Dr. Scott Funke Awarded for Community Excellence!
Every year, ABC6 News in Rochester, MN asks the community for nominations for its community excellence award, an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to recognize individuals who have “gone above and beyond to make a difference in our community.”
The Salvation Army nominated Dr. Scott Funke, DDS, FAGD, for his long-term volunteerism at the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, lovingly nicknamed the Good Sam, where community members in dental pain are able to access care quickly without the high cost of an emergency room visit.
Dr. Funke consistently volunteers once a month at the Good Sam, where he is among 27-29 community dentists who give of their time for dental patients in need of tooth extractions. Since 2019, Dr. Funke has volunteered for nearly 130 hours!
“If I have another dentist volunteering with me, we can see 12 patients in three hours,” said Dr. Funke, “and it’s rare that we have a patient who has only one tooth giving them trouble.”
Patients of the Good Sam have an average of 2-3 teeth removed during their visits. Dr. Funke and the other volunteer dentists work to educate patients about dental maintenance, as well as the emergent care they receive.
“We have patients who think, if they have all of their teeth removed, that they’ll never have to go see a dentist again, and that’s just not the case,” said Dr. Funke. He went on to say that many systemic health conditions come from poor oral health and tooth loss. He shared that the dentists at the Good Sam always want to ensure patients are informed if they have teeth they can save.
“We give people all the information, and then we let them decide what’s best for them. All we can do is equip people with the information they need to make the right decisions for themselves.”
Dr. Funke is the general dentist and owner of Med City Dental. He is also a husband and father to a 5 ½ year old little girl. “My daughter is such a learner. She always has all the questions about everything!”
He says that dentistry was a career that combined both art and science in a way that he found fascinating. “No offense to any doctors, but I thought looking at mouths to be much better than the other working end!”
In his early years as a dentist, Dr. Funke worked for a dental office that accepted Medical Assistance (MA) before he transitioned to serving a rural community. He said, “I thought I was good at removing teeth before. I really got good. I rarely referred extractions and when I would, the oral surgeons would comment how they loved my patients, but that the extractions were always very difficult cases.”
After moving to Rochester, Dr. Funke was introduced to the Good Sam Dental Clinic by a fellow local dentist. “I learned that it was funded on donations, volunteer dentists and dental professionals in the community.”
“I also liked that it was focused on getting patients out of pain with a focus on tooth extractions. I have always believed that everyone has the right to have a tooth removed if they are in severe pain.”
As he’s volunteered at the Good Sam, Dr. Funke has retained his personal philosophy that “you should never treat a stranger.”
“This is something one of my mentors would always say,” said Dr. Funke, “it extends beyond knowing their health and social history. I believe in getting to know my patients before ever even looking at your mouth, in making that human connection.”
Dr. Funke makes a point of introducing himself to each patient, and asking them about themselves. He tells them, “I have plenty of time to look in your mouth and address your tooth concerns, but that I want to get to know you!
“Our patients are people. They are just not faces in the crowd. Just like you and me, they have their own story.”
Dr. Funke is also well known for utilizing humor to make patients comfortable during their visits to the Good Sam. When patients ask whether their extraction is going to hurt, he’ll reply, “do you want it to? That costs extra.” He says, with a name like Funke (pronounced FUNKY), he has to have a little humor in him.
He insists that “getting a tooth pulled does not have to be a miserable experience. I try to make it the best possible environment for the patients we serve at the clinic.”
Dr. Funke says he also looks forward to catching up with the other providers who volunteer at the Good Sam, where he says local dentists have formed a community of service and giving.
“I find myself encouraging others in the dental field to volunteer their skills and time. Anytime someone in our area will listen, I will tell them about the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic. I tell them how different it is from what they may think about serving the patient population.”
Patients who receive care from the Good Sam range from those with no insurance, to those with too little insurance to make an extraction affordable, to those who are currently in treatment programs for recovery from chemical dependency, and even to those who are currently incarcerated in Olmsted County.
“The Good Samaritan Dental Clinic serves an important role in our community, “said Dr. Funke, “Rather than individuals in pain having to rely on the emergency room and then leaving with an antibiotic and narcotic– we are able to actually help get these people out of pain. We are decreasing the burden on the emergency room facilities. We are giving relief rather than creating a scenario that patients may seek other means of self-medication.”
When asked what he would want the public to know about the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, Dr. Funke said, “the dentists there are voluntary and skilled. This is top notch talent. They care about the clinic, its patients, and the community. I want people to know, when they come to the dental clinic, that they’re in good hands!”
Leadership of The Salvation Army are thrilled to announce that Dr. Funke has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Community Excellence Award!
The Salvation Army would like to share their sincere gratitude to Dr. Funke, and to the many members of the dental community who have made it possible for the Good Sam to provide dental care in Rochester for nearly 25 years.
“The dental clinic is so valuable,” said Dr. Funke, “Dentists have really rallied around this clinic, and I’m going to keep showing up!”
For more information about The Salvation Army Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, please visit www.RochesterSA.org.