Dream Big, Work Hard, Give Back – How a first-generation American woman became a leading oral and maxillofacial surgeon

Angie Rake, DDS, is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The USOSM partner practice has five locations in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area.

Dr. Rake practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures and is particularly focused in dentoalveolar surgeries, alveolar reconstruction, dental implants and orthognathic surgery. She is a well sought-after oral and maxillofacial surgeon in her region and is one of the few female oral and maxillofacial surgeons there.

“Being a woman in a traditionally all-male profession can be challenging. A lot of people question my ability, despite my training and experience, and there’s a lot of literature that shows that women surgeons earn less, regardless of how well they’re trained or how experienced they are,” notes Dr. Rake. “Thankfully, we don’t see that being the case in our platform. Our partnership with USOSM completely levels the playing field.”

Dr. Rake grew up in southwest Missouri, and knew from an early age that she wanted a career in healthcare, helping people and making a meaningful impact. She dreamed big and worked hard to achieve her goal.

“My father came over from Italy,” says Dr. Rake. “My father was buying and exporting timber for a company and came here for work, and my brother and I were the first generation in our family to ever even dream of going to college. I always knew I wanted to go into healthcare, and I met some general dentists, early on, who encouraged me in that direction.”

Dr. Rake was accepted into the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry program. While there, she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and discovered her true passion – oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), despite the fact that the percentage of women enrolled in OMS was only one percent at the time.

“Maneuvering through dental school, was when I really got a glimpse of what OMS was, and I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to do a residency training program in it. I quickly found my passion in the OMS specialty,” adds Dr. Rake. “I really enjoy the variety and the scope of surgical procedures in the specialty, and most importantly, OMS gives us the opportunity to impact people’s lives in an incredibly meaningful and positive way. Who wouldn’t be passionate about that?”

Following dental school, Dr. Rake completed an OMS internship at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center through the University of Minnesota. Then, she graduated from its OMS advanced training program. After which, she went into private practice, and has been treating patients in Minnesota for more than 20 years.

“My care philosophy is pretty simple: I treat patients like family. I think about what I would want if this patient was my mom, dad, brother, daughter … If we treat patients like that, success follows,” says Dr. Rake.

Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery treats patients in Eagan, Lakeville, Shakopee, Owatonna and Burnsville, Minnesota. The practice has six doctors. They specialize in mouth, face and jaw surgery for both adults and children. They practice a full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures, from corrective jaw surgery to wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, bone grafting and more.

Each surgeon, including Dr. Rake, is board certified, the highest credential that can be obtained in the specialty, according to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. To become board certified, oral and maxillofacial surgeons must pass comprehensive exams, complete annual certification maintenance and undergo a rigorous peer evaluation process. They are widely thought of as some of the industry’s most skilled, trained and research-driven surgeons.

When she isn’t treating patients, Dr. Rake often can be found teaching the next generation of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. She is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and also volunteers at the university on a regular basis, as well as, with a number of other organizations.

“It’s important for us to leave our profession in a better place than when the baton was handed to us,” notes Dr. Rake. “Look for opportunities to give back, and do what you can – whether it’s volunteering an hour or two a month at a local dental clinic or something else.”

Dr. Rake is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. She is a member of the USOSM Clinical Governance Board, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Association and the Minnesota Dental Association.

In addition, she is a member and past president of the Minnesota Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, the licensing board that regulates more than 17,500 dental professionals in the state. Dr. Rake was appointed to the Minnesota Board of Dentistry by Governor Mark Dayton in 2018. She currently chairs its practitioner review and anesthesia committee.

Dr. Rake also is a devoted advocate for responsible opioid prescribing. She frequently presents on the topic and has been featured in a wide variety of subject matter articles and television segments, including serving as part of an expert doctor panel at NBC Universal in New York.