View Larger Image Ashley McMillan, left, receives the 2022 Cynthia Caceras Baker New Dentist Award from Keith Jones, the 2021 recipient. The award is named in honor and memory of Cynthia Caceras Baker, who passed away unexpectedly while serving on the ASDA New Dentist Committee.
Ashley McMillan, left, receives the 2022 Cynthia Caceras Baker New Dentist Award from Keith Jones, the 2021 recipient. The award is named in honor and memory of Cynthia Caceras Baker, who passed away unexpectedly while serving on the ASDA New Dentist Committee.

McMillan Recognized as State’s New Dentist of the Year

By Ben Boulden

| At an awards luncheon in April, Ashley McMillan, D.D.S., experienced a welcome surprise —receiving the Cynthia Caceres Baker New Dentist of the Year Award from the Arkansas State Dental Association.

She had been invited to and attended the lunch with the expectation of taking away an award on behalf of the UAMS Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Oral Health Clinic.

Instead, she accepted the New Dentist Award for herself. McMillan is the director of the UAMS Center for Dental Education’s General Practice Residency (GPR) Program in the UAMS College of Health Professions as well as an assistant professor in the college. She also sees dental patients in the clinic.

“I was told it was an award for the UAMS Oral Health Clinic staying open and seeing patients all during COVID when many private practices had to shut down,” McMillan said. “That was the charade they used to get me there. I quickly realized when they were describing the award that that was what I was there for.”

The annual New Dentist award recognizes a young dentist who has been in practice for 10 years or less, and has exhibited qualities of leadership within their community and profession.

“Dr. McMillan has gained a robust state reputation as an authority in hospital-based dentistry, and she has worked diligently to further develop the GPR and build a national reputation as a quality program,” UAMS College of Health Professions Dean Susan Long, Ed.D., said.

McMillan said she believes keeping the clinic open during the pandemic was a factor in selecting her for the honor, but she also has been a regular attendee at meetings of the association’s central district, served on the association’s new member committee, lectured for state association and district meetings, and helped lead and organize many continuing education events.

McMillan began her service at UAMS as an adjunct member of the faculty, followed by full-time appointment, and later becoming the director of the residency program. She is a lifelong resident of Little Rock and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis.