The Experience

Heather Anderson, RDH, MS

Heather Anderson has been a practicing clinical dental hygienist for 23 years in a myriad of settings including private practice and public health. Nearly 10 years she dipped her toe into clinical teaching and soon found a passion for students, helping others learn the ins and outs of dental hygiene. She is currently full-time faculty at Eastern Washington University in the dental hygiene department, while still practicing one day a week. She loves teaching Preclinic with the eager beginning learners and can help springboard their excitement into their career. Many students appreciate her firm but humble and grace-filled approach. She has also taught Prevention, Head and Neck, Pain Management, and Restorative.

Elizabeth O. Carr, DHA, RDH, MAADH, FCGDent, ACD Honorary Fellow

Elizabeth O. Carr, DHA, RDH, MAADH, FCGDent, ACD Honorary Fellow is an international speaker, leadership educator, and facilitator focused on communication, culture, and courageous leadership. A Certified Crucial Conversations® Trainer and Trauma-Informed Care–certified professional, she brings a trauma-aware lens to leadership development; helping leaders navigate difficult conversations, regulate under pressure, and build psychologically safe environments. Elizabeth holds a Doctorate in Health Administration from University of Mississippi Medical Center, a Master of Dental Hygiene from University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and a Certificate in Management and Leadership from MIT Sloan Executive Education. Dr. Carr serves as Dental Hygiene Department Chair at the UMMC School of Dentistry, and is faculty in The Sweet Spot Leader® program and Educators Platform. She brings more than two decades of experience in higher education and has delivered leadership programs around the world.

Patrick Rendón, MD

Dr. Patrick Rendón is an academic hospitalist physician and associate professor in internal medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM). He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended UNM School of Medicine for his medical training. Dr. Rendón is the Assistant Dean for Phase I of the UNM SOM, Director of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal curricula in the first two years of medical school. He has been involved with faculty development for more than 10 years and has given hundreds of presentations on medical education topics. His passions are clinical reasoning, improving the quality of medical education for trainees, and teaching others to teach.

Michele Carr, RDH, MA, EdD

Michele Carr is faculty Emeritus and former Chair, Division of Dental Hygiene at The Ohio State University, College of Dentistry. She also served as the Director of Continuing Education at the College of Dentistry for three years while she was chair of her division. Along with her research interests in clinical practice and cultural diversity, Dr. Carr has dedicated much of her career to serving numerous years as both a CODA consultant and a CODA Dental Hygiene Review Committee member. Dr. Carr has been recognized nationally and locally serving on numerous professional committees such as the ADEA Council of Allied Dental Program Directors, ADEA Continuing Education Advisory Committee, ADHA Council on Policy and Bylaws, and Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association Government Relations Committee. She has published over 20 articles in a variety of dental journals and serves as an Ask-the-Expert columnist for the journal Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Michele is a member of the Ohio State Dental Board and serves as an examiner for CDCA-WREB-CITA. Additionally, Michele is an accreditation consultant for Educators Platform.

Leigh A. Nurick, MS, MA, BSDH

Leigh A. Nurick serves as Interim Program Director at the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene, where she brings extensive experience in clinical education, faculty development, and student mentorship. With a strong background in both clinical practice and academic instruction, she is deeply committed to preparing future dental hygiene professionals through consistent, high-quality clinical training.
LeighAnn is recognized for her practical, real-world approach to clinical teaching—helping faculty navigate complex student and patient scenarios with clarity, professionalism, and confidence. Her work focuses on strengthening calibration, improving student evaluation processes, and supporting clinical educators in making effective decisions in fast-paced clinical environments.
Through her leadership and teaching, she has played a key role in fostering supportive, accountable clinical learning environments that promote both student success and program excellence.

Margarita Rivera, EdD, RDH

Margarita Rivera, EdD, RDH, is an Associate Professor and senior clinic coordinator in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Farmingdale State College. She teaches online, advanced clinical, and senior seminar courses and also serves as a Freshman Year Experience instructor. In 2026, she received the college’s Excellence in Inclusive Pedagogy award. She is an Open SUNY Fellow and a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the American Dental Education Association. Her research interests include adult learning, clinical and online education, digital and open learning, and interprofessional education.

