Subject Matter Experts
Meet our SMEs
The DALE Foundation strives to bring you the highest quality courses that incorporate the most current techniques, procedures and processes. To do this, we have enlisted the help of these seasoned professionals in the development of various courses and other educational products. All background information is current as of the date of course development.
Darci Barr, CDA, EFDA
Mrs. Barr is a leading educator and an expert in dental assisting program design. She is a dental assisting program director and educator at International Business College in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a seasoned professional, Mrs. Barr has developed numerous community-based initiatives for area schools and organizations, including an ongoing service learning program that received recognition from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Mrs. Barr has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Howard Bell, D.D.S.
Dr. Bell was a founding task force member of the DALE Foundation; he worked as a general dentist in private practice for more than 30 years, retiring in 2010. Dr. Bell was a member of the American Dental Association and a lifelong educator. Dr. Bell has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Tiffany Benton, CDA
Ms. Benton is the director of clinic operations for the University of Washington’s Center for Pediatric Dentistry in Seattle, Washington. Ms. Benton has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Kimberly Bland, CDA, EFDA, M.Ed.
Ms. Bland is the Dental Assisting Program Director at Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, Florida, and currently serves as the President of the American Dental Assistants Association. Ms. Bland also serves on the board for the Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center and is Executive Director of the Florida Allied Dental Educators. Ms. Bland has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Carolyn Breen, RDA, RDH, CDA, Ed.D.
Dr. Breen is a professor of clinical allied dental education at Rutgers School of Health Related Professions in New Jersey. She has served as an accomplished dental professional in dental assisting, dental hygiene and dental education since 1972. She has also served in leadership roles for local and national dental organizations, including the American Dental Assistants Association, the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) and the New Jersey Dental Assistants’ Association. Dr. Breen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Vicki Brett, CDA, RDH, B.S.D.H.
Ms. Brett is the Campus Director of Academic Affairs with ECPI University, where she has been employed for approximately 12 years. Previously, Ms. Brett worked in numerous aspects of dentistry, including serving as a dental hygienist, dental sales representative, and dental assisting program director and instructor. She is a dedicated volunteer with numerous oral health organizations and an active member of Rotary International, the American Dental Assistants Association, the American Dental Hygienists Association, and the Tidewater Dental Hygienists Association. Ms. Brett also holds a certificate in dental assisting from Old Dominion University and an Associate of Science degree from Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, Virginia. She has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Robin Caplan, CDA, DRT, QDA
With over 35 years of experience in the dental profession as a chairside dental assistant, HIPAA compliance consultant and educator, Ms. Caplan is currently the chair for the dental assisting program at All-State Career School in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Caplan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Patrick S. Casey, J.D.
Mr. Casey is an attorney with Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago and practices in all areas of labor and employment law. He regularly counsels clients on employment matters, collective bargaining negotiations and National Labor Relations Act matters, and litigates unfair labor practice claims. Mr. Casey has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Melanie Cooper-Duncan, FAADOM
Ms. Cooper-Duncan is the owner and operator of Results Unlimited Dental Consulting LLC, offering recruiting, systems, practice management, coding, training and team building consultation services. She previously worked as Regional Director for Midwest Dental and Director of Clinics for Heritage Creek Dental. Ms. Cooper-Duncan also served as a Practice Administrator for CountrySide Dental Care. Ms. Cooper-Duncan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Eve Cuny, RDA, M.S.
Ms. Cuny is the director of Environmental Health and Safety and assistant professor in the department of pathology and medicine at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. Ms. Cuny is a consultant to the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs and is past chairperson of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). Additionally, Ms Cuny is a nationally respected speaker on infection control as well as the author of several published articles. Ms. Cuny has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Magda D’Angelis-Morris, D.M.D., M.S.
Dr. D’Angelis-Morris serves as a full-time instructor in dental assisting and part-time instructor in the dental hygiene department at Portland Community College in Oregon. Dr. D’Angelis-Morris served as a practitioner for 15 years, and in 2014 received her master’s in healthcare management from the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. Her areas of teaching include radiology, general anatomy, oral/head and neck anatomy, ethics, and restorative dentistry. Dr. D’Angelis-Morris has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Ernie De Wald, D.D.S., MAGD, ABGD
Dr. De Wald is a practicing dentist and partner at Clarksville Dental Care in Clarksville, Tennessee. He retired as a colonel with over 21 years in the Army Dental Corps, spending the last seven years as a director of both one- and two-year general dentistry residency programs. He is a fellow and master of the Academy of General Dentistry and a diplomat and board member of the American Board of General Dentistry. He also holds offices in other local, state and national organizations and has published several articles. Dr. De Wald has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Judy Dean-Fleming, D.D.S.
