Turner's Trot 2016

Ryan Turner was not simply another dental student at the University of Michigan. He was a young man who left his home and family in Oregon to pursue his dreams with great vivacity for life and a serving heart, which positively touched all those around him. Due to Ryan’s vast array of interests and willingness to pursue them—he had aspirations of serving his community as a Senator or eventually as President—his serving nature extended to all corners of life.

Ryan was a loyal friend, son, big brother to 3 siblings, a compassionate dental provider, a leader in ASDA (American Student Dental Association), and a leader of his country. He was exceptional in his commitment to his loved ones. Ryan had an animated personality coupled with a smile for everyone he encountered. He was energetic and always eager to engage in adventures with others at the drop of a hat. As one of his closest friends claims, “You can't spell party without ‘RT’.” He wanted to see every corner of the world, and had a good start by traveling to Jamaica, Amsterdam, and many of our states. Simultaneously, Ryan slowed down to serve as an open ear for his loved ones and even total strangers. He once saw a young lady sitting in Barnes and Noble, crying as she read a book. He sat down and said, “Don’t worry, I cry reading books too,” bringing a smile to her face while opening lines of communication. He was a sounding board for anyone who needed to talk, and his advice and/ or perception of each situation (without taking sides) was always sound and well-grounded.

His willingness to help people while maintaining his selfless, witty personality, warmed others while bringing smiles to their faces. Ryan’s love for health and compassion for others began at a very early age, which led him down the path to the field of dentistry, where he knew he could help people while bettering himself. He had a particular interest in children’s dentistry, which spurred from observing the pain his youngest brother endured while by being teased about needing braces. He wanted to help other children through this difficult period in their childhood by helping them with oral health. His humanitarianism radiated throughout the classroom and clinical setting. His classmates and patients both saw this, and whether they were studying with him or sitting in his chair as a patient, all benefited from Ryan’s selfless character and excellence in the field.

In order to serve beyond simply helping people achieve oral health, Ryan chose to go into the United States Army as a dentist. When he told his mother this, she was worried he may be sent to Iraq. His answer to her was, “Mom if I die over there at least I will be serving the men and women who are serving our country, and it would be worth it.” His intelligent, fearless, and altruistic disposition defined him as a leader in the Officer Basic Training Course at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. As one of his closest friends and fellow serviceman in the course states, “I would have never made it out of the Texas wilderness during our night land navigation exercises without Ryan… when I would look up and squint through the darkness, there was my buddy RT waiting for me with a smile on his face, pointing me in the right direction.” Overall, Ryan’s life was led by an unmatched dedication to serve. The lasting connections he made with others resulted in many great memories and laughs which will be carried with those he touched for a lifetime. Anyone who ever crossed paths in this life with Ryan will never forget him or the impact he made on them.

Every donation will go toward the Ryan Turner Memorial Fund, which will continue to let Ryan's legacy live o on, sending dental students to the same national conferences that Ryan loved to attend.