Faculty

Bridget Motel

Dental Hygiene

She brings 35 years of real-world experience to the classroom and a level of enthusiasm that can't be topped. From private dental and periodontal practices to an oversees military medical clinic, she's done it all. Bridget even volunteers by serving on the board at her local community dental clinic.

Q&A with Bridget

WHAT MAKES PENN COLLEGE A SPECIAL PLACE TO LEARN?

At Penn College, you'll find a beautiful, comfortable, and safe learning environment with caring, committed, and expereinced faculty and a dedicated and supportive campus community. Our students get many of the benefits of a large university, but on a small college campus.

WHY DO YOU THINK PENN COLLEGE GRADS ARE SO HIGHLY RECRUITED?

The Penn College Dental Hygiene Program produces quality graduates who are prepared to enter the dental profession and begin caring for patients on day one. This work-ready capability comes from experience gained in our clinic, the rigorous classroom curriculum, and an emphasis on professionalism which encourages confidence.

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL DENTAL HYGIENIST?

Many qualities come to mind, but some really important attributes are empathy and compassion. We need to be able to relate to our patients. The ability to work well with others is also important. Dentistry tends to be a team centered occupation. You must also have the ability to critically think and problem solve. Patient care often presents us with unique challenges. The ability to be flexible and resilient is also vital. The current pandemic has made this true more than ever before. The last, and possibly the most important, is the commitment to lifelong learning. Our field is constantly growing, adapting, and changing, so we must be able to do the same!

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?

I have been a registered dental hygienist for 35 years (graduated from WACC in 1985). My work experience has been primarily in private dental practice, but I have also worked in a periodontal practice and a military dental clinic overseas. I have been in dental hygiene education since I began as a clinical instructor here at PCT in 2010. I fulfilled my lifetime career goal when I joined the dental hygiene faculty full time last August. I serve on the board of the Clinton County Community Dental Clinic which provides dental services in my rural community.

TAKING THE LEAD

"I tend to share stories centered on my experiences both in class and in clinic. I use this experience to illustrate theoretical concepts and provide insight into patient treatment- especially with patients who present with considerations outside the norm."

Bridget Motel

Guaranteed Momentum

Above and beyond

Knowing that some of her students were disheartened during the recent pandemic, Bridget reached out to a motivational speaker to help boost morale. Elijah Desmond (who holds a dental hygiene degree from Ohio State and spearheads a host of vacation-like continuing education dental retreats) offered to speak to students via Zoom.

“I was discussing with other faculty how disheartened many of the students had become due to the uncertainty that the pandemic caused,” said Bridget. “My heart just hurt for them, and I wanted to find a way to help them with maintaining motivation and perseverance in the face of difficulty, and to see that they have chosen a wonderful occupation. They are an amazing group of students who will be an incredible asset to our profession.”

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