Melanie Simmer-Beck, RDH, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. She is also the project director of Miles of Smiles, a school-based oral health program. In 2013, she was selected to serve as an ambassador for the American Dental Association's Dental Quality Alliance. Simmer-Beck's publications and research interests include measuring dental quality improvement, program evaluation, placebased care, special patient care, service learning, advanced instrumentation, and ergonomics. She is also a member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene's Peer Review Panel.