Learn how this Airman went from combat boots to tennis shoes
Meet our RDH spotlight Julie Martin, RDH, MSDH, MPH, ECP-III!
What made you decide to go beyond an Associate degree?
I had been in the dental profession since enlisting into the Air Force in 1989 that included preventative dental health service (dental hygiene) in that career field. During my 23-year Air Force career, I got the experience to not only provide oral health care service to Active duty members to ensure their dental readiness, but also to develop and supervise outreach services for communities that had no access to oral health care in underdeveloped countries and regions of this country. These experiences created a spark in my passion for caring for communities and underserved populations. During my time in Texas, I had the opportunity to work in mobile settings throughout schools in central Texas, and the Austin area nursing homes as an outreach dental hygienist caring for the residents and educating nursing staff of the critical importance of oral health care of their residents.
I realized that earning a higher degree would open doors and create new pathways for me beyond the dental hygiene clinical paradigm into the Public Health side of the oral health profession. It was very clear to me there was an access to care issue in the state I was previously living in (Texas) that needed oral health care professionals motivated and willing to develop outreach programs for those individuals with socioeconomical and geographical barriers to oral health care. In 2015, I moved to Kansas to care for an ailing parent and while I was there, had the opportunity to work at a couple of FQHCs until I was offered a teaching opportunity at Wichita State University. As a promise to my father (a former K-State Professor and High School Band Teacher) I accepted the position as an educator to learn how to teach the next generation with some amazing faculty here at Wichita State.
Describe your current employment.
I am an Assistant Clinical Professor at Wichita State University Dental Hygiene program and have been since 2017. I teach pre-clinic, Jr. Clinic, Sr. clinic and (my jam) Community Oral Health Practice and Research. I am also a Young Dental Representative.
Who had the greatest influence on your education and/or career path?
There are multiple individuals that have influenced me that include, but are not limited to; My Dad (John Francisco) who talked me into it, the legendary Esther Wilkins who ALWAYS had some advice for me when I saw her at Forsyth, Dr Linda Boyd, who was the cornerstone for my love for research and innovation, my Texas Dental Hygiene Association members who encouraged me to take that jump into grad school, CMSgt Tom Davis, who always preached “If you’re not learnin, you’re not livin!”, my Kansas Dental Hygiene Association Peeps who have kept me motivated in this profession, and especially the faculty here at Wichita State who have been the best team to learn from.
How was the transition from clinical practice to educator?
The transition took a couple of years to get into the groove and I learned to not be so hard on myself.
What advice would you give to other RDHs seeking to advance their careers?
Go for it! You never know where you may find yourself! And if you fall, get back up and keep moving forward. Enjoy the journey while you’re at it. This profession has so much unrealized talent and innovation that if everyone would step out of their comfort zone just a little to broaden their abilities, I think the access to oral health care could easily be solved.
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