Kandis Garland, RDH, MS, DHSc, CDIPC

Dr. Garland is an educator, author, and speaker. Her career spans 26 years as a dental hygienist and 21 years as a dental hygiene educator serving previously as Clinic Coordinator and Infection Control Coordinator. She presents her research nationally, focusing on infection control. Garland is an active member of the Association for Dental Safety and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Peer Review Panel. Kandis writes the Ask the Expert column for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and contributes regularly. Kandis is currently the Dental Hygiene Program Manager at the College of Eastern Idaho.

Demetra Logothetis, RDH, MS

Ms. Logothetis serves as Professor Emeritus and former director of at the University of New Mexico Dental Hygiene Program. She is the author of Local Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist as well as numerous publications on the topic. She is the leading content expert on local anesthesia for the dental hygienist and has taught local anesthesia to students, practitioners and educators all over the country and internationally.

Tulsi Patel, RDH, MHA, FADHA

Tulsi Patel, RDH, MHA, FADHA is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Health Promotion at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (UTSD), where she leads prevention and health promotion–focused education within the first Integrated Dental Medicine (IDM) clinical model in a U.S. dental school. She has directed and taught courses spanning periodontology, ethics, informatics, and clinical preparedness for dental hygiene and predoctoral dental students, with a particular passion for periodontology education and educational research presented at regional, national, and international venues. A two‑time recipient of UTSD’s Lorna J. Bruning Teaching Excellence Award (2018, 2023) and the Texas Procter & Gamble Teaching Excellence Award (2023), Professor Patel is also a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (2024). She leads the Mastermind courses on ‘Periodontal Classifications and Treatment Planning’ and ‘Teaching Periodontal Classifications on Health and Gingivitis’ for Educators Platform. Two of her most significant accomplishments in calibrating educators and clinicians on the new periodontal classification system include co‑creating the Periodontitis and Gingivitis Module Utilizing the 2017 AAP and EFP Classification System for Periodontal Disease for Procter & Gamble Dentalcare.com and developing a Perio Chairside Guide published in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.

Jennifer E. Fehrenbacher PhD, LDH, CDA, EFDA

Jennifer Fehrenbacher is an Associate Professor of Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene at her alma mater, the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Her academic career began in 2006 as an adjunct faculty member in the pre-clinic setting, a role she held until becoming USI’s full-time Clinic Coordinator in 2019. Currently, Jennifer serves as the Chair of the Dental Assisting program while continuing active clinical practice as an oral surgery dental assistant.

Driven by a passion for student advocacy and pedagogical excellence, she earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana State University and a PhD in the same field from Liberty University. Her leadership experience includes serving as Chair of both her local ADHA chapter and the ADEA Dental Assisting section; she currently serves as the advisor for the Student Dental Assisting Association at USI.

Emily Boge, EdD, RDH, CDA, CDIPC, FAADH, FADHA
Senior Manager Clinical Education and Innovation, PDT, Inc.

Dr. Boge is an experienced clinical and academic dental professional with extensive expertise in preventive health, dental product innovation, and allied dental education. At PDT, she integrates clinical experience with leadership in education strategy, product development, and professional training. With a Master of Public Administration and a Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership, Dr. Boge has served as a clinical dental assistant and dental hygienist, a dual CODA program administrative director for dental assisting and dental hygiene, technical writer, researcher, inventor, and consultant. She educates clinicians, educators, and industry professionals internationally and is a strong advocate for evidence-based, practitioner-informed product development. Through her writing, research, and national speaking engagements, she continues to influence clinical education and innovation across the dental industry.

Lisa Bilich, RDH MSEd

Lisa Bilich is a Full Professor at Eastern Washington University. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Science in Adult and Development Education from University of Idaho. She currently is second-year Clinical Lead instructor, Periodontology Course Director and Local Anesthesia lab instructor. Lisa brings technology to clinic and guides students in laser use and dental endoscope. She co-leads a community project titled Recovering Smiles, helping patients in recovery obtain oral health. She has over 20 years of experience in dental hygiene education. She has served as Department Chair and has taught Preventive Dentistry, Pre-clinic and Clinic I-V. She is a past Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator. Her professional interests are technology in dentistry, probiotics, advanced instrumentation, airpowder polishing, piezo ultrasonics and opioid misuse in dentistry. Lisa also serves as a CODA site visitor for dental hygiene. She currently is working on a dental therapy project.