About Us

Dr. Murray Thompson

COL (Dr.) Murray Thompson grew up in Pierre, South Dakota.  He is a 2001 graduate of Creighton University with a BS in Physics and a 2005 graduate of the Creighton University Medical Center School of Dentistry.  He currently practices general dentistry and is the owner of the Pierre Dental Clinic.

Dr. Thompson was commissioned in the US Air Force Reserve in November 2001 having received a full Health Professional Scholarship Program selection.  After graduating dental school, he practiced 3 years with the US Air Force at Minot AFB, ND, as a general dentist and 4 years in the SD Air National Guard 114FW in Sioux Falls, SD, as the base dental surgeon and 114^th FW Security Forces Ready Augmentee. While on active duty, Dr. Thompson received advanced training in clinical operative dentistry and federal infection control standards.  He further served as the dental infection control officer, regional continuing education lecturer on infection control in dentistry, and the hospital instrument processing center supervisor. In 2011, he was activated by the state and served as Officer of Levee Security during the Missouri River flooding in Pierre, SD. In 2012, having been inspired by many members of the SD National Guard, he transferred to the SD Army National Guard Medical Command as a general dentist.  In 2013, Dr. Thompson volunteered to serve with the US Army’s Operation Enduring Freedom mission, SC Army National Guard 251^st ASMC, as the only dentist in a Role I facility while deployed to a forward operating base in NE Afghanistan.  In 2016, 2017, and 2019, Dr. Thompson participated in multiple exchange programs culminating in being assigned as the senior officer in charge of the first-ever ground-up SD Army National Guard MEDRETE/DENTRETE humanitarian mission in the country of Suriname in northern South America. In 2020, Dr. Thompson was again activated by the state and served as a Liaison Officer for the SD Army National Guard under the Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Health during the Covid-19 Response. Continuing to serve the State of South Dakota, and the nation, he is the Past Commander of the SD Army National Guard Medical Command and currently holds the position of SD Army National Guard State Dental Officer.

Professionally, Dr. Thompson is a member of the American Dental Association, the South Dakota Dental Association (SDDA), and the Southern District Dental Society. He is a Past President of the Southern District Dental Society, has served as a SDDA Delegate and Legislative Committee Chair and currently is the Southern District Board Trustee. In 2015, Dr. Thompson was selected as Volunteer of the Year in Pierre, SD and in 2016 he was selected as the SDDA Young Dentist of the Year and was inducted as a fellow into the International College of Dentists.  Further, Dr. Thompson is a paid professional consultant for Delta Dental of South Dakota. Dr. Thompson has volunteered many hours with the Dakota Smiles Mobile Dental Program, the Donated Dental Services Program, and is currently on staff at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.  He has also been an active volunteer at the St. Francis Mission dental clinic, serves on the advisory board for Lake Area Technical Institute Dental Assisting Program, and has served as a clinical student externship instructor for Creighton University School of Dentistry, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, University of South Dakota, and Lake Area Technical Institute. Dr. Thompson is the Past President of the SD National Guard Officer’s Association and further serves the communities of Pierre and Ft. Pierre as a prior board member and Past President of the Capital Area United Way and the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Kiwanis club as well as a past commissioner on the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Housing and Redevelopment Commission, Advisory Team Board Member of the Bridge Wesleyan Church, and as a Dakota Prairie Bank and First Fidelity Board Director.

When not at work, you will find him spending time with his wife Jen, their 2 children, 4 dogs, and 4 goats.  He is also very active in flying small general aviation aircraft as an Instrument Rated Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor, helping manage a family cattle ranching corporation, and playing guitar, the piano, and/or singing in his church’s worship band on Sundays.

Dr. Joan Umiker

Dr. Joan Umiker grew up in Hackett, Arkansas. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Augusta University in 2011. She then went on to Graduate from the Dental College of Georgia-Augusta University in 2016 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, DMD. She has been practicing general dentistry in South Dakota since 2016. She is a member of the American Dental Association, South Dakota Dental Association, as well as the Southern District Dental Society. While not working, she enjoys spending her free time with her husband John and their 2 young boys hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping.