Charlotte Wyche, RDH, MS
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I started my career with a certificate in dental hygiene. While in clinical practice, I decided that a more advanced degree would open up broader possibilities. It took me almost 10 years to complete my BS degree and another three years after that to complete a MS degree in Dental Hygiene Education, both from the University of Michigan (U-M). For 14 years, I taught at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Also, I like to write, so you will see my name as author or co-author on several chapters in the last three editions of Esther Wilkins’ textbook Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, and I co-authored a student workbook to accompany the textbook. I retired from full-time teaching at University of Detroit Mercy in May 2007 and began teaching in both the online dental hygiene degree completion and graduate programs at U-M. In addition, I served on the Michigan State Board of Dentistry and currently serve as a North East Regional Board examiner. I am also employed as the evaluation coordinator for the Michigan Department of Community Health Oral Health Program. When I can, I love to travel.

Carrie Ghaname, RDH, MS
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I graduated with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene in 1999 from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. Since graduation, I have practiced in Texas, Switzerland, Maine, Hong Kong, North Carolina and most recently, Michigan. In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina with my Master’s degree in Dental Hygiene Education. My current interests lie in oral cancer prevention and early detection, online education, community-based education, mentoring, and the development of the ADHP. In addition to private practice, I am an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan, and have also taught at the University of British Columbia in their online degree completion program. I have also served as a member of American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Council on Public Relations.

Kathy Yee, RDH, BSDH, MPH
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I was a member of the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning 2009 graduating class, the first cohort of this program. In addition to clinical practice in Livonia, I also teach in both the U-M entry-level dental hygiene program and the E-Learning Program. In addition, I am an adjunct clinical instructor in Oakland Community College's (OCC) Dental Hygiene Program. Since graduating with my associate’s degree in dental hygiene from OCC in 1996, I have been an active member of the Michigan Dental Hygienists' Association (MDHA) and the Oakland component. Currently I serve as MDHA's student liaison. Community has always been a keen interest of mine. In 2013, I earned a Master’s in Public Health degree with a certificate in Health Education and Promotion from Benedictine University.

Christine Farrell, RDH, BSDH, MPA
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I am a 1981 BSDH graduate of the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Program. In 2006 I earned a Masters of Public Administration from U-M Flint. Currently, I am the Michigan Department of Community Health Oral Health Director. As Oral Health Director, I am responsible for an array of statewide oral health care and education programs. Prior to this appointment, I served as a policy specialist in the Medicaid program for 22 years. Active in local, state, and national levels of dental hygiene I was president of the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association, national chair of the Medicaid/CHIP State Dental Association, and am presently serving on the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Council of Public Health.

Durinda Mattana, RDH, BSDH, MS
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I received both my Bachelors of Science in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education degrees from the University of Michigan (U-M). With over 25 years of academic experience, I have taught clinical dental hygiene part-time at Oakland Community College and the University of Michigan and for 18 years full-time at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) School of Dentistry where I served in a variety of roles that included teaching Periodontal Instrumentation and Prevention for dental and dental hygiene students and serving as the Director of Continuing Dental Education. My research interests include educational methodologies and fluorides. I am a contributing author to the textbook chapter, Fluorides, for “Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, 9th - 11th editions by Esther Wilkins. In January 2010, I left full-time teaching and am currently enjoying teaching online courses for UDM and U-M, updating the Fluorides chapter for the 12th edition of the Wilkins textbook, working in private practice, and teaching continuing dental education courses in the areas of oral health products and preventive interventions.

Karen Ridley, RDH, MS
Assistant Professor

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, I graduated from Eastman Dental Center’s Dental Hygiene Program in Rochester, NY.  I received my BS & MS at Columbia University, NY.  I have been a faculty member at the University of Michigan since 1974 as well as serving as UM’s Dental Hygiene Graduate Program Director.   One of my professional areas of expertise is in the subject of special patients and medically compromised.  I am on staff at the UM Hemophilia Treatment Center, Michigan State University, and Marquette General Hospital.  Most recently I have been consulting with the Michigan Hospital Association Kingston Project on Ventilator Assisted Pneumonia (VAP).

Jane Halaris, RDH, BS, MA
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

My passions are leadership, professionalism, and dental hygiene education. I feel I have the best of both worlds of education; I am enjoying teaching in the online degree completion program and graduate program, in addition to working with senior dental hygiene students on campus. I graduated in 1972 from Ferris State University’s Dental Hygiene Program and worked in private clinical practice for many years before completing my Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). I have served as a dental hygiene faculty member at both UDM and Wayne County Community College District where I taught ethics, professionalism, and pre-clinic. I am a past president of the Michigan Dental Hygienists' Association, served as its Director of Governmental Affairs for eight years, and was a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Council on Practice and Regulation. In addition, I served on the Michigan State Board of Dentistry, including one year as chairperson. I currently serve as a North East Regional Board examiner. My research interest focuses on mentoring in education.

Jodie Condon, RDH, BSDH, MS
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

After graduating from Kellogg Community College, I have worked for over 20 years as a clinical practitioner with dental teams in Michigan and California. It was in 2008, when I discovered the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning Program. Having the opportunity to obtain a baccalaureate degree, while managing work and parenting responsibilities was a “dream come true.” I graduated in 2010 with the second cohort in the online program at the University of Michigan. Since then, I have worked as an instructor in the dental hygiene program at Oakland Community College and participated in community service opportunities with underserved populations in Oakland County. As a U-M student, my Capstone Project, “Development of an Introductory Evidence-based Learning Module for 1st year Dental Hygiene Students was s selected for presentation at the 2nd North American Dental Hygiene Research Conference in Bethesda, MA. In addition, this project was also reported in the ADHA’s Access publication. In 2012, I earned a master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. My research is focused within the domain of Information Systems in Healthcare and Adult Learning Strategies.

Jennifer Cullen, RDH, BSDH
Adjunct Clinical Lecturer

I graduated from Ferris State University in 1998 with my Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene and continue to practice clinical dental hygiene in Ann Arbor, MI. In 2012 I completed my Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene through the University of Michigan (U-M) Dental Hygiene Degree Completion E-Learning Program. While enrolled, I developed and implemented an oral health education curriculum for nurse aides at a local residential Alzheimer’s care facility. I also lead a service-learning project for U-M Dental Hygiene students at that same care facility. In addition to my work in private practice I am an Adjunct Clinical Lecturer in U-M’s entry level dental hygiene program and provide technology support for the E-Learning Program. My special interests include community oral health, specifically geriatrics, and dental hygiene education. I am a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the American Dental Education Association, and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. I am also a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.