The Southern Ute Dental Department is welcoming a new member to the group – Dr. Joe Baumgart, who has specialized in dentistry for over five years.

Originally from a small farming town in southern Illinois, Dr. Baumgart graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 2001 where he knew he wanted to practice dental and medicine since freshman year.

“I knew by the time I was a freshman that I wanted to pursue dental and medicine,” he stated. “After I shadowed both, I decided to go with dental, which was around my senior year.”

Dr. Baumgart joined the military during his senior year of high school before enlisting in a sixteen-month stay in Iraq after the events of 9/11.

He received his bachelors in science as well as his doctorate at Southern Illinois University before moving to Durango in 2011 and continued practicing dentistry in Cortez.

Before joining the Southern Ute Dental Department, Dr. Baumgart worked nine months with the Navajo Nation in Shiprock at the Northern Navajo Medical Center. He took the position with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe to be closer to home. During his downtime, he enjoys skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

Dr. Baumgart commented on his position, stating, “I’m happy to be working for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. I really like my job in dentistry, and I really hope to provide really great character to as many people as I can.”