Member Spotlight
Scott Van Dam, DDS, MD
Black Hills Oral Surgery
Rapid City, SD
Dr. Scott Van Dam has over 14 years of experience as an oral and
maxillofacial surgeon. He first joined ACOMS as a Resident Member,
but lapsed his membership shortly thereafter. Years later, Dr. Van
Dam has reengaged with ACOMS and is now an active volunteer on
the ACOMS Membership Committee.
When did you first join ACOMS?
I joined ACOMS as a Resident Member while at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
I remember attending my first ACOMS meeting in 2007, because I presented a poster and
abstract on the topic of Metastasizing Ameloblastomas and, to my delight, won first prize.
While I was impressed with both the College and the educational offerings at the time, a busy
personal and professional life, as well as many other opportunities for continuing education,
kept me away from renewing my membership.
What attracted you to eventually renew your ACOMS membership?
There are multiple factors that attracted me to renew my membership. One factor was
the the 32 nd Annual Winter Meeting in Colorado. I had the opportunity to learn about the
latest advancements in orthognathic surgery and go skiing. Another factor is the quality
of continuing education courses the College offers. This past April I attended the Annual
Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was very impressed not only with the relevance and
quality of the CE courses offered, but the intimacy and camaraderie amongst the attendees
that made this experience enjoyable.
How did you decide to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
I decided to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon during my third year of dental school
at Creighton University. It was a year after the birth of my second child. She had multiple
congenital anomalies, which deepened my interest in medicine at a time when I already was
discovering an interest in oral surgery. Since making the decision to pursue oral surgery as a
career, I have never looked back!
How did you get involved in the ACOMS Membership Committee?
Dr. Kevin Rieck, who mentored me when I was a resident at Mayo Clinic, and who is currently
serving as the President of ACOMS, invited me to be a part of the ACOMS Membership
Committee. I’m excited to be part of the committee and share my rediscovered appreciation
for ACOMS with others and encourage my friends to come learn and have fun.