DEBBIE S. ROBINSON, CDA, MS retired in 2020 from the University of North Carolina, where she was engaged in clinical research within the Department of Operative Dentistry, and later at the Gilling’s School of Global Public Health. Her educational background evolved from receiving an Associate degree in Dental Assisting from Broward Community College, a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from Florida Atlantic University, and a Master’s degree in Dental Auxiliary Teachers Education from the University of North Carolina.
Her clinical experience consisted of practicing as a clinical chairside assistant for 7 years in a pediatric/orthodontic dental practice in Florida, as well as in the dental research center and the special patient care clinic at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry.
With over 20 years of teaching dental assisting within the community college and university settings in Florida and North Carolina, she also served as Clinical Assistant Professor and then Director of the Dental Assisting Program and Dental Assisting Specialty Program at UNC School of Dentistry. She has presented continuing education for practicing dental assistants at local, state, and international meetings. During her tenure, she served as a member of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) test construction committee and has authored and coauthored journal articles for The Dental Assistant. Additional endeavors include consulting with community colleges and proprietary schools on the development of new dental assisting programs across the Country.