Dr. Cathy Taylor-Osborne Awarded Dentist of the Year
Cathy was born in Kansas City, Missouri and after her family moved from El Paso, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri to Tulsa, Oklahoma, settled in Prairie Village KS. She briefly attended St. Ann’s grade school and then went on to attend Bishop Miege High School. Cathy is the oldest of four children and when she was in high school her mother, Martha, decided to return to school and obtain her dental hygiene degree. Martha graduated from the first dental hygiene class from Johnson County Community College in May, 1974, the same month Cathy graduated from Miege.
Cathy began the same dental hygiene program that fall, graduating in the 3rd class in 1976. She practiced dental hygiene for Drs. John Lambert, Sidney McKnight and Jim Craig, became involved in the Kansas Dental Hygiene Association as editor of the state newsletter “The Hy-Line” and as served as an officer in KDHA, Johnson County Dental Hygiene Association, and as President of the JCCC Dental Hygiene Alumni Association.
After practicing dental hygiene for 15 years, Cathy returned to complete the pre-dental requirements and entered UMKC School of Dentistry in the fall of 1993. During school, she was her class ASDA delegate for four years, participated in many outreach projects, as well as organized dentistry programs and activities. Challenging but rewarding, Cathy was a single mother with a daughter age 12, and 2 sons ages 10 and 7 years old when she started dental school. She spent many hours at soccer, basketball, baseball and football games studying pathology and pharmacology notes, among others!
After graduating in 1997, Cathy worked as an associate with Dr. Charles Breusing and then in 2000, she purchased her practice in Overland Park, KS. She had a wonderful family practice for almost 11 years, employing some of her dental hygiene classmates!
She was continually active in organized dentistry including participation on many state and local committees, professional organizations, and positions in the Fifth District Dental Society, including serving as President, and participates in the Kansas Mission of Mercy projects.
In 2011, Cathy completed her Master of Arts degree in Bioethics and Health Policy and traveled to Bangalore, India to establish a dental clinic for the Salesian Sisters. She returned to become the dental director at Cabot Westside Medical and Dental Clinic. Also in 2011, she became an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet and maintains active support and participation in their activities. After two years at Cabot, Cathy accepted her current position as Director of Oral Health in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She continues to present courses and seminars in dental ethics and professionalism to dental students as well as her colleagues in dentistry and dental hygiene, was a Kansas Dental Champion in 2015, and serves in a variety of roles in state and national professional organizations.
Dr. John Fales, 2016-17 KDA President (left) and Dr. Steven Hechler, Immediate Past President (far right) present Dr. Cathy Taylor-Osborne the Dentist of the Year Award.
In 2001, she met Dr. James Osborne at a Greater Kansas City Dental Association meeting and they married in 2005. They are currently juggling his career as Clinical Director of the Graduate Orthodontic Program at UMKC School of Dentistry and her job as state dental director in Topeka, KS. Jim has been her biggest supporter throughout all of her crazy adventures and they are enjoying a wonderful life at Lake Winnebago. She is extremely proud of her three children who are happily married and raising Cathy’s beloved grandchildren.
Between Jim and Cathy, they have ten grandchildren, a horse, a dog and lots of lake toys. They love spending time with their families, traveling, and, for Cathy, horseback riding with her sister. Cathy’s youngest son will continue the family tradition as he will enter UMKC School of Dentistry this fall.
Cathy is very appreciative of the support, comradery and friendship that have been so important to her both personally and professionally. She is immensely grateful for the opportunities that the dental profession has provided for her and her family in all aspects of education, private practice, and public service.
Congratulations to Dr. Cathy Taylor-Osborne on a well-deserved honor. The Kansas Dental Association is thankful for your efforts.
