Dr. Michael Flynn Receives 2016 Outstanding Service Award
Dr. Michael Flynn was selected as the recipient of the Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) 2016 Outstanding Service Award. He was honored by nearly 9,000 dental professionals in attendance at the MDA’s annual convention, the Star of the North Meeting at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
Dr. Flynn received his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in Winona and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He has served patients throughout southeastern Minnesota for over 30 years and is committed to increasing dental access for under-insured and underserved families, with over half of his patients served by public health programs. He was one of the first to utilize dental assistants with expanded functions, in order to improve access for these patients.
Dr. Flynn is actively involved in organized dentistry, having served as an officer and president of the Minnesota Dental Association, as a trustee from the Southeastern District, and multiple years as a delegate to the American Dental Association. He has been involved in MDA legislative activity for many years, currently serving as the Legislative Affairs Committee’s chair, with past service on multiple task forces for many dental related issues, including the Minnesota Department of Health’s Oral Health Practitioner Work Group, established by the 2008 Minnesota Legislature. Dr. Flynn was also involved in legislative activity that was instrumental in passage of the Fair Contracting Bill and increased medical assistance reimbursement funding in 2013 and again in 2015.
Dr. Flynn has been an active member within his local community as well. He has been a Hillsdale township supervisor for over 30 years, a long-standing board member of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce and a member of zoning and planning committees in Hillsdale and Winona townships for many years. He has also served as a 4H leader in Winona County for more than 20 years and was inducted into the Winona County Hall of Fame for Community Service.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.