Skagit Valley College recently hired Dr. Cheyanne Warren as its new dəxʷx̌ayəbus (pronounced dahf-hi-ya-buus) Dental Therapy Education Program Director.

Dr. Warren was born and raised in Vermont and completed all of her undergraduate and post-graduate education in Virginia. She holds a bachelor of science degree from James Madison University (JMU), a master’s degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), followed by a doctor of dental surgery degree from VCU. After completing her Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at VCU, she and her husband returned to Vermont to begin practicing general dentistry.

After the birth of her first child in 2017, Dr. Warren transitioned from practicing general dentistry and became the Dental Therapy Program Director at Vermont Technical College (VTC). In her capacity as the Dental Therapy Program Director at VTC, she was tasked with creating a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited hygiene-based dental therapy curriculum for the State.

“At the time, Vermont was the fourth state nationwide to pass dental therapy legislation,” said Warren. “This career has allowed me to take my education and training as a former dentist and use it in a way that is much more impactful for communities and oral health across our nation.”

Dr. Warren’s selection at SVC comes after a rigorous national search conducted by stakeholders at the college and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

“I had the pleasure to meet and talk with Dr. Warren about our Dental Therapy Education Program Director position and as a Senator for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Chairman of the Swinomish Dental Licensing Board,” said Swinomish Tribal Senator Brian Wilbur. “Dr. Warren’s positive attitude and passion for dental therapy will help drive Swinomish’s goal for the program.”

Dr. Warren values community service and has volunteered in dental service projects including Mission of Mercy in Virginia, providing care at a free dental clinic and internationally with Hands for Honduras before the COVID-19 pandemic shut-down in 2020.

She also served on the Vermont Oral Health Collation and is currently on the executive committee of the National Collation of Dentists for Health Equity. Warren said her research background has solidified a firm belief that sound evidence should dictate oral health practice across all providers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Warren to SVC and to the larger community,” said Darren Greeno, Dean of Workforce Education at SVC. “Her expertise and dedication to student learning and to the improvement of oral-health outcomes will contribute to the Dental Therapy program’s success and further strengthen the establishment of a community-based education program”.

About the dəxʷx̌ayəbus Dental Therapy Education Program

SVC, in partnership with Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC), developed the first Dental Therapy (DT) Education Program in the State of Washington to address ongoing disparities in the oral health workforce. Specifically, among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The name of the DT program is dəxʷx̌ayəbus, which is a Lushootseed phrase that translates to Place of Smiles. The program aims to grow primary oral health providers who enhance a dental team through excellence in education, research, patient care, and community service.

For more information about SVC’s Dental Therapy Education program, please email [email protected].