AHEC holds 1st dental assistants’ graduation in over 30 tears

PALAU—Through the College of Micronesia and Doctors and Dentist for Tomorrow, Palau Area Health Education Center at the Palau Community College was able to enroll Palauan students to join the Dental Assistant Program.

The program was completely funded by the DDFT grant and free for students to attend Penn Foster College distance learning program. This is the first Palau Cohort of Dental Assistants to graduate in 35 years. This opportunity came to light due to the shortage of oral health professionals and need for dental assistants. Dental assistant graduates include Jaime A. Scott, Jeanelle O. Adelbai, De’sirae Jo U. Pedro, and Melissalynn Rdechor.

The ceremony was attended by goal-oriented leaders who made the program possible and they are deputy director Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC Office Erica Davis, Ministry of Health and Human Services Minister Gafaar J. Uherbelau, PCC president Dr. Patrick U Tellei, director of Palau AHEC Dr. Gregory Dever, chief of the Oral Health Division of Public Health and Human Services Janice Mathew, dental hygienist of MHHS dental hygienists Helen Remoket and Dorothy Skang, Bureau of Health Administration and Support Services’ Ms. Arnice Yuji, PCC Board of Trustees chair Kione J. Isechal, dentists Dr. Nihla Reddin, Dr. Nikola Zitnik, and Dr. Hirotsugi Nakano, and the director of PHHS Sherilynn Madraisau. Congratulations to all the graduates and PCC hopes to keep this program available to help both MHHS dental department and participants who wish to join. (PR)