Dr. Dean-Fleming is a general dentist who has been practicing over 25 years. Dr. Dean-Fleming is active in providing access to dental care throughout her community to those who may not otherwise seek or be able to afford care. Dr. Dean has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Sharon Dickinson, CDA, CDPMA, RDA
Ms. Dickinson works as a professor and the director of dental assisting programs at El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. She has served as a consultant in the dental field and chairside dental assistant for more than 20 years. She is an active member of the American Dental Assistants Association and the Texas Dental Assistants Association. Ms. Dickinson has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Teresa Duncan, M.S., FADIA, FAADOM
Ms. Duncan is the founder and president of Odyssey Management, a dental practice management consulting firm in Virginia, and a lifetime member of the American Association of Dental Office Managers. Prior to founding Odyssey Management in 2007, Ms. Duncan worked as a practice administrator for a private dental practice. Ms. Duncan has been offering individual consulting services since 1998, and has been a specialty coach in human resources and insurance at the Productive Dental Academy since 2010. Ms. Duncan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Kimi Edwards, CDA, EFDA
Ms. Edwards has over 9 years’ experience as a practicing chairside dental assistant and expanded duties dental assistant. Her love for education inspired her to seek out a teaching role two years ago, and she is currently a full-time dental assisting instructor at Miller-Motte Technical College in Columbus, Georgia. Ms. Edwards has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Kathy Eklund, RDH, M.H.P.
Ms. Eklund is the director of infection control and occupational health, and research subject and patient safety advocate at the Forsyth Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. She is an adjunct associate professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene. She is a past chair of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) and served as secretary of the OSAP Foundation. Ms. Eklund serves as faculty for the New England AIDS Education and Training Center (NEAETC) and HIVdent.org. She is one of the authors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings — 2003. Ms. Eklund has received several national professional recognition awards and is a respected speaker on infection control as well as the author of several published articles. Ms. Eklund has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Brenda Fell, CDA, CDPMA
Ms. Fell was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the DALE Foundation, for which she held the position of president. She is currently employed as the coordinator of the Dental Occupations Program at Ogden-Weber Tech College in Ogden, Utah. She has over 30 years of experience in the dental field including clinical assisting, administrative assisting, and dental assisting education. Ms. Fell is a member of the American Dental Educators Association. She has served six years on the Board of Trustees of the American Dental Assistants Association and is past chair of the Board of Directors of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB). Ms. Fell has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Melissa Fields, COA
Ms. Fields has over 15 years of experience working as a chairside assistant in general dentistry and orthodontics. Ms. Fields has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jennifer Filcheck, CDA
Ms. Filcheck has worked as a chairside dental assistant for more than eight years. She has also provided administrative support and practice management expertise for the dental office and is an active member in the American Dental Assistants Association and the Greater Baltimore Dental Assisting Society. Ms. Filcheck has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Steven Fink, D.M.D.
With more than two decades as a practicing dentist, Dr. Fink recently served four years as the director of dental education at Fortis Institute, a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited dental assisting program in New Jersey. Dr. Fink has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Lori Gagliardi, CDA, RDA, RDH, Ed.D.
Dr. Gagliardi was a founding member of the DALE Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She has a background in organizational leadership and was previously the director of a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited dental assisting program in California. She has served as a dental assistant appointee to CODA, serving on its Board as the dental assisting commissioner and as chair of the Dental Assisting Review Committee. Dr. Gagliardi has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Mary Govoni, CDA
Ms. Govoni is a dental educator and consultant who provides advice and training to dental offices in the areas of practice management, infection control and office operations. She is an active member of the American Dental Assistants Association and the Michigan Dental Assistants Association. She has written many articles for dental-related journals, such as Dental Economics. Ms. Govoni has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Deborah J. Gowan, FAADOM
Ms. Gowan has been involved in the healthcare industry for more than 37 years, working in the areas of billing, coding and accounts receivable. Most recently she has served as the office/business manager for a pediatric dental office, in which she oversees the day-to-day business aspects of the practice. Ms. Gowan has volunteered with the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentists Foundation and has been a member of the American Association of Dental Office Managers since 2006. Ms. Gowan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
David Halpern, D.M.D., FAGD, FACD
Dr. Halpern has served the oral healthcare community in many ways throughout his career. He has been an active member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) for more than 35 years and is a recipient of the AGD Distinguished Service Award. He holds Fellowship in AGD, and is also a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry International, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is also a longtime member of the American Dental Association, and has been involved at the local and state levels. In 1978, he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry and then completed a general practice residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. He has maintained his private dental practice in Columbia, Maryland, since 1982. Dr. Halpern has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Amy Hunt, D.D.S.
