Stephen Beetstra, DDS MHSA
Associate Professor - Clinical • Dentistry - General Practice Residency • Dental Program Director
Stephen.Beetstra@osumc.eduBiography:
Dr. Stephen Beetstra, a native of Wisconsin, received his dental degree from Baylor College of
Dentistry. He served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service for nine
years in Oregon, Florida, and North Carolina working with Native Americans, migrant farmworkers,
and underserved populations. For his fluoridation efforts, Dr. Beetstra received an Outstanding Service
Medal, the highest award granted by the Service and was recognized by the National Health Service
Corps as a Healthcare Hero.
After his service in Public Health, he joined the faculty of the University of New Mexico, School of
Medicine. There he created programs, state policy initiatives, and training programs focusing on
medically complex and special needs patients. Six years later he was recruited to Arkansas Children’s
Hospital/ University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to develop a statewide program for medically
complex children and patients with special needs. He was there for 16 years in which eleven he served
as Chair. Since 2020, he is the dental program director of the Ohio State University Nisonger Center,
one of the first university centers of excellence in developmental disabilities in the country. There he
manages two clinics, and has created training programs to teach dental residents, dental and dental
hygiene students, graduate students and community providers to care for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.