Strong programs don’t happen by chance. They are built through consistent, confident clinical teaching.
And that starts with prepared educators.
Outline of ONBOARD
(See more detailed descriptions and objectives down on the page)
Live Virtual Sessions
(8 CE Credits)
Day 1: Building a Strong Clinical Teaching Foundation
- Understanding the shift from clinician to educator
- Creating a feedback culture that supports growth and improvement
- Delivering feedback that is clear, actionable, and effective
- How mindset and communication shape the clinical learning environment
Day 2: Managing the Realities of Clinic
- Translating CODA standards to daily clinical practice
- Navigating common scenarios:
- Students challenging grades
- Calibration and rubric alignment
- Difficult patient situations
- Professional boundaries
- Time management and prioritization
- Practical strategies for confident, effective teaching
On-Demand Modules:
Foundational Clinical Refreshers
These modules are designed to reinforce key clinical concepts and ensure faculty are aligned with current standards and expectations.
- Periodontal classifications
- Local anesthesia updates
- Infection control for educators
- Instrumentation refreshers
- Bloodborne pathogens certification (optional)
- ONBOARD Faculty Handbook + walkthrough
LIVE VIRTUAL SESSIONS
Day 1 - From Clinician to Instructor - Open & Learn More
Day 2 - From Standards to the Clinic Floor: Making CODA Work in Daily Clinical Teaching - Open & Learn More
Day 1 - The Hidden Influence of Culture in Clinical Education - Open & Learn More
Day 2 - Practical Strategies for Common Clinical Scenarios - Open & Learn More
Day 1 - The Science and Practice of Effective Clinical Feedback - Open & Learn More
Day 2 - Relationships, Boundaries, and the Real Drivers of Clinical Learning - Open & Learn More
Meet Your Program Facilitators
Heather Anderson, RDH, MS
Ms. Anderson is full time faculty at Eastern Washington University in the dental hygiene department. 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 is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Farmingdale State College, where she is the senior clinic coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Entry-Level Bachelor Program. Her teaching responsibilities include the Online Dental Hygiene Practicum Seminar, Senior Seminar I and II, and Advanced Dental Hygiene Practice I and II clinical instruction. Dr. Rivera is an Open SUNY Fellow, a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, and of the American Dental Education Association. Her research interests are adult learning, clinical instruction, online education, digital learning, open education, 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
Tulsi Patel, RDH, MHA is an Associate Professor at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. She has served in numerous roles at her current institution but has a true passion for teaching periodontology. She actively completes educational research on periodontology and has presents her findings at regional, national and international conferences. She also leads the Mastermind course on Periodontal Classifications and Treatment Planning for Educators Platform. Two of her most significant accomplishments includes co-creating the “Periodontitis and Gingivitis Module Utilizing 2017 AAP and EFP Classification System for Periodontal Disease” for Proctor & Gamble Dentalcare.com, and creating a Perio Chairside Guide published in the Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. She is a two-time recipient of the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (UTSD) Lorna J. Bruning Teaching Excellence Award in 2018 and 2023, as well as the Procter & Gamble Teaching Excellence Award in 2023. She currently serves as the Director of the Center for Health Promotion at UTSD, where she teaches prevention and health promotion to dental students as it relates to an Integrated Dental Medicine clinical model. In 2024, she was selected to become a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association for significant contributions to the dental hygiene profession.
Jennifer E. Fehrenbacher PhD, LDH, CDA, EFDA
Jennifer Fehrenbacher is currently an assistant professor of dental assisting and dental hygiene at her alma mater, the University of Southern Indiana. She began her career in academia in 2006 as an adjunct faculty member working in the pre-clinic setting. She continued in this role until January of 2019 when she began working full time at USI as the clinic coordinator. Jennifer has a significant interest in curriculum and gaining any knowledge related to teaching which led to earning a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana State University and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University. She has served as the chair of her local ADHA chapter and currently serves as the advisor for the student dental assisting association at USI.
"When faculty are aligned, students succeed, and programs thrive."
A Smarter Way to Support Faculty
ONBOARD helps ensure that faculty are not just experienced clinicians—but effective, aligned educators.
About Educators Platform
Founded in 2020, Educators Platform is a leading organization dedicated to supporting educators in higher education. Research consistently indicates that high-quality educators play a crucial role in producing competent healthcare providers. When educators are equipped with effective teaching strategies, they create an environment that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Moreover, the principles of setting up a successful course are transferable across all disciplines, enhancing the educational experience for both educators and students.
Many healthcare educators lack formal training in educational methodology and effective teaching practices. Our goal is to empower these educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to enhance their teaching effectiveness and positively impact student learning outcomes.
At Educators Platform, we are proud to offer a wide array of high-value content facilitated by top educators from a variety of healthcare disciplines. Through exceptional offerings, we connect educators, enabling them to share insights and elevate one another. By investing in the professional development of educators, we contribute to the overall quality of education, understanding that those who teach play a vital role in shaping the future of top-level healthcare providers.
Join us in our mission to empower educators, ensure best practices in teaching, and ultimately enhance the standards of education within our community.
