The Compliance Divas Podcast
Our podcast covers current topics such as infection prevention and control, OSHA and HIPAA compliance for dentistry. We discuss the latest regulatory information, answer frequently asked questions and give suggestions for dental practices to make compliance easy and sustainable. The Compliance Divas are a trusted source for consistent, accurate information based upon current guidelines, standards, science, and recommendations.
The Compliance Divas Podcast
#199 Celebrating Dental Assistants Recognition Week
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Celebrating dental assistants is very special because assistants play a crucial role in ensuring patients' oral health, comfort and safety. Recognizing their hard work and dedication shines a light on the vital contributions they make to dentistry. Join the Divas as they celebrate Sarah Stream, MPH, CDIPC, CDA, FADAA.
Resources:
- Dental Assisting National Board https://danb.org
- The Dale Foundation https://www.dalefoundation.org/
Welcome. I'm Leslie Cannon. I'm Mary Gavoni.
SPEAKER_03I'm Linda Harvey. I'm Olivia Juan, and together we are the Compliance Divas.
SPEAKER_01Welcome to the Compliance Divas Podcast. This is Linda Harvey, and I will be your moderator for this episode. Today, the Divas are particularly excited because we are celebrating Dental Assistants Recognition Week. And it's a very special time to give recognition to a wonderful member, or members, as I should say. There's usually more than one dental assistant on a team who wear many hats in the dental practice. So we're excited to have with us today Sarah Stream. Sarah, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited. Well, I'm going to let our divas ask you a few questions so that our listeners can get to know you better. And if we miss anything, we're going to circle back and ask for any other gems that we can share because you've done some exciting things throughout your career. Mary, would you mind kicking us off with our first question?
SPEAKER_02Oh, I'd love to. And I will add my welcome, Sarah. I'm so excited that you're here with us because you're such an amazing example to dental assistants out there of the many things that you can do within the dental profession and still claim that title of dental assistant. So tell us, Sarah, how did you become an assistant? And what do you love most about the profession of dental assisting?
SPEAKER_00Well, first I just want to start off by saying happy dental assistance recognition week to all the assistants out there that might be listening. Celebrate yourselves. It is such a special week and you deserve it. And thank you for the question, Mary. Um I started out as a dental assistant in 2007. And I really started because I needed to have a professional career. I had just had my oldest son, and I needed to have something that I could call a career and grow into and not just a job. So decided to go to dental assisting school. That time it was a 60-week program. And um my career just kind of blossomed from there. I was really very excited and passionate about dentistry once I got into it. I had no idea I would love it so much, but um here we are. And I think that just growing your career and your education is always a lifelong journey. So for anybody out there that has questions about where they're going, just keep pushing because you deserve it.
SPEAKER_01So, Sarah, talking about pushing forward with your education, everything, could you talk to our listeners about some of your education? Because I know you've you've taken time to really advance in that area.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, education has always been something that's been very important to me. I'm always wanting to learn more, learn the next biggest thing, what else is out there? What else can I be doing? And so after I got uh my dental assisting degree, at that time it was an associate's of occupational studies and dental assisting. I was a chair side dental assistant for about five years and decided I wanted to get into teaching. But to be an educator for dental assistants, you have to have a bachelor's degree. So got my bachelor's degree, and lucky for me, they really don't care what your bachelor's degree is in. So I just have a bachelor's degree in small business management. But after that, I really wanted to kind of hyper focus things. I was very passionate about infection control and about the public health side of things. So I went on to get my master's degree in public health. And that was, I graduated in 2019. So it's been a few years for that one. And that master's degree really opened up a lot of doors to see what else was out there as far as you know, dental public health goes. In addition to traditional education, I also was able to get some certification. So I became a CDA, a certified dental assistant in 2007 when I started dental assisting. And then in 2019, I got my CDIPC, which is the Certification and Dental Infection Prevention and Control.
SPEAKER_02Sarah, that is amazing. And you again are such a great example and an inspiration to dental assistants out there to know that there is more. What always breaks my heart is the attitude on the part of some dental assistants that the only upward mobility within dentistry would be to become a hygienist, which is one of the things I did in my dental career, or to become a dentist. And there's nothing wrong with either one of those. But I think what happens when those people view that as the only option, that we lose so many brilliant minds from dental assisting that I think can truly help us grow this profession and help to gain more recognition.
