The University of New Mexico, Division of Dental Hygiene admitted their first class of students in 1962. Since that time the Division has grown with three academic programs, a robust national continuing education program, and dental hygiene clinics. Educational initiatives serve the community within the state, while promoting oral health. The Division is renowned for dental public health, primary dental care and pain control and the dental hygiene faculty serve in leadership positions across the nation.
The mission of the University of New Mexico Division of Dental Hygiene is to educate dental hygienists through the transmission of dental science knowledge acquired from research and patient care, to improve the health of the people of New Mexico through academic and clinical training of highly qualified dental hygiene professionals, to provide the highest quality oral health care services to the community, to advance the art and science of dental hygiene via research and other scholarly activities, and to sponsor services that validate the programs of the university.
The following goals of the University of New Mexico, Division of Dental Hygiene are integral to accomplish this mission:
Goal #1 Education
Prepare students, through appropriate academic and clinical education, to be qualified dental professionals utilizing a competency-based curriculum.
Goal #2 Patient Care
Provide comprehensive dental hygiene treatment and referrals to those individuals served by the university through a complete, sequential, and monitored system of oral health care delivery.
Goal #3 Professional Development and Research
Create a positive environment through the provision of scholarly programs that facilitate continued growth and enrichment of all students and faculty.
Goal #4 Inter-professional Service
Foster opportunities by utilizing resources both locally and nationally, for faculty and student involvement in activities that encourage professional development and promote dental health as an integral component of community health.
Goal #5 Recruitment
Recruit and retain the highest quality of faculty and students.
Dental hygienists who are trained by The University of New Mexico School of Medicine's Division of Dental Hygiene in Albuquerque work in a variety of settings. Dental hygienists are licensed professional members of the health care system who work to promote and maintain oral health in the population. Career options include education, sales, health, management, research and public health.
Generally, dental hygienists work in dental clinics and perform many critical services that detect, prevent and treat diseases of the mouth. However, a career in dental hygiene at the baccalaureate and master’s degrees offers multiple opportunities in a variety of settings.
Dental hygienists must master complex skills to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care in multiple settings – with new ones emerging all the time.
Since its inception, the school has educated the majority of dental hygienists practicing in New Mexico. The Department of Dental Medicine continues to develop interprofessional collaborations with the College of Nursing, Family Medicine and Pediatrics departments, the Center for Development and Disabilities and maternal and infant programs in the belief that dentists own dentistry, but not oral health.
To request an on-site dental hygienist for your dental health class, group, health fair, career day, or other related outreach, please contact Christine Nathe.
Christine Nathe attended Rhodes State College, the Ohio State University and Old Dominion University. She has taught at Fones School of Dental Hygiene, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, Old Dominion University in Virginia, and has been with the University of New Mexico for over twenty-five years. Professor Nathe has practiced in various settings around the world including private practices, nursing homes, prisons, schools, and the military, and consults for various governmental agencies and the private dental industry.
Professor Nathe’s books Dental Public Health and Research, now in its 4th edition and Primary Preventive Dentistry, 8th edition are used throughout the world to educate hygienists on the science and practice of dental public health and primary dental care. She is an editorial reviewer of many dental hygiene periodicals worldwide and has served in various roles within the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.
She has received the Colgate/ Irene Newman Professional Achievement Award, the Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene, the Excellence in Teaching Award from the UNM School of Medicine, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Old Dominion University, School of Dental Hygiene in Norfolk, Virginia, Outstanding Alumni Award from Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio, the Distinguished Alumni Award in Dental Hygiene from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Ohio Association of Community Colleges and, the Old Dominion University 40th Anniversary Outstanding Educator’s Award and most recently the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association 25 Years in Excellence Award.
Demetra Logothetis received her undergraduate degree at the University of New Mexico in 1984, and her graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1986. Professor Logothetis joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 1986, and became the Director of the Dental Hygiene Program in 1996 and served as director for 16 years. She retired from her full-time position in 2012. She is currently teaching part-time and serving as Graduate Program Director for the division. Professor Logothetis’ research interests are in the area of Local Anesthesia, infection control, and emergency medicine. She has published 48 articles in a variety of scientific dental journals, and has written and published three dental hygiene textbooks: Local Anesthesia for the Dental Hygienist, Elsevier Publishing –now in its 3rd edition; SUCCESS in Dental Hygiene, Pearson Publishing; and High Yield Facts in Dental Hygiene, Pearson Publishing.
