Lesley Harbison, RDH, EPDH, MS, is an assistant professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon, where she teaches radiology, oral medicine, and dental hygiene care for patients with special needs. A practicing dental hygienist for 21 years, she spent 18 of those years working clinically in both periodontal and general practices. In 2015, Harbison started her own direct access dental hygiene practice, and she has also worked in state sealant programs and for a geriatric mobile dental practice. Her professional interests include increasing access to care, dental hygiene care for patients with special needs, ethics, and empathy in healthcare. Harbison can be reached at: lesley.harbison@pacificu.edu.
Remaining up to date on the important role vitamins and minerals play in a functioning immune system as well as how they relate to oral health is part of providing patient-centered care.