By Jillian Stacey, D.D.S., CDA President from the Winter 2026 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
The dental field continues to face workforce shortages both nationwide and in Colorado. Finding hygienists, assistants, and other team members can put a strain not only on dentists and practices, but also for patients to access care. In Colorado Springs, a new hygiene program at Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) is helping to alleviate these shortages and provide more highly skilled dental hygienists in Colorado. This state-of-the-art program was developed with the latest technology and exists in a beautiful new building adjacent to the Rampart Range campus of PPSC.
Teaching and mentoring have always been a focus for me. Though private practice is still my main role, when I was offered the opportunity to teach, I was excited to take on this new responsibility. Participating on the ground-level of a brand-new program of 30 students per cohort is slightly intimidating, but also deeply rewarding. Learning more about the hygiene world helps me appreciate their rigorous education and their roles in providing essential prevention and instruction to our patients. I have immense respect for the director of the program and dental center, Ewa Posorski, RDH, BS, MS, who has provided guidance and encouragement in my new role.
In the program’s inaugural year, I was honored to be hired in both a didactic and clinical part-time capacity. I have served on both the advisory committee for the dental center as well as the existing dental assistant program. In this role, I participated in Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) visits, stayed updated with the hygiene program as it was being constructed, and built strategic relationships with fellow educators and providers.
Preparing for my didactic courses involves significant planning and organization. These classes include head and neck anatomy, oral pathology and dental anesthesia. It takes thought and intention to construct a course that is straightforward and beneficial for the students. I aim to provide a welcoming environment in my classes where students feel empowered to ask questions and learn comfortably. Honing my teaching style and how I deliver information has further improved my speaking skills and confidence in other areas of my career.
I am thankful I can integrate practical dental knowledge into their lectures by pulling from my private practice experience. My colleagues and I are committed to cultivating competent and compassionate hygienists. As my students begin to see patients in 2026, I look forward to helping them navigate patient management, chairside manner and treatment planning.
My role as the CDA President has made me more visible in the Colorado dental community. I have a unique perspective on how organized dentistry and organized hygiene come together, especially in crucial, timely initiatives, such as the dental practice act legislation and rulemaking. I urge my students to get involved in organized hygiene and highlight to them the great relationship the Colorado Dental Association has with the Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association. I am in a position to encourage dentists and hygienists to have mutual respect for the vital nature of each other’s professions.
Despite the considerable amount of work, getting to know and support the students has been gratifying. Seeing my students at events like the Colorado Mission of Mercy, the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention, and other conferences is always a lot of fun. I look forward to future years with the program as we bring on our second cohort of 30 more students in the summer of 2026. Stay tuned for some awesome hygienists to enter the Colorado workforce in 2027 and beyond!
