1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Dr. Vacharee Peterson for her service and leadership in the State of
1.3Minnesota.
1.4WHEREAS, Dr. Vacharee Peterson was born in Udonthani, Thailand, before settling in the United
1.5States, becoming a citizen in 1977, and attending the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry where
1.6she obtained her DDS degree in 1982 and established a dental practice with her husband, Dr. Andrew
1.7Peterson, focusing on serving low-income and immigrant and refugee communities; and
1.8WHEREAS, Dr. Peterson's dedication and service to the community led her to author several works
1.9of educational literature such as pamphlets on baby bottle decay and oral hygiene and a "Baby Teeth
1.10Handbook;" and
1.11WHEREAS, Dr. Peterson's passion led her to invent the PedoBurrito, a security device that allows
1.12dentists to treat young children without the use of sedation or general anesthesia and to founding Cavity
1.13Free Kids - a small business to promote dental health in children; and
1.14WHEREAS, Dr. Peterson has been recognized and honored on numerous occasions across the state
1.15of Minnesota for her contributions and service to the community including: by Bremer Bank as an honoree
1.16of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's Minority Business Guide in 2005; one of three national small
1.17business leaders to receive the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce/Wells Fargo Asian Business
1.18Leadership award in 2005; Humanitarian Service Award by the Minnesota Dental Association for "her
1.19extraordinary humanitarian service to the local and global community" in 2012; and the Lou Fuller Award
1.20for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities from the Minnesota Department of Health in
1.212014; and
1.22WHEREAS, Dr. Peterson has been a huge advocate at the State Legislature for the Early Dental
1.23Disease Prevention Initiative to expand preventive education and services to underserved communities,
1.24people of color, and recent immigrants; and
1.25WHEREAS, she also serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the Minnesota Dental
1.26Association, the St. Paul District Dental Society and as an associate member of the American Academy of
1.27Pediatric Dentistry and the Minnesota Department of Health's Early Dental Disease Prevention Initiative
1.28Committee; and
1.29WHEREAS, at the age of 68, Dr. Peterson is retiring from her position as CEO at Community Dental
1.30Care where she will continue to serve as a dentist to provide preventive services for young children and their
1.31parents; and
1.32NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it celebrates
1.33Dr. Peterson's lifelong legacy of love, service, and leadership to the people of Minnesota through her work
1.34and contributions in dentistry.
1.35BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an enrolled
1.36copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the Chair of the Senate
1.37Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Dr. Vacharee Peterson.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Paul E. GazelkaChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Foung HawjState Senator, District 67