Dental Assistant Program offered by the American Red Cross

Photo By Capt. Lisa Allen | Students with the Red Cross Dental Assisting Program practice the skills they have learned during the eight month program at the MCRD Parris Island Dental Clinic. The program is open to U.S. citizens that are retired service members or dependents of active duty service members. (Photo courtesy of MCRD Parris Island Dental Clinic) (Released)  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

03.18.2016

Story by Lisa Allen 

Naval Hospital Beaufort

BEAUFORT, S.C. – Retired service members and dependents can take advantage of an opportunity to gain new skills as a dental assistant. The American Red Cross Dental Assistant Program will begin a new class in May, 2016.

“This type of training would cost someone anywhere from $6,000 to $8,000 at local colleges,” said Jong Gamboa, clinic manager for the Directorate for Dental Services. “But the training program from Red Cross is free.”

Students enrolled in the program will have to complete one week of classroom study then and 600 hours of chair-side assistance by December 2016.

“When it’s time to start working on their hours we assign them to a doctor,” said Gamboa, who is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. “We cover about 22,000 patients a year, we keep them busy.”

Requirements for the program include a high school diploma or equivalent, BLS or CPR certification, up-to-date immunizations, must be either a dependent of a service member or retired service member and a U.S. citizen.

“Our volunteers will have comprehensive chairside training in general dentistry, as well as rotations through dental specialties including oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral diagnosis. The experience and skills acquired here will prepare our volunteers for a job in a military or civilian setting,” said Lt. Leah Lorkovich, chairman for the Dental Directorate’s Red Cross Dental Assisting Program.

A sought after quality in applicants is a desire to learn and to step up to challenges in front of them.

“We look for volunteers who are motivated and ready to start to a new career. I love the field of dentistry, and I’m looking forward to helping a new class acquire skills that they can take with them wherever they go,” said Lt. Lorkovich, who is a native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. “We offer a great learning environment with experienced assistants, knowledgeable dentists, and appreciative patients. Parris Island doesn’t only make Marines, we also make dental assistants!”

Those who step up to the challenge will receive a certificate of completion from the American Red Cross that is well recognized across the dental assistant profession.

“Many dentists know that the Red Cross Dental Assisting Program is a good program so they tend to pay more,” said Gamboa. “It demonstrates to the dentist the commitment to the field and will compliment any degree or other dental assistant certificates.”

Although the program takes place at the MCRD Parris Island Dental Clinic, completion of the program does not guarantee a position at the clinic. Graduates will have to apply and compete for positions available just like any other job opening.

“I was looking for a different career, after learning everything in the program I fell in love with it,” said Monica A. Masanto, a medical support assistant and coordinator for the Red Cross Dental Assisting Program, who started off in the program ten years ago and has worked at MCRD Parris Island Dental Clinic since earning her certificate of completion. “It was something very different that was challenging.”

The certificate of completion is just a small reward for completing the program. There are many intangibles that go along with the profession. According to Salary.com the median salary for entry-level dental assistants in the U.S. is $33,247.

“Graduates get their own career, they’re independent, they earn it and it’s something they can be proud of accomplishing that can give back to their family,” said Masanto, who is a native of Bardstown, Kentucky. “If it’s something you’ve been looking at go ahead and do it, Don’t hesitate, accomplish it.”

Application forms are available at the MCRD Parris Island Dental Clinic and the Red Cross Office in the MCRD Parris Island Religious Ministries Center. The deadline to submit applications is by close of business on May 10, 2016.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2016
• Date Posted: 03.18.2016 12:04
• Story ID: 192850
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US
• Hometown: ALIQUIPPA, PA, US
• Hometown: BARDSTOWN, KY, US
• Hometown: BEAUFORT, SC, US