At Ross Medical Education Center, we want to offer the best opportunities to our students. That’s why our instructors are experienced in their fields and able to bring that experience to the classroom and incorporate it into their lessons and demonstrations. Many of our instructors work in their field on top of teaching in the classroom. This allows them to stay current as a healthcare professional while bringing their wealth of knowledge to the upcoming healthcare professionals simultaneously.
Read our interview with Edk Sloan, an instructor for the Dental Assistant program at the Ross campus in Roosevelt Park, Michigan. Read about her experience!
How long have you been at Ross as an instructor?
I have been at Ross for eight years.
How did you get your start in education and why is it important to you?
I believed in myself; this is always the first step. As Robert Hutchins said, “it must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts, but to teach them to think!”
What’s your favorite thing about being an instructor at Ross?
My favorite thing about being an instructor at Ross is watching the students’ faces light up when they realize that they do “get it.”
What piece of advice to you try to convey to all of your students to help them succeed?
- Be positive always, be friendly, and remember to smile.
- Think and act deliberately; take a breath and relax.
- Pay attention and always keep learning.
- Take care of yourself. Be clear on what’s important in your life.
- Be flexible and accept change; it’s going to happen. Let go of the past.
What are you passionate about personally?
I am passionate about teeth! I am a floss-a-holic. I buy floss every single time I go to the store.
Who inspires you to be great?
My students inspire me! I learn from them just as much as they learn from me. Their excitement and eagerness to learn is contagious.
Share a positive memory about your experiences at Ross that stands out to you. Why is that memory special to you?
Recently I had four past students come back to visit me that all work together. They said they talk about me and my classes every day and thanked me so much for teaching them and being positive every day while they were in class. They said their lives are different now and they love being dental assistants.
What inspired you to pursue a dental assisting career?
I took a course at the career tech center while I was in tenth grade of high school. I closed my eyes and picked a class and got Dental Assistant. I have loved every moment of my career!
What is something most people don’t know about working as a Dental Assistant?
We do not clean teeth, but we do other important tasks including:
- Assist the doctor during a procedure
- Take x-rays and impressions
- Prepare instruments and sterilization
- Make sure patients are comfortable and give them pre op and post op instructions
- These are just some of our daily duties – there’s much more!
What advice would you give to a student who is looking to become a Dental Assistant but hasn’t quite made up their mind yet?
Dental Assistants have many unique qualities: we always notice people’s teeth first, helping people is second nature to us, we are very organized, and nothing grosses us out – we’ve seen it all! If this sounds like you, then you have what it takes to be a Dental Assistant.
What is the most rewarding part of dental assisting?
The most rewarding part of the job is knowing a patient has walked out of the office satisfied with the services. It feels great to hear the patient say “your assistant was really gentle when taking x-rays” or “your assistant was helpful and made me feel very comfortable today.” These comments remind me why I became a Dental Assistant to begin with.
As a student, what would you like to say to your instructor?
“I would like to take time out to say thank you very much for being my teacher. I really appreciate you being patient with me as I am learning to become the best possible dental assistant I can be. You made learning this field easier than I thought it would be and fun for me.”
– Kirk L.
“You are very patient while teaching your students how to complete appropriate tasks that will forever help them in the dental field. I can tell you care a lot about the future and present of your students and that is very reassuring. I can also tell you want all of your students to succeed to their highest ability.”
– Alisha B.
“Not only are you informative, but you also make learning very enjoyable. Learning and obtaining information is always easier when you’re enjoying what it is that you’re doing, and having you as my instructor makes that possible. The love you have for your job clearly reflects onto your work. Being in your class has only makde me more excited for my future in the dental field. Thank you.”
– Elaine H.