Eastview Family Dental in Lincoln was founded in 1922 by Merritt C. Pedersen, DDS, a 1922 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry.
Dr. Pedersen's son-in-law, Harold E. Maude, DDS, joined the practice in 1958. His daughter, Susan Christensen, DDS, a 1981 graduate of the UNMC College of Dentistry joined the practice in 1981, making Eastview Family Dental the first father/daughter practice in the Midwest.
For 100 years, Eastview Family Dental has served the dental care needs of Lincoln community members. Read about this remarkable family of dentists and their family-run dental practice.
Written by Marilyn Pedersen
Merritt C. Pedersen, DDS
Merritt C. Pedersen, DDS, graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in 1922 and began his 51-year practice of dentistry in Lincoln, Nebraska. He had a small office in the medical office of his mother's cousin, Delbert Bowman, MD, while the construction of his dental office was being completed. The brick home-like building was the first residential dental office in Lincoln and was located on the northwest corner of 27th and S Street. There were two operatories, a lab, a waiting room, a small business office for making appointments, and a basement for storage of dental materials.
In 1934, he joined Clarence Emerson, MD in the construction of a uniquely designed medical/dental office building at 1700 South 24th Street.
Dr. Pedersen loved people and was an active communicator, writing at least 20 letters a day to friends and fellow dentists, congratulating them on achievements, honors, birthdays and as well as expressing sympathy when needed. This led to him becoming the founder and president of the College of Dentistry Alumni Fund. He also wrote a column called "Merritt Sez" for the "College of Dentistry Bulletin."
Throughout his career, Dr. Pedersen contributed to the field of dentistry by teaching classes in clinical dentistry and participating in many professional organizations. He was the president of the Lincoln District Dental Association and the Nebraska Dental Association, a Fellow and Regent in the International College of Dentists, and a member of the American Dental Association.
Dr. Pedersen was chosen as a charter member of the Nebraska Dental Association Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Dentistry Alumni Association.
He was on the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Directors and received a Distinguished Service Award from the University Alumni Association. His other activities included serving as secretary of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation and serving a term as president of the Lincoln Junior Chamber of Commerce.
He contributed to dental practice excellence through the years by accepting invitations to give presentations emphasizing practice managment to 82 dental associations in 21 states. For many years, Dr. Pedersen volunteered to teach a class for University of Nebraska College of Dentistry seniors on how to set up and manage a new dental practice.
He authored many professional articles for publication in state dental association magazines and was a contributing author to the " Dental Clinics of North America Year Book." He served 36 months as a dentist in the U.S. Navy during World War II, 28 months of that time being stationed as the only dentist at the Naval Hospital in Hollandia, New Guinea.
In 1958, Dr. Pedersen welcomed five dentists into his practice: Drs. Norm Carlson, Bill Ferguson, Paul Kern and Herb Williams, all University of Nebraska College of Dentistry graduates, and his son-in-law, Dr. Harold E. (Ted) Maude, a graduate of the University of Michigan College of Dentistry.
He retired in 1974 as a Captain in the Navy Reserve. On the last day of his life in 1977, Dr. Pedersen was delighted to be informed that his granddaughter, Susan, had been accepted into the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry.
To honor the memory of Dr. Merritt C. Pedersen, a professorship in his name was funded at the UNMC College of Dentistry in 1996 by the Maude/Christensen family. The financial award is intended to help retain instructors who have shown excellence in mentoring students.
In addition, several years later, Drs. Susan and Michael Christensen funded the Dr. Harold and Marilyn P. Maude Professorship at the UNMC College of Dentistry. The financial award from this professorship also is intended to help retain instructors of excellence.
Harold E. (Ted) Maude, DDS
Harold E. Maude, DDS, was married to Marilyn Pedersen, the daughter of Dr. Pedersen, who was a dental hygienist and graduate of the University of Michigan College of Dentistry. After graduating from the University of Michigan College of Dentistry in 1956, Dr. Maude completed 24 months as a dentist at the San Diego Naval Training Station in San Diego, California. He joined Eastview Family Dental in 1958.
Although Dr. Maude was raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, he had fallen in love with Lincoln and chose to live a less hectic life here rather than in the metropolitan area of Detroit. He became a great ambassador for Lincoln, praising the wonderful qualities of the city whenever anyone would listen. Many of his friends, as well as professors from Michigan, visited Lincoln to see if his stories of "utopia" were true. They agreed he did not exaggerate. Several friends came back many times for football games and to hunt pheasants and geese.
Dr. Maude loved his profession and his patients, developing many friendships among them. He was a member of the Lincoln District Dental Association, the Nebraska Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Capital City Dental Study Club, the University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor's Club, the College of Dentistry Dean's Club, and he was a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. He was a loyal member of the Lincoln Executive Club and contributed to his adopted city on various special committees.
He was on the steering committee and an official for the Junior Olympic Swim trials that were held in Lincoln in the 1960's. His children were active Amateur Athletic Union swimmers. Dr. Maude also coached many youth baseball and football teams and enjoyed philanthropic hands-on.projects, including cooking and serving dinners at Matt Talbot Kitchen and the Food Bank of Lincoln's Backpack Program at Riley Elementary School. After retirement, he worked as a judge during elections at various precincts around the city.
Susan Christensen, DDS
Dr. Maude's daughter, Susan Christensen, DDS, completed her undergraduate work at Baylor University where she was a member of the women's swim team. She graduated from the UNMC College of Dentistry in 1981 and joined Eastview Family Dental the same year, making it the first father/daughter practice in the Midwest. By this time, the practice had been relocated to the present building at 5640 South Street. The relocation occured in 1974.
After joining the practice, Dr. Christensen began her trek to dental excellence by attending lectures and classes pertaining to the several dental fields. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, received her master's degree, and lectures about orthodontics in the US and internationally.
Dr. Christensen is on the visiting faculty list for Spear Continuing Education Classes and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Nebraska Dental Association and the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. She is also an adjunct professor at the UNMC College of Dentistry, promotes and leads the Spear Study Club, and takes part in breast cancer awareness through the Heartland Cancer Foundation.
Aside from her dental practice, Dr. Christensen enjoys her family and friends, cutting horse activities with her husband, Mike Christensen, and swimming in a master's swimming group. A highlight of her life has been helping start a 4-H horse group for special needs children.
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Throughout 100 years, many other oral health professionals have been part of the Eastview Family Dental team, including current team member Dr. Nelson.
Alexa Nelson, DDS
Alexa Nelson, DDS, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and attended Humann Elementary School, Pound Middle School and Lincoln Southwest High School. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received her bachelor's degree in biological sciences with minors in psychology and humanities in medicine. She was in the Delta Delta Delta social sorority and served as president her senior year. She also served as a TeamMate mentor to a school-age student.
Dr. Nelson earned her DDS from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. While she was a dental student, she served at the DAWN student-run clinic providing free dental care to communities in need. Upon her return to Nebraska, she completed a General Practice Residency at UNMC.
She stays up-to-date with new developments in dentistry through continuing education classes and maintains memberships in the Nebraska Dental Association, the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Outside of her love for serving her dental patients, Dr. Nelson enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is happily married to Kyle Dostal, and together they enjoy spoiling their two dogs, Cooper and Charlie, and their cat, Gatsby. They also spend time traveling, golfing and cheering on the Huskers.
Loved this informational story!! Thanks for sharing.