The demand for skilled dental professionals is on the rise. For students seeking a fast-paced, rewarding career in healthcare, the Dental Assistant diploma program offers an excellent pathway. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and a focus on patient care, our program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this dynamic field.
Since 2011, the GACTC has been fortunate to have Jamie Hershey lead our postsecondary Dental Assistant and Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) programs.
A graduate of the GACTC’s Dental Assistant program, Jamie has worked in the dental field since 1986 and her nearly four decades of experience bring a wealth of knowledge to our programs.
Her career started in the orthodontic field, where she worked for more than a decade, providing hands-on care and assisting with the placement, adjustment, and removal of braces and other orthodontic appliances. Today, orthodontic assistants are in demand, so her experience in this area is a huge advantage for our students looking to break into a solid career.
After leaving orthodontics, Jamie assisted in the endodontics field — which specializes in complex surgical procedures, such as root canals. During her time assisting in these procedures, she gained firsthand experience in the techniques required to perform these operations safely, efficiently, and with care.
There are many techniques that Jamie has learned working in oral surgery that she demonstrates to her students — for example, how to assist with extractions.
At her direction, the GACTC was able to acquire the equipment requisite for our students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in this field.
What I do is touch base on all of the specialties and make them as real as I can.
The GACTC’s dental labs are modern, and well-equipped, which enables our students to quickly gain the knowledge necessary to enter the dental field in ways that put them above competitors in the job market.
What our school brings to the program that others don’t, is having an instructor experienced in all of those fields. We’re not just teaching from a book. We’re taking students deeper than they will be required to go, to help them be more qualified professionals in the field.” Her philosophy is that having this experience will help them be better able to assist in performing complex procedures.
Modern dentistry continues to evolve — with new technologies, materials, techniques, and more. Jamie knows that for the students at the GACTC to succeed in such a fast-past field, they need to be exposed to these advancements. This is why she maintains relationships with several dental practices — observing, and sometimes assisting, so that she can take this knowledge back to the classroom.
And it’s working.
What’s so rewarding to me, is when you look at that student and what they have become. You put your all into training them. Then you hear from the offices where they are now working and that staff thinks they are doing a terrific job.
Graduates of the postsecondary dental programs can look forward to competitive salaries, job security, and the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
