University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Dental Health Programs Assistant Professor Kathryn Walker has been selected by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) to join the year-long national project of updating the current ADEA Compendium of Curriculum Guidelines for Allied Dental Education Programs for 2026. She will be working with a team specifically chosen to address the Preclinical and Clinical Dental Hygiene portion of the compendium.
The ADEA Compendium, updated every ten years, guides dental education programs by establishing standards for student education, therefore informing new program developers and educators about essential course content. It also helps current programs improve and stay up-to-date by supporting both existing and future guidelines for dental education. The compendium fosters teamwork between dental professionals and other health workers by establishing a uniform standard of competencies, and it helps other health fields know what is important in dental education.
To be considered for this project one must be an allied dental program director or faculty member, be a member of the ADEA, have at least five years teaching experience, and have proven expertise in the content area of interest.
Walker holds a Master of Science in education (MSEd), is a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), and an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA). She is currently the preclinical course director at UMA, a position she has held for 11 years and has been teaching preclinical courses for over twenty years. Preclinical studies are the first classes dental students take. It is where they learn the very basics of dental practice, such as standard precautions; what all the equipment does; how to hold, use, and care for instruments and equipment; and how to communicate with patients. “It is important to understand and present the best standards of practice in teaching new students because it is not just about directing their early steps, but it is laying the foundation for their entire clinical career,” remarked Walker.
Excellence and growth are important to Walker. She has completed four leadership programs with ADEA, and frequently assesses, “Am I teaching to the best of my ability?” Her motivation to participate in the compendium update project stems from her love for challenges and excitement for growth opportunities. “I believe this endeavor will propel me to excel in the classroom and beyond.”