Job Opportunities API

The Department of Periodontology at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry invites applications for a full-time Registered Dental Hygienist position. The successful candidate will join a dynamic predoctoral dental education program committed to excellence in teaching, patient care, service, and community engagement. The Faculty/Clinical Instructor will provide didactic, preclinical laboratory, and clinical instruction to predoctoral students and post doctorate residents while supervising the delivery of comprehensive periodontal care to a culturally and medically diverse patient population. The individual will promote evidence-based periodontal therapy, clinical excellence, professionalism, patient safety, and interprofessional collaboration consistent with the mission of Meharry Medical College. Daily Operations • Provide direct clinical supervision and instruction to predoctoral dental students during patient care experiences in the Department of Periodontology. • Evaluate student performance and competency in accordance with departmental clinical standards. • Ensure quality patient care while maintaining compliance with institutional policies and accreditation standards. • Foster critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills through evidence-based instruction. • Supervise students in patient assessment, diagnosis support, treatment planning, implementation of periodontal therapy, and post-treatment evaluation. • Provide timely formative and summative student evaluations. • Deliver lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and laboratory instruction within the predoctoral curriculum. • Assist with development, implementation, and continuous improvement of educational materials and instructional methods. • Participate in student assessments, practical examinations, written examinations, and competency evaluations. • Utilize contemporary educational technologies and active learning strategies. Required Skills • Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and instructional communication skills. • Ability to teach effectively in both clinical and laboratory settings. • Ability to evaluate student performance objectively and provide constructive feedback. • Knowledge of current evidence-based periodontal therapy. • Proficiency in contemporary non-surgical periodontal treatment techniques. • Knowledge of current trends, technologies, and best practices in dental hygiene education. • Knowledge of patient management strategies for culturally diverse and medically complex populations. • Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, residents, students, staff, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams. • Strong commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success. Preferred Skills • Knowledge of adult learning principles and student-centered teaching methodologies. • Strong organizational and time management skills. • Experience with education technology and electronic health record systems • Record of research, publication or scholarly contribution • Experience with interprofessional education and collaborative practice Required Education and Experience • Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). • Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist in the State of Tennessee. • Clinical experience  (2 years minimum) in dental hygiene practice. • Experience providing comprehensive preventive and non-surgical periodontal therapy. • Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification. Preferred Education and Experience • Master’s degree in Dental Hygiene, Education, Public Health, Health Sciences, or a related discipline. • Previous teaching experience in an academic dental institution. • Experience supervising dental or dental hygiene students. • Experience with competency-based dental education. • Experience using electronic dental records and digital radiographic systems. • Experience participating in curriculum development. • Demonstrated scholarly activity, presentations, publications, or professional service. • Experience working with diverse, underserved, or medically complex patient populations Required Licensure, Certification or Registration • Current Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license in the State of Tennessee or eligibility for Tennessee licensure. • Certification to administer local anesthesia in accordance with the Tennessee Dental Practice Act. • Certification to monitor nitrous oxide analgesia as authorized by the Tennessee Dental Practice Act. • Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification from an approved provider. Preferred Licensure, Certification or Registration • Certification in laser-assisted periodontal therapy. • Certification in advanced periodontal instrumentation. • Membership in the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). • Active participation in professional dental hygiene organizations. • Additional certifications supporting advanced clinical education.