By Norma Dittman Dr. Maggie Currie, DDS, is very excited to begin her practice at Prairie Lakes Family Dentistry on Monday, July 13th. She is the daughter of Dr. Jon Heezen, and Darcie and Travis Spartz.
Just last week, Currie and her family moved from Omaha to the Heezen Family Farm. She is happy to be finished with her dental schooling, and be back in southwest Minnesota. “We are living in a camper right now, but later this year will move into the farm house. “I am so excited to be back home, and I am very much looking forward to working with my dad at Prairie Lakes Family Dentistry,” Currie said.
A 2018 graduate of Murray County Central, Maggie attended South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, for her undergraduate degree in Human Biology. Her minors were in Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry. Creighton University, Omaha, NE, was her choice to work toward her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She graduated this past May from Creighton University.
While at Creighton University, Currie was awarded leadership awards. The first was for organizing volunteer meals for the Curas Clinic she was a part of. “At Creighton, they hold a clinic once per month where volunteers can come in for dental work performed by students,” Currie stated. “We did all of the dental procedures such as exams up to full-mouth extractions.”
To start with, the students would hold potluck grilling meals on the back patio during the Curas Clinics. “That changed with COVID 19. They began ordering pizzas from Costco for the meals. I thought that was rather boring, so I started cooking the meals for the volunteers. I did that every month for four years. After the birth of my daughter, I couldn’t do that anymore, but other people started helping and keeping those meals going. They even have a committee now that arranges the meals. ”
Currie received the Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award due to her service as the president of the Creighton Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists for two years. Award recipients receive this award due to their academic excellence, and demonstration of outstanding leadership.
She was also awarded the International College of Dentists Dr. Gerald and Sandra Karr Leadership Award honoring her as a dental student and recognizing her future leadership potential.
Currie stated how much she believes that good dental care affects a person’s whole body and well-being. “I worked at Prairie Lakes Family Dentistry summers while I was attending SDSU, and realized how important teeth and oral health are for someone’s smile, and for preventing other diseases such as heart issues, diabetes and dementia.” “I have learned so much through all of my classes and training, but I am very excited to gain more knowledge by working with my dad.”
With a very strong interest in digital dentistry and the positive treatments that can be part of a patients care using it, Currie is eager to further explore that avenue of patient care at Prairie Lakes Family Dentistry. “It’s something that Dad and I will visit about and see what is viable for us in regards to equipment needed and training,” Currie said.
Five years of marriage was recently celebrated by Maggie and her husband, Joel. Joel came to this area through MAST International, working with Ron and Connie Schwartau in their farming operation. He is now farming the Heezen farm.
The couple have a sixteen- month old daughter, Julia, who loves exploring the farm as much as she is allowed to.
When asked about hobbies, Currie instantly responded, “I love to garden. I have a huge garden, and love to can and freeze dry food. I love to quilt and crochet. I brought my sewing machine from Omaha, but, living in a camper, it is currently in storage. Joel and I love to camp and fish. It’s kind of our thing. And traveling - especially to visit our family in New Zealand.”
“For my work life, dentistry is definitely my passion. I want to treat people of all ages from birth to the elderly, and I am looking forward to meeting more of the Prairie Lake Family Dentistry patients,” Dr. Currie commented.
