuse disorders and emotional and physical disabilities. 

In addition, Jim became a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry in 2002 and Fellow in the American College of Dentists in 2006. In 2006 and 2007, he served as Adjunct Faculty at the Olathe Health Partnership, serving low-income populations in Johnson County. 

 Jim and Sandy have been active in their church for over 40 years. In 2006 and 2007, Jim visited Tanzania and Thailand for mission work. He is currently serving his congregation in the capacity of church elder, and for many years, led the worship services as song leader. Jim is an accomplished musician, singing in various church groups and men’s quartets. He and Sandy have also been active in leading Dynamic Marriage seminars. 

Jim was in the Overland Park Rotary Club for 19 years and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for his medical mission work in Guyana, South America. The Overland Park Rotary supplied much needed equipment to expand the range of dental treatment provided. Jim was one of the founding Board members of Christian Family Services of Kansas City, an adoption, child care, and counseling agency. 

Jim has always enjoyed sharing his experiences and teaching when possible. After selling his practice in 2006, he joined the faculty of UMKC School of Dentistry in 2008 as a full-time clinical instructor. He eventually became course director for Aesthetic Dentistry, which is taught to the third-year dental students. 

Jim recently completed the Dental Champions program under the auspices of Oral Health Kansas. The Dental Champions VIII cohort focused on improving access to fluoridation for all Kansans. He now serves on the Dental Advisory Board of Oral Health Kansas. 

In their spare time, Jim and Sandy enjoy travel, music, the arts, and spending time with their grandson.