Dr. Hunt has served as a practitioner in North Carolina since 1991, after earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. She has served as president of the Fifth District Dental Society, which is a component of the North Carolina State Dental Association, and regularly volunteers to treat patients through the Donated Dental Services program. Dr. Hunt has completed curricula at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education as well as the Dawson Academy. She is active in numerous professional organizations, and has received the rare distinction of being invited to be a Fellow in both the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Hunt has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Deborah Jaruzel, CDA, RDA, B.S.
Deborah Jaruzel is an instructor at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. She has extensive clinical experience from her work for private dental practitioners before becoming a dental assistant educator. Ms. Jaruzel is an active volunteer with the American Dental Assistants Association and is currently president of the Genesee District Dental Assistants Society. A Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant™ (CDA®) certificant since 1984 and a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in the state of Michigan, she holds a certificate in dental assisting from Mott Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Rochester College in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Ms. Jaruzel has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Ginny Jorgensen, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, A.A.S.
Ms. Jorgensen is a partner at Smith & Jorgensen, a dental consulting company that focuses on all health and safety topics, ergonomics, four-handed dentistry, OSHA compliance and annual training, infection control, office design and efficiency. She provides this training to dental office professionals at state conferences and through local study clubs and in-office training. Ms. Jorgensen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Guinevere Juckett, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDIPC, EFDA, FADAA
Ms. Juckett works for a private dental practice in Middlefield, Ohio as an expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) and dental office manager. She holds numerous certifications and certificates, and is also a member of the Ohio EFDA Association, American Dental Assistants Association and American Association of Dental Office Management. She is a graduate of the EFDA program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and is registered as an EFDA in the state of Ohio. She has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Donna Kotyk, CDA, RDH, M.A.
Ms. Kotyk serves as Curriculum Development Coordinator, Dental Assisting Program Director and Dental Assisting Instructor for Salish Kootenai College (SKC) in Pablo, Montana. In 2013 she was selected by the American Indian College Fund as Faculty of the Year for her work at SKC. Ms. Kotyk is actively involved in national and state organizations, including the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB), American Dental Education Association (ADEA), American Dental Association (ADA), Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and Montana Dental Association (MDA). Ms. Kotyk has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Michelle Kratt, FAADOM
Ms. Kratt is the Founder and President of the North Shore Study Club for dental administrative team members, and currently serves as a healthcare portfolio manager with Citizens Bank. She has more than 20 years of dental office experience, and is a Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) and the Association of Dental Implant Auxiliaries (ADIA), as well as a Certified Educator for ADIA. Ms. Kratt has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jackie Krueger, CDA, RDA
Ms. Krueger is a faculty member at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa. She has extensive experience in dental radiography and clinical dentistry from her work for private dental practitioners before becoming a dental assistant educator. Ms. Krueger served as a committee member of the Iowa Dental Board from 2000 to 2002 and is a member the American Dental Assistants Association. Ms. Krueger has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Joan Martin, CDA, RDA, M.A.Ed.
Ms. Martin is a retired program director and dental assisting instructor; she previously has worked at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington. She also served as a consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation and as an item writer for the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB). She is an active member of the Washington State Dental Assisting Association. Ms. Martin has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Joseph Martin Dunn, D.M.D.
