bsdh Archives | ��

Empowering Public Health: A Journey from Alumna to Course Director and Non-profit Founder

�� — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:31:49 +0000

Roberta S., MPH ’20, found herself on an unexpected path when she reconnected with her old friends Michelle H., Dean of Dental Hygiene at WCU and Debi G., Executive Director of Curriculum and Assessment at WCU, through a dental hygiene association.

Encouraged by Debi to apply for a teaching position at ��, Roberta, who had been teaching at another school, joined WCU as a clinical and lab instructor for biochemistry in 2016.

Teaching at WCU was a fulfilling experience for Roberta. She found joy in sharing her knowledge with students and learning from them.

“I really loved teaching there. It’s wonderful because you learn so much from teaching,” Roberta said.

Inspired by her teaching experience, Roberta decided to pursue further education and enrolled in the online Master’s in Public Health program at WCU.

The MPH program appealed to Roberta because of its comprehensive curriculum, covering various aspects of public health. The program’s flexibility allowed her to complete her coursework from anywhere.

Despite being virtual, Roberta felt connected to her professors and cohort, describing the experience as being part of a family.

“The instructors were very interesting and always available to answer a question or help,” she said, adding that her cohort also proved to be a valuable resource. “You felt like you were part of a family.”

The program’s community health component had a profound impact on Roberta, providing her with a new perspective on global health issues. This newfound awareness motivated her to make a difference beyond the classroom.

In addition to her role as course director for biochemistry and nutrition at WCU, Roberta is the founder of “United Tooth Fairies,” a non-profit organization that provides oral health care services to girls aged 4-15 in Guatemala.

Through United Tooth Fairies, Roberta and her team have been able to make a tangible impact on the lives of these girls, providing them with essential dental care and education.

For Roberta, the most rewarding aspect of her work is seeing the girls grow, stay in school, and pursue education, knowing that she has played a part in their journey.

“You feel so good inside that you can help somebody,” Roberta said. “Watching these girls grow and stay in school and get educated is a reward itself.”

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Dental Hygiene Alum Confidently Tackles Any Challenge Post-Graduation

�� — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Paola C., a graduate of ��’s dental hygiene program, was born in Mexico and moved to America with her family when she was twelve years old. She started sixth grade not knowing any English.

“My professor was American, and she didn’t speak any Spanish,” Paola recalled. “I got through it and never failed any classes. I learned English by the eighth grade…anything is possible if you really put your head into it.”

Paola’s introduction to the world of dental hygiene took place a few years later in high school when she participated in an ROP (Regional Occupational Program). This program exposed her to the profession, and it was there that she found inspiration from a dental hygienist who exuded happiness and intelligence.

“I wanted to be her when I grew up,” Paola said. “That kind of guided me towards a dental hygiene career.”

In 2020, after working as a dental assistant for nearly five years while completing her prerequisites, Paola enrolled in WCU’s dental hygiene program. She chose WCU for its reputation and the opportunity to start her studies right away.

“�� is one of the best schools in my opinion,” she said. “The way they train you to work in the field is just amazing.”

A defining moment in the program was her community service course, which allowed Paola to connect not only with patients at WCU but also with communities beyond. It reignited her passion for dental hygiene and the desire to graduate and contribute to overall patient well-being.

“I can’t wait to graduate and actually help the community and the patients here,” she said. “It was really nice to train and educate people on oral hygiene and oral health awareness.”

She described WCU as the “military of dental hygiene” and credited it with making her current work feel easy. While going through open clinics as a student, Paola and her classmates were introduced to worst case scenarios.

“We would see a lot of patients hadn’t been to a dentist in like 10 years,” she said. “They over prepare you for sure. They know what they’re teaching and they know what the real world is going to be like.”

After graduating in November 2022, Paola moved near her home in the Imperial Valley, where she worked for seven months. There, she enjoyed serving the small town.

“That was my first dental hygiene job and I loved it,” Paola said. “It felt nice to be able to help my own community.”

Today, Paola serves as a dental hygienist in two offices in Orange County, California, catering to patients of all ages. Driven by her passion for educating future dental hygienists, she envisions returning to WCU to share her expertise as an instructor. She encourages prospective dental hygiene students not to give up.

“It’s going to be hard, but if it was easy, everyone would do it,” Paola said. “�� prepares you for everything, even the worst, and now work is a breeze.”

