Biographical note

Pat Norman, CDA, EFDA, is program director of the Dental Assisting Program at Spokane Community College. Her 35 years in the dental field have included roles as a chairside dental assistant, an adjunct laboratory instructor and eventually a tenured faculty member. She has served the state of Washington as a member of the Dental Quality Assurance Commission and is currently a site visitor for the American Dental Association for Allied Health Programs. Ms. Norman earned her Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary certificate from Spokane Community College and a BA from Eastern Washington University. She is a Certified Dental Assistant with an Expanded Functions certificate and is an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary in the state of Washington. Donna Phinney was a Certified Dental Assistant and program director for the Dental Assisting Program at Spokane Community College. She devoted her 20-year career to the dental field as a dental assistant and office manager and later to consulting and teaching. Ms. Phinney was a fellow of the American Dental Assistants Association, where she served as a consultant and an appointed commissioner, as well as an active member of the Washington State Dental Assisting Association. She earned her BA from Eastern Washington University and MEd from Whitworth College. Judy Halstead, CDA, is the former Dental Assisting Program Director for a private college and a high school skills center. Now retired, she also worked as a dental assistant and an enthusiastic industry representative for more than 30 years. As a president of the Washington Dental Assistant Association, Ms. Halstead often delivered lectures and workshops at local, state and regional dental conferences as well as served as an industry consultant. She earned a BA from Eastern Washington University and is a Certified Dental Assistant with an Expanded Functions certificate.