Dr. Dunn is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who began his career in the U.S. Navy Reserve, from which he retired as a lieutenant. In 1964, he began a private practice and retired in 1998 to focus on educating young dentists. In addition to academic appointments at Temple, Tufts and Northeastern universities, Dr. Dunn also served as the chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Cardinal Cushing General Hospital. Dr. Dunn is also a published author of several textbooks and articles. He co-founded Por Christo, a voluntary medical team that he has led in 60 medical missions to South America and the former Soviet Union; he has received four humanitarian of the year awards, has been granted knighthood in two countries, and has been recognized with the President's Volunteer Service Award, along with many other awards and honors for his work. Dr. Dunn has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Christopher H. Miller, Ph.D.
Dr. Miller is the dean emeritus of the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has worked as a consultant and conducted research in the field of infection control for over 20 years. Dr. Miller has participated in several dental exam construction committees related to infection control, and has been an invited speaker at other dental-related professional organizations. Dr. Miller has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
John Molinari, Ph.D.
Dr. Molinari is the director of infection control for the Dental Advisor in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He previously served as a professor and chairman of the department of biomedical sciences and director of infection control at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Dr. Molinari has published over 350 scientific articles, text chapters and abstracts on the topic of microbiology and infection control. He is an active member of many professional organizations, including the Michigan Dental Association. Dr. Molinari has financial relationships with Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Company and SciCan Inc.
Connie Myers Kracher, Ph.D., M.S.D.
Dr. Kracher serves as an associate professor at Indiana University-Purdue University, Department of Dental Education in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has also served as a curriculum consultant to the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. She is an active member of the American Dental Education Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry and American Dental Assistants Association. Dr. Kracher has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Carolyn Newman, CDA, B.S., M.S.Ed.
Ms. Newman is a training specialist, published author and owner of Practical Educational Solutions LLC; she has served as a dental missions volunteer for more than 25 years. During this time, she has worked with international organizations to provide dental healthcare teaching and clinical care to patients in developing nations. In addition, she has conducted research on dental healthcare delivery systems and dental assistant expanded functions. Ms. Newman has also served as Past President of the North Carolina Dental Assistants Association, Past President of the Durham-Orange Dental Assistants Society, and as a member of the North Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Task Force on Increasing Access to Dental Care. Ms. Newman has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Julie Orihood, CDA, COA, EFDA
Ms. Orihood has over 30 years of experience in the dental assisting field. She has worked in a variety of roles in general dentistry and orthodontics, from chairside assisting to office management. She has spent years hiring and training dental assistants and dentists regarding interceptive orthodontics and other topics. Following her passion to teach, in 2007 Ms. Orihood accepted a position at Miami-Jacobs Career College in Ohio as program director for dental assisting programs, where she continues to work today.
Karin Orosz, CDA
Ms. Orosz is an administrative coordinator and dental assistant for an independent dentist in Lyndhurst, Ohio. She has over 15 years of experience in dental chairside assisting and practice management. Ms. Orosz has also served as an item writer for the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB). Ms. Orosz has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Cindy Ovard, RDA, CDA, B.V.Ed.
Ms. Ovard has over 20 years of experience as a chairside assistant in several dental specialties and teaching dental assistants. Ms. Ovard currently works as an adjunct faculty member at Moreno Valley College in Moreno Valley, California, where she is head of the dental assisting radiology department and also teaches orthodontic assisting and office management. Ms. Ovard is the author of several published articles and has also served as a committee member for the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Ms. Ovard has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Amy Paundlay, CDA
Ms. Paundlay serves as the special needs liaison at the Kids First Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics dental office in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she developed and implemented a program to serve a special group with unmet needs. Ms. Paundlay has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Rosemary Pisani, CDA, B.A.
Rosemary Pisani is a dental assisting instructor at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Prior to becoming a dental assistant educator, she served as a dental assistant office manager and clinical chairside dental assistant for more than 30 years. Ms. Pisani is a professional member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association. A Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant™ (CDA®) certificant since 1978, she holds a certificate in dental assisting from Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School and a Bachelor of Arts from Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Ms. Pisani has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jennifer Robbins, CDA
Ms. Robbins is a recent graduate of dental assisting at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and works as a general chairside dental assistant for a local community dentist. Ms. Robbins has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Candy Ryan, CDA
Ms. Ryan has over 20 years of experience as a dental assistant and currently works as a dental assisting instructor and coordinator at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis, Indiana. Previously, she served as a co-director at the Professional Career Institute and at the Berdan Institute in New Jersey. Ms. Ryan has also held delegate positions with the Indianapolis Dental Assistants Society as well as the New Jersey Dental Assistants Association. She is a member of several dental assistant associations and is currently working on obtaining her American Dental Assistants Association fellowship. Ms. Ryan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Stephanie Schmidt, CDA, CPFDA, CRFDA, CDT, RDAEF2, FADAA, M.S.
Ms. Schmidt has over 30 years in the dental assisting community. After working 15 years as a chairside assistant, Ms. Schmidt has moved her attention to educating others. She is currently an associate professor at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California, teaching in both the dental hygiene and dental assisting arenas. She is owner of J/S Dental Ed Lab, a dental education consulting business, in Sylmar. Ms. Schmidt is a member of several local, state and national organizations and has been the recipient of many scholarships and dental assisting awards. Ms. Schmidt has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Carla L. Schneider, CDA, RDA
Ms. Schneider has worked as a chairside assistant and office manager for Dr. Mark W. Nelson since 1982. She has been a longtime member of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA), and has served as ADAA Seventh District trustee, secretary/treasurer, secretary, vice president and president. She has also served for the North Dakota Dental Assistants Association (NDDAA) as secretary/treasurer, president and editor. Ms. Schneider is a past chair of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Board of Directors. Ms. Schneider has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Brendan Squier
Mr. Squier is currently a student in dental assisting and plans on pursuing an advanced degree in dentistry. He provided guidance to course development from a “learner” perspective. He has served as an intern at a variety of dental offices, including endodontics, oral surgery and pediatric dentistry. Mr. Squier has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Shari Tastad, RDH, B.S.
Ms. Tastad is a business leadership consultant with more than 15 years of experience helping dental offices improve systems; in her work, she has developed innovative programs for the dental field. She is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle and is a member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants and the Washington State Dental Hygienists’ Association. Ms. Tastad has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Christine Taxin
Ms. Taxin is a consultant in practice management in the dental field for more than 20 years, and has knowledge in administrative systems, marketing, financial management and dental insurance. She has delivered presentations for various dental organizations, including the American Association of Dental Office Managers and the NYU College of Dentistry. Ms. Taxin has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Sarat Thikkurissy, D.D.S., M.S.
Dr. Thikkurissy is assistant professor for pediatric dentistry & community oral health at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. In addition, he serves as director of inpatient dental services for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Thikkurissy has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jennifer Todd, CDA, B.A.S., M.S.
Ms. Todd works in dental assisting education as both an instructor and program director. Currently, she teaches at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska. She has also worked as a clinical dental assistant in both general dentistry and orthodontics, and has experience as a dental software and digital radiography trainer. Ms. Todd has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Tim Twigg, B.S.
Mr. Twigg has more than 30 years of practice management and business consulting experience and knowledge specifically in the healthcare field. He is owner and President of Bent Ericksen & Associates and CRC, Inc. Mr. Twigg is a published author of articles for many major healthcare journals, and has presented seminars nationally on practice management, human resources, and employment law compliance. Mr. Twigg has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Man Wai Ng, D.D.S., M.P.H.
Dr. Ng serves as dentist-in-chief for the department of dentistry at Boston Children’s Hospital. Previously, she was chief of dentistry at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ng has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
James Watkins, D.D.S.
Dr. Watkins is a former Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Board Director who began his career in the U. S. Navy as a dentist stationed at the dental clinic in Norfolk, Virginia, for two years. He remained in the U. S. Navy Reserve dental corps, where he held three commanding officer billets until he retired in 2002 with the rank of captain. He currently works in his private dental practice in Hampton, Virginia. Dr. Watkins is an active member of several local, state and national dental organizations. He is the recipient of several awards in dentistry and in 1992 was appointed to the Virginia Board of Dentistry, later serving three terms as president. Dr. Watkins has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Kathy J. Zwieg, CDA, LDA
Kathy Zwieg serves on the Minnesota e-Health Initiative Advisory Committee, is a Board member of Oral Health America, and is also a dental healthcare consultant. Recently, she served as the Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Inside Dental Assisting magazine. She has served as Chairman of the Board of Oral Health America and has held several management positions at American Dental Partners/Park Dental. In addition, Ms. Zwieg worked as a dental assisting instructor at Minnesota School of Business and Century College and has published numerous articles in the fields of dental assisting and practice management. A Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant™ (CDA®) certificant since 1978, she is also the recipient of many honorary awards in the dental assisting profession. Ms. Zwieg has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.