Less than a year after starting their studies, the very first Dental Assisting students in Southwestern Community College history earned their diplomas and are addressing the labor shortage in their chosen career field.
Dressed in stylish purple scrubs, 15 graduates received honorary pins during a ceremony commemorating their accomplishments on July 24 at SCC’s Jackson Campus.
All 15 completed 384 hours of clinical training at may welcoming dental facilities in the community. The students also had three semesters of classroom education.
During the ceremony, Dr. Don Tomas – SCC’s President – presented a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Robert Manga, the Clinic Director and Clinical Assistant Professor at East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center Dental Clinic in Sylva.
“I’m extremely proud of this first class,” said Abra Brooks, SCC’s Dental HProgram Coordinator. “We could not have done this without WNC dental community opening their doors to our students, and I’m also very thankful for the support of our administration at SCC.”
Southwestern is in the process of constructing lab and clinical space for Dental Assisting in Founders Hall on the Jackson Campus, and college officials plan to launch a Dental Hygiene program – pending approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation – within a couple of years.
For more information about training for future Dental Care professionals, visit www.SouthwesternCC.edu or contact Brooks at 828.339.4319 or au_brooks@SouthwesternCC.edu.