Professor Logothetis has served as Chair of the Council of Allied Dental Hygiene Program Directors for the American Dental Education Association. She served as President of Sigma Phi Alpha, the National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, and has been an editorial reviewer for many dental hygiene publications. She served on the WREB clinical dental hygiene committee, and several other local and national committees.
Professor Logothetis received the University of Missouri-Kansas City Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, the Roy J. Reinhart Professional Excellence and Service Award from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, the University of New Mexico Dental Hygiene Alumnus of the Year Award, the UNM School of Medicine Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, and the UNM School of Medicine Curricular Leadership Award.
Justine Ponce, RDH, MS is currently Assistant Professor and Junior Clinic Coordinator at the University of New Mexico, Division of Dental Hygiene. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Dental Hygiene from UNM and has been practicing dental hygiene, while teaching part time since graduation. Professor Ponce’s research focuses on ergonomics and clinical dental hygiene.
While in school, Justine received the Future Leader Award, the Irene Navarre Advancement Award and was inducted into the Sigma Phi Alpha, the national dental hygiene honor society.
Robin Gatlin received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Dental Hygiene at the University of New Mexico. She is an Assistant Professor and is currently Senior Clinic Coordinator. As a Registered Dental Hygienist, she practiced clinical dental hygiene while teaching part-time. Professor Gatlin’s research focuses on the growth of dental hygiene, infection control and radiological sciences. She has held positions within the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association and is also serving as the student advisor.
While in school Robin received the Helen James Scholarship and the Future Leader Award.
Angela Cook received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Dental Hygiene at the University of New Mexico and started working in the dental field in 1989 as a serviceman in the United States Air Force. She has worked with the University of New Mexico’s Dental Hygiene Program since 2017 and is now an Assistant Professor as well as the current Dental Coordinator for the UNM School Based Health Program. As a registered dental hygienist, she has practiced dental hygiene in a variety of clinical settings and served as a delegate with the NM High Dessert Dental Hygienists’ Association for several terms. Professor Cook’s research interests are in the advancement of dental hygiene, the hidden curriculum, local anesthesia practices, and principles of practice. Additionally, Angela serves as a Clinical Reviewer on the NM Medicaid Fee for Service Contract.
Nicole C. Gonzales is an Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene at the University of New Mexico. Professor Gonzales received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Master of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of New Mexico with honors. She is a member of Sigma Phi Alpha, the national honor society for dental hygiene and received the coveted Golden Scaler Award!
She has been part-time clinical faculty for the Division since 2017. Professor Gonzales has served various patient populations in general private practices and community public health settings. She worked for many years at a Federally Health Qualified Center where she was a part of their Team-Based Care Model providing integrated dental care with the primary medical, pediatric and behavioral health teams. Her research focuses on the public health and the implementation of the dental hygienist in a team-based approach to primary care, the advancement of the dental hygiene profession, with an emphasis in providing care for the aging and geriatric population.
Christina Calleros recieved her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Dental Hygiene at the University of New Mexico and is currently an adjunct faculty with the Division. Her research and publications focus on communication, cultural competency and local anesthesia techniques. She has held leadership positions within the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association and served as the student advisor for many years. She received Quality Matters certification for her online teaching endeavors and serves as an online teaching reviewer.
Diana Aboytes recieved her dental hygiene degree from Oxnard College in California and completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene at the University of New Mexico in 2004. She joined the University of New Mexico as part time faculty in 2004 as a dental hygiene clinical instructor. In 2008, she received a Master of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of New Mexico and was offered a full-time faculty position.
Professor Aboytes has practiced dental hygiene in a variety of clinical settings, including general and periodontal private practices, youth correctional facilities, school based dental clinics and public health clinics serving children, infants and pregnant women. Diana is currently involved in research regarding dental local anesthesia techniques. She serves as the President of the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association (NMDHA). She received the Mentor Award from the NMDHA and the UNM School of Medicine Faculty Excellence in teaching award. She also serves as President of the Chi Psi Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha, the national dental hygiene honor society.
The Division of Dental Hygiene at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque is the perfect place for Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) who are looking to advance their careers and/or procure additional dental hygiene-related certifications.
For information about degree-seeking programs, Bachelor of Science entry level degree completion programs and Master of Science program, please contact Krystal Zaragoza at KZaragoza@salud.unm.edu.
Find out more information about the Twenty-First National Conference for Dental Public Educators including Clinical Instruction and Pain Control.
Dental hygienists are licensed professional members of the health care industry who work to promote and maintain oral health in the population. Dental hygienists must master complex skills to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care in multiple settings.
Public health is a growing field. Dental hygienists can pursue graduate public health education at both the College of Population Health and dental schools.
Hold administrative positions in these fields: