Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) has lost a faculty member known for his tireless compassion, empathy, and integrity, with the passing of Dr. Michael Sovanich on Aug. 29, 2024. Dr. Sovanich was clinical assistant professor, a clinic director, and founding director of the IUSD Emergency Clinic.
Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are grieving their colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend. Tributes have poured in from around the country from alumni who said they were honored to learn from Dr. Sovanich how to care for patients skillfully and compassionately, and from his example of humility, kindness, and humor. Members of the school community have shared about Dr. Sovanich’s constant helpfulness and cheerfulness behind his sparkling blue eyes; his selflessness, generosity and support, especially when students were discouraged; and his ethics, moral compass, and servant leadership.
“Dr. Sovanich was a master clinician, a caring teacher and mentor, and a wonderful role model for all of us in the dental profession,” said Dean Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch. “He was a passionate advocate for the underserved, and reminded us every day of the purpose of our profession and the privilege we possess as healers. This was probably best exemplified by his tireless dedication to the Student Outreach Clinic, and the meaningful experiences it provides to our students. We must honor his legacy by ensuring this program continues for many years to come.”
In the early months of the pandemic, as dental offices around the world went dark, a bright light illuminated the west side of the IU Indianapolis campus. Under the leadership of Dr. Sovanich, who was the first faculty dentist to volunteer, a skeleton crew kept the dental school’s Emergency Clinic open to serve Hoosiers with acute oral pain and infection. While the pandemic raged, Dr. Sovanich focused on life and sustenance. He cultivated a vegetable and flower garden outside the Emergency Clinic, which he tended up to the week he died with the same care and generosity he offered his students and patients.
“Dr. Sovanich cared deeply, passionately, and compassionately for every patient and student,” said Dr. Stuart Schrader. “He volunteered more times for community and public health events than I can remember. He also stepped up to help every time with screening and assessing Special Olympics athletes and in supervising and treating those most in need, from patients who recently immigrated, to asylum seekers, to cancer survivors, to all within our communities living with physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. He never missed an opportunity to advocate for underserved communities.”
“I feel like Dr. Sovanich never rested,” said D4 Nicole Iida. “He was always updating our patients, checking in on us, and got on us about what else we needed to do. He cared deeply about all students and wanted every one of us to succeed. I will remember him as my wonderful mentor who taught me with grace and patience, and I am awfully lucky he was a guiding part of my life and education.”
Dr. Sovanich was born in 1952 in Michigan City, Indiana. He attended Purdue University as an undergraduate and earned his DDS from IUSD in 1982. He completed a general practice residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
He and his wife Robin raised their family in Frankfort, Indiana. Survivors include Robin; two daughters, Sarah and Jennifer, and one granddaughter, Ramona. Dr. Sovanich practiced general dentistry in Frankfort, Indiana, from 1985 until 2017. He was a member of the adjunct clinical faculty until 2018, when he joined the dental school full-time.
“Mike’s wife Robin said she didn’t like me very much when I asked him to come on board full time in 2018,” said Dr. Harvey Weingarten, associate dean of clinical affairs. “She wanted him to slow down. But then she realized teaching actually was his calling, and she forgave me.”
The dental school recognized Dr. Sovanich with numerous awards. He received the Johnson Public Health Faculty Community Service Award for his extensive extracurricular volunteer work with IU dental students, including the Student Outreach Clinic and the Redbud Indiana Reservation in South Dakota. He also received the IUSD Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching. Dr. Sovanich and his wife Robin gave generously to IUSD.
Dr. Sovanich’s obituary is available in the Clinton County Daily News. The dental school is planning a celebration of life for Dr. Sovanich. The date will be announced. Please share your remembrances of Dr. Sovanich on the dental school’s Facebook page.