SPEAKER_00Oh, absolutely. And I'll tell you, in my span of gosh, I don't even 19 years now. 19, 18 years? I can't do math on the fly. Um, in my career span, I have held almost every position in a dental office outside of hygiene or dentist. So I've been an assistant, I've been a surgical assistant, I've been a lab tech for an office. I actually worked in a lab for a few years. And that was a super fun experience. And I think a pathway that a lot of dental assistants don't even think about. I was also an office manager, and I applaud all the office managers out there. I could not do it. I didn't make it very long as an office manager. I kind of have to be a mover and a goer and in direct patient care. But there are just so many opportunities out there outside of being a chair site assistant. I was also in sales for a little while and discovered that I can't sell anything, but that's okay.
SPEAKER_01Sarah, I think I would beg to differ that you're doing a great job selling oral health to patients and you're doing and you're making a difference in the lives of all those that you've taken care of. So I think that's those is a unique, unique area. So thank you for shedding some light on some different hats that dental assistants could look at when or if they should be ready to step outside of a clinical practice. Sarah, our Diva Olivia Wadd has a question for you. So Olivia?
SPEAKER_03Thank you, Linda and Sarah. We are so pleased to have you on our podcast. And I really enjoyed getting to know you better at the recent ADS meeting. And I applaud your educational background. And I think you just prove the point that if you want more, you go ahead for it. You just didn't set back and wish it would happen. You made it happen, Sarah. So we're very happy for you. And we want to know more about your newest role at Danby.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, thank you for the kind words, Olivia. And it was fantastic to get to know you better as well at Bootcamp. So my most recent career adventure, I guess you could call it, um, I was recently hired onto Danby Dale Foundation as their education product manager. So I'll be working very closely with Jen Price and helping manage all of the educational offerings that are through the Dale Foundation. So all of the exam prep courses, practice tests, and any new education that comes out.
SPEAKER_03That's incredible. So just think about the influence that you have working in this new role with all of the new potential dental assistants. And I think this example that you're setting is great because, as the other divas mentioned, it proves that there's more to do beyond clinical chairside assisting, that all that foundational knowledge that you gain is helpful now. And did you ever think it would work out this way?
SPEAKER_00Oh my gosh, not in a million years. You know, I there's this kind of this running joke with a few of my friends that every four to five years I have a new position. And they're like, you just you're all over the place. You're in an office and then you're in another office, and now you're doing sales, and now you're at a lab and now you're teaching. And my comeback is always, yeah, but it's always a step forward. It's always a step to do more, to be able to help people more, to be a better leader. So, you know, I may kind of be all over the place, but it's been a wonderful journey.
SPEAKER_03I think it makes your occupation even more enjoyable because of all these facets that you have experienced and you enjoy and you continue to grow and think about the example that you're setting for other people. So your illustrious career is quite impressive.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you. And I think it also illustrates to our fellow dental assistants is that don't be afraid to try something new. And that's exactly where you were. Took your passion, you look for something new, you weren't afraid to step into a lab and see what it was about and grow in that area, or the office management. You may find out that something like that wasn't your exact cup of tea, but it helped to keep propel you moving forward, as Olivia mentioned.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Sarah, our diva Leslie Cannon couldn't be here today, but Leslie wanted me to ask you about some of the biggest highlights of your career. And we know that you recently presented, you know, at the AADS or Association for Dental Safety. So what are some things that you would highlight that, you know, for other dental assistants to be thinking about?
SPEAKER_00Oh gosh. Well, presenting at boot camp this year was definitely a highlight that that organization just has so much to offer, um, not only in membership, but in the relationships that you build through the association. And I I just had a blast presenting at boot camp. It was so much fun. Um I think some other highlights of my career. I am very proud that I built the dental assisting program at the community college that I taught at. It was an existing program, but you know, I'm very proud that we graduated a lot of girls that went on to be great dental assistants that I still keep in contact with. And I think that's probably one of my most favorite things is when they reach out to you and say, thank you, or I have a question. Can I still ask you a question? You know, just being able to help and support them. I was also lucky enough to be awarded the ADS Emerging Leader in Infection Control Award this last year, which was a huge surprise when it happened. Um, but I guess I must be doing the right things that people have noticed. So lots of fun things have happened.
SPEAKER_01Undoubtedly you're doing all the right things, Sarah. And I think your recognition is just so well deserved, and we couldn't be more proud and thrilled for you. So just hoping that our dental assistants listening today can take some of these ideas and areas that you've worked in. Not that we're encouraging them to leave the dental practice, right? Because we know doctors never want to leave or lose a good dental assistant, but sometimes people are looking for more. And when a dental assistant is looking for more, like Olivia said, it's just good to know you can go out and you can make it happen and not be afraid to take that first step because there's such a great wealth of support networks, whether it's Association for Dental Safety, you know, the CDA that you're a member of, or just any of the other groups that exist for just somebody to get support and mentorship and assistance as they make that step. So I wanted to ask you one thing, Sarah. I know with your diverse and rich career beyond private practice, didn't you do some consulting for the state of Nebraska? Did I remember that correctly?
