Jennifer McKinnies, RDH, PHDH, MS, has nearly 30 years of experience in the field of dentistry. She currently serves as an assistant professor and clinical director in the Dental Hygiene Department at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale. McKinnies is the founder of the SIU Give Kids a Smile program, which has provided free dental care to more than 2,500 children across Illinois. Her teaching responsibilities include local anesthesia, research methodologies, and educational methodologies.