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Alumni Spotlight: Finding a Rewarding Healthcare Career as Part of the American Dream

�� — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 21:43:34 +0000

Alumna Selina M.’s story starts very far from ��, all the way in her home country of Iran where she spent the first 10 years of her life. When her parents decided to move to the United States, it was with big dreams of giving their four daughters opportunities they might not otherwise have.

“It’s not easy changing lifestyles. Being in a Muslim country and coming to America is completely different,” she said of the experience.

When she immigrated, Selina didn’t speak a word of English. It took some adjusting, but one thing she liked about her life in the U.S. was the freedom to explore diverse careers. The move meant she could find a profession that capitalized on her strengths.

In previous jobs, however, Selina didn’t find the fulfillment she sought.

She realized something wasn’t quite right when she began getting the Sunday Scaries, anxiety that would set in when she thought of the impending work week. It wasn’t until she got a job at a dental office that the feeling changed. The Sunday anxiety eased. Instead, she found she genuinely enjoyed working directly with patients. Going to a job she liked made all the difference.

That’s when she decided to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program at WCU. Studying dental hygiene was her way of making the most of the opportunities her parents gave her.

Her educational journey, however, wasn’t without struggle. While in school, Selina lived in Burbank, which meant commuting around 130 miles per day to attend her classes at the WCU-Orange County campus in Anaheim. Fortunately, she became close with her cohort and found an amazing support network of classmates who came together to ease her commute when she needed it.

“They would ask me to stay with them,” Selina explained. “My few friends became like my family.”

Selina graduated in June 2023 and became a registered dental hygienist. “I went from moving continents when I was 10 years old and didn’t know a single word in English to finishing this program. It’s a great feeling.”

Now, the Sunday Scaries are a thing of the past. “I love going to work and seeing my patients,” she said. “I love the environment and the work I am doing.”

As for her parents who left their home country to give their daughters better opportunities, Selina says they are incredibly proud now that all four of them have graduated from university. “They know they did the right thing by moving here. They’re happy I’m happy.”

In the future, Selina’s goal is to get her master’s degree in education and perhaps even return to WCU as an instructor.

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WCU Students Embark on Mission to Deliver Dental Care, Education on Catalina Island

Anisa Lewis — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 22:00:00 +0000

�� students sailed to Catalina Island this summer on a mission to brighten smiles at the Children’s Dental Health Clinic.

Led by WCU-Orange County dental hygiene professor Stormy Li, the six students spent two days on the island but had little time for sightseeing.

“When we arrived, we went directly to the clinic,” Li said.

On both days of their “quick but full trip,” the student volunteers provided oral hygiene instructions, prophylaxis, fluoride, and even some sealants with their pediatric patients.

A non-profit dental and teaching program, the Children’s Dental Health Clinic serves about 5,500 patients each year at its main location in Long Beach and its school-based clinic on Santa Catalina Island, which partners with WCU to receive dental hygiene students three times a year.

“Some of our students were also able to give toothbrushes and an oral health presentation to preschoolers,” Li shared. “I think these students are amazing because they volunteered to go during their term break.”

The WCU dental hygiene students included Anthony N., Anissa T., Gohar M., Kayla P., Naif S., and Sameen D. To participate, they had to meet GPA requirements, be in good standing with the university, and write an essay on the importance of community service.

“It was a fulfilling opportunity,” WCU-OC student Naif S. said. “Our interactions with the patients we treated were heartwarming to say the least. In addition to treating these patients, we were also able to educate them on how to continually improve their oral hygiene. I highly encourage future students to jump at this opportunity.”

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�� BSDH Students Take Oral Health Education Beyond the Clinic

Anisa Lewis — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:30:00 +0000

This summer, �� students visited multiple communities in Southern California to help educate diverse populations on the importance of oral health.

As part of their community dental health project class, the WCU-Orange County dental hygiene cohort provided dental health knowledge at sites including No Limits Learning Center, Boys & Girls Club, Arbor Palms of Anaheim, and Head Start.

“In their project, they determine the needs of the population, then create a lesson plan with activities to present,” WCU-OC dental hygiene instructor Mary Ann Pederson said. “Each participant receives oral hygiene products and is encouraged to practice the new habits they learned.”

Not only did this collaboration allow students to help instruct adults living with disabilities, children, seniors, and others in need; it also provided an opportunity to see how impactful a direct connection with community members can be, Pederson said.

“We leave each experience as better dental health care educators, and better humans,” she shared.

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