Dr. Rhys B. Jones was the driving force behind St. Luke’s Dental Health Center, and his memory will be honored with an upcoming dedication and renaming ceremony.

The name change recognizes longtime director Rhys B. Jones, DDS, MS who provided the Center with his vision, passion and leadership. Dr. Jones passed away unexpectedly last spring at the age of 65. He was the St. Luke’s Dental Health Center director until his death on April 22, 2012.

Dr. Jones helped spear-head the opening of the St. Luke’s Dental Health Center in 1976. The Center provides quality, low-cost dental services to infants, children and adolescents in need of financial assistance – and developmentally disabled children and adults. Since its opening 37 years ago it has served nearly 130,000 individuals.

St. Luke’s Dental Health Center will be rededicated and renamed The Dr. Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 4-6 p.m. in a private ceremony.

Just recently St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation spearheaded a fundraising campaign to raise money to pay for the Center’s expansion, renovation and equipment updates. The renovated Center opened in late 2010.

“Dr. Jones saw the needs of our community grow and to keep up with these demands he urged the hospital to update and expand the clinic,” said Ted Townsend, St. Luke’s president and CEO. “He was a very giving man and worked tirelessly to improve access to dentistry for poor and disabled populations. It is because of this that we felt it would be fitting to rename the Center in his honor.”

“We wanted this center to be named after him since he was a kind, generous and compassionate public health servant,” said Ritu Bansal, DDS, MPH, director of The Dr. Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center. “The good thing about The Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center is we make sure no one goes untreated. We always try to make an exception and try to help as much as we can.”

Dr. Jones was also an adjunct professor in both Pediatric Dentistry and Public Health Dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He is survived by his wife 24 years, Valerie Chittick of Iowa City and two children, 10-year-old twins Isabel and Owen.

To refer a child or developmentally disabled adult to The Dr. Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center, please call 319/369-7730.