Joanne Gibbons-Smyth

I am a proud Certified Dental Assistant and a passionate leader in health education. Since graduating from Vancouver Community College in 2006, I have gained over 15 years of experience in both general and specialty dental practices across British Columbia, including Vancouver and the Okanagan region.

In 2010, I joined Okanagan College as a Dental Assisting Educator and later advanced to the role of Chair of the Certified Dental Assisting Program. This opportunity significantly enhanced my leadership skills and deepened my commitment to dental education and accreditation. I went on to complete a Master’s degree in Education, which led to my appointment as Associate Dean of Health and Social Development at Okanagan College in 2021. Over the past two years, I have also served as Interim Dean.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to various committees and working groups focused on dental assisting and education. In 2021, I joined the Board of Directors of the National Dental Assisting Examination Board (NDAEB), representing the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). I am currently serving my second term with the NDAEB and have recently begun my first term on the Commission’s Board of Directors, where I will contribute to the strategic direction of the organization.