During the 150th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Dental Association General Assembly on Thursday, April 29, Dr. Stephen "Steve" Zeller was celebrated as the 2021 Dentist of the Year.

Dr. Zeller was presented with the award prior to the meeting by KDA President, Dr. Allen Reavis. The award presentation can be viewed on YouTube.

Dr. Reavis nominated Dr. Zeller for the Dentist of the Year Award because of his dedication to the Kansas Donated Dental Services Program (DDS), which provides free, comprehensive dental care to individuals who are disabled, elderly, or medically fragile.

In addition to serving as Board President of the Kansas Chapter of Dental Lifeline Network, Dr. Zeller is also the top provider of care through the DDS program in the entire country. 

About Dr. Steve Zeller

Dr. Stephen Zeller was born in Kansas City, Missouri. After high school, he attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City for two years, prior to serving in the United States Navy in Okinawa from 1971-1973.

Upon his return, he completed his undergraduate degree in biology and attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, and graduated in 1980. Following graduation, he completed a one year General Practice Residency at Leavenworth VA. Eventually, he was accepted into the UMKC Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program and completed his residency in 1985, then moved to Topeka, Kansas to start his current private practice.

Stephen is a past president of the Topeka District Dental Society and the Kansas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has served on the Kansas Dental Board and is the current President of the Kansas Chapter of Dental Lifeline Network.

Stephen is also a participant in the Kansas Mission of Mercy events and has traveled the world performing oral surgery mission trips. He provides care for Marian Dental Clinic patients and residents of the Topeka Rescue Mission. He is also president of the Heartland Dental Study Club, with 45 dentist members serving the Northeast Kansas area. He currently holds a position as an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UMKC School of Dentistry, where he works with the oral surgery residents twice a month.

Outside of dentistry, Stephen is married to his wife Kathy of 37 years.  He enjoys golf, cooking, reading, and time with his four children, two of which are dentists, one is an anesthesiologist, and another is a soon to be clinical psychologist. He recently had his first grandchild and is eager to spend time with her.