ATSU-MOSDOH faculty member handcrafts a symbol of service, education, and Missouri roots
Posted: October 6, 2026
ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) celebrated its 10th graduating class on Friday, May 15, in Kirksville, Missouri. The day marked a milestone for the School and for communities where 70 new dentists will increase access to oral healthcare.
Among the pomp and circumstance, this year’s ceremony included an added element of significance. Robert Collinge, DDS, one of ATSU-MOSDOH’s original faculty members, served as grand marshal, leading the processional with a staff he handcrafted specially for the School.
Dr. Collinge thoughtfully planned and carefully constructed the staff’s every detail, relying on his hand skills and decades of experience working with various materials. The effort poured into this project is an attestation of his work ethic and passion for his craft. It’s the same level of care and effort he gave his patients, from his time as a dental technician with the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard to his more than 35 years as a dentist.
Now retired from clinical practice, Dr. Collinge serves as an adjunct faculty member at ATSU-MOSDOH. He spends his days mentoring and teaching students, not out of obligation, but out of dedication to his profession.
“What better way to end a career than by passing knowledge on to the next generation,” he says. “I enjoy one-on-one mentorship and getting to know the students.”
Dr. Collinge has been part of ATSU-MOSDOH’s faculty since the first class matriculated in 2013. He has watched each class of students learn and grow, developing the skills and knowledge needed to serve their future patients. He has also celebrated each milestone alongside them, from receiving their white coats to earning their diplomas.
As a faculty member and mentor, Dr. Collinge makes a point to demonstrate professionalism and expects it in return. He is known for his trademark greeting, “Good morning, doctor,” which is the first thing he says to students on their first day in the simulation lab. This phrase sometimes catches new students off guard but always leaves a lasting impression.
These two images show the top and center sections of the staff with inlaid medallions representing the profession, the School’s locations, and the School’s origins.
Beyond his time at ATSU-MOSDOH, Dr. Collinge keeps a busy schedule, volunteering in his community and working on his farm in Edina, Missouri. As someone who has always enjoyed working with his hands, it was only natural for him to discover the art of woodworking, which has become one of his favorite pastimes.
On his farm, nestled among the trees and rolling hills, Dr. Collinge’s workshop is a treasure trove of tools and building materials. This is where he often finds himself puttering, as a way to unwind and recharge.
His projects are wide-ranging, from furniture to urns for veterans. His career in dentistry afforded him the ability to buy equipment for such projects over the years, and it’s in this workshop with this equipment where ATSU-MOSDOH’s staff began to take shape.
Over the course of a year, Dr. Collinge worked diligently to make a piece he and the School could be proud of. Every element of the staff was thoughtfully designed to represent the dental profession and the School’s Missouri roots. He even made a prototype to ensure the final product would pass muster.
Standing 5 feet tall, the staff is made from black walnut, a tree species native to Missouri. The tree used for the staff was cut by Dr. Collinge on his farm more than 30 years ago and had been air drying in his workshop ever since. When the tree was harvested, it was estimated to be between 60-70 years old, dating the wood back nearly a century.
Preparing the log for use was no small feat. Dr. Collinge spent nearly three days sawing the log into workable sections. He then began trimming and shaping pieces necessary for the project. He shaped the head of the staff by hand, ensuring each side was symmetrical. While turning the post sections, his lathe broke and he had to finish the job with an older lathe his uncle had given him, a detail making this project even more special to Dr. Collinge.
One of the staff’s defining features is the black walnut’s natural beauty. Dr. Collinge says northern Missouri black walnut trees tend to have richer color than their southern-grown counterparts. And, because the log was air-dried rather than kiln-dried, the wood maintained deeper variations in color when Dr. Collinge applied the finish. To highlight these tones, he first applied tung oil to bring out the dark, rich colors of the wood, followed by a polyurethane coating for increased protection and durability.
Getting every detail centered and aligned proved challenging. Dr. Collinge routed circles on the head and center sections to inlay medallions flush with the surface. The two larger medallions on the top of the head show the seal of the dental profession with the four slightly smaller medallions representing ATSU-MOSDOH’s locations in Kirksville and St. Louis. The smallest medallions in the center section display the University seal and year the School was founded. He also routed sections along the post for brass inlays, which he wrapped carefully to avoid any creases.
“The brass was polished on a dental lathe – I can’t live without a dental lathe,” Dr. Collinge says.
To further signify ATSU-MOSDOH’s origins, Dr. Collinge used white oak, another native Missouri wood, to make two stands – one for year-round storage and one for the commencement stage. White oak is significantly heavier than black walnut, providing added stability for the staff to stand securely.
For the year-round stand, which features a long post with a leather strap to secure the staff in place, he shaped the post by hand because it was too long for his lathe. To add weight and stability to the commencement stage base, he melted down lead strips from dental film he saved from his years of clinical practice. He poured the molten lead into undercut bored holes, a process similar to how a dentist would apply tooth fillings.
As a finishing touch, Dr. Collinge’s wife, Peggy, sewed a cloth covering for the staff when not in use. The couple chose blue satin and lilac velour fabrics, colors representing ATSU and the dental profession.
ATSU-MOSDOH’s staff is as unique to Missouri and dentistry as the School itself. Even if it were possible to purchase a staff of similar quality, material, and level of detail, it would cost thousands of dollars. Dr. Collinge chose to donate it to the School as a gift, calling it a labor of love.
“I was satisfied with the project, and most importantly, the School was satisfied with the project,” Dr. Collinge says. “It’s been a real privilege.”
