Debi Gerger, RDH, MPH, is department chair of Dental Hygiene at West Coast University in Southern California. An educator for more than 15 years, Gerger is also a continuing education presenter, author, business owner, doctoral student, and an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the California Dental Hygienists’ Association, serving as the associate journal editor. She recently completed a 4-year commitment to the California First Smiles project, which provides education and training for dental and medical professionals on the prevention of early childhood caries.