Dental Hygienist/Dental Therapist Appointed to National Boards
Wilber Ramirez-Rodriguez, RDH, BSDH, DDS-Perú, an associate professor in the School of Dental Hygiene Studies at Pacific University Oregon, exemplifies a profound dedication to service and dental education.
As the mobile clinic director of the Smile Care Everywhere program, he helps underserved communities receive the dental care they need.
Recently appointed to two national boards — the American Dental Therapy Association’s Board of Directors and the Hispanic Dental Association’s Service and Outreach Committee — Ramirez-Rodriguez aims to shape the future of dental education and address the nationwide shortage of dental providers, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
As the twelfth licensed dental therapist in Oregon, Ramirez-Rodriguez is at the forefront of advocating for dental therapy, a burgeoning field that offers preventive and routine restorative care. Pacific University Oregon has pioneered the state’s first dental therapy training program and is set to launch a master’s program in dental therapy in 2025.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. March 2024; 22(2):10