SPEAKER_00So working with the state of Nebraska, that was my last full-time position. I worked as a part of the Nebraska ICAP team. And we were funded by the CDC to help support medical facilities in their infection control needs. And all of that kind of stemmed from the Ebola outbreaks in 2014. That's kind of where all the funding started. And I was lucky enough that the medical director and supervisor of that team included dentistry in the different setting types. So we were able to go out into dental facilities in Nebraska and um help them with their infection control and make the state a safer place.
SPEAKER_01Fantastic. I love that. I love that. I think Mary had a follow-up question for you as well.
SPEAKER_02I did, Sarah. Many of our listeners may not know that you were one of the participants in a study that was conducted on dental unit water lines, and that that study was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. So can you tell us a little bit about that experience? Because that's way cool.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it is very cool. I think that's another one of my career highlights is being published in Jada. Um, and just as a teaser, I may have a couple more items being published here this year. But this article we wrote last year, I worked with the ADA. Back then it was the science and research part of the ADA. I know that's changed recently to the Forsyth Institute now, but we did an extensive survey that we sent out to dental professionals on their waterline, uh, dental unit waterline habits and knowledge and attitudes. And so we did this survey, gathered all the data, and then we were able to kind of look at the data and see what exactly is going on with dental unit water lines across the nation. So it was a very cool study. Um, you can find it in Jada. I don't have any of the publication information, but if you search for me in Jada, you'll find it.
SPEAKER_02We can also link it in our resources for the podcast as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Great idea, Mary. Thank you for bringing that up. It just goes to show that there's so many things that we can be invited to that we don't even realize that the door will open when people see you or hear you and you reach out. You never know. So I'm I'm particularly thrilled that you've had a chance not only to impact patients directly through patient care, like all of us have in our roles as dual assistants and hygienists over the years, but you're also impacting those who take care of care of patients, is what we're all doing as divas and consultants, because you're impacting the clinicians themselves with more knowledge and information. So I think that's just such a great feeling when you watch that Ripple effect. And like you as a former educator, you love it when your students come back and remember you and ask you questions because it's very endearing, because then it's a good feeling knowing that what you did made a difference. May not have felt that way at this at the moment, teaching the students, right?
SPEAKER_00Okay, lots of struggle, lots of struggle.
SPEAKER_01But in the end, ultimately so.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_01Is there any tips or advice that you would want to share some to someone who may be thinking about making a change? Is there anything that pops up at you that we haven't talked about?
SPEAKER_00Oh gosh, I would just tell them, um, you know, don't be afraid to take that first step of whatever it is. You know, I I was really passionate about education, and in order to do that, I found out what I had to do to be an educator and I took that first step. I applied for my bachelor's degree to start classes and then just start building on it, you know, and and do what you can do at the time. Um when I got my bachelor's degree, I was a single mom and I did classes online when I could. When I got my master's degree, I was a single mom and worked full-time and took classes in the evenings. And so just do what you can, but don't be afraid to take the first step.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's great. Don't let fear hold us back. Thank you so much for joining us today, Sarah. It's been a pleasure having her make it to know you. Before we get ready to sign off, I'd like to share with any of our listeners who may be new to dentistry what Danby stands for. Danby is the Dell Assisting National Board, and it's a great place where you can find quality-driven information and courses. If so, if you're new to dentistry, you can check out those resources. We'll put the link in the show notes for taking just an introductory class on sterilization or PPE, for example. So great information all the way around. Thanks again, Sarah. Yes, thank you so much for having me. Our pleasure. Well, we are thrilled to be celebrating dental assistants in a very special way because we believe they provide, we believe that they fulfill a very crucial role in the dental team wearing many different hats from equipment maintenance to taking care of patients to sterilization and all the other areas. So we recognize and applaud all of our dental assistants this week. As the compliance devas, we bring clarity and simplicity to compliance by navigating the regulatory world to keep you on course. We invite you to subscribe to our podcast through your favorite podcast channel or on our website at the compliancedevas.com. And your questions are always welcome. Please send those to support at the compliancedevas.com and we invite you to scroll down at the end of this podcast or social media channel and leave us a review. We look forward to seeing you next time.