DANB Welcomes Vice President of External Relations and Policy
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is proud to announce that Michelle Lee will join the organization as the Vice President of External Relations and Policy, effective April 6. In this executive leadership role, Lee will lead government affairs, external relations, and advocacy efforts — strengthening partnerships, collaborating on workforce development, and advancing initiatives that elevate dental assisting and protect patient safety nationwide.
“Michelle brings a deep commitment to dental safety and professional standards, as well as a proven track record of building coalition to solve problems and plan for the future,” said DANB CEO Laura Skarnulis. “Her leadership, expertise, and vision will strengthen our efforts to support dental assistants and advance excellence across the profession. We look forward to the energy she will bring to our organization and to the impact we will achieve for dental assistants across the country.”
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about ensuring that dental patients receive high-quality care,” said Lee. “Dental assistants play an essential role in delivering oral healthcare, and I am committed to working with the dental community to develop and support workforce policies that meet the needs of dentistry and elevate the dental assisting profession.”
Lee comes to DANB from the Association for Dental Safety (ADS), where she served as the Executive Director since 2018. Through her leadership, Lee expanded ADS’s reach and sustainability by increasing membership, driving multi-year grants, growing offerings, and elevating ADS’s external presence and credibility on a national scale. She also spearheaded the founding of the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to provide national infection prevention guidance, a role previously filled by the CDC Division of Oral Health prior to its elimination in 2025.
Prior to her work at ADS, Lee held executive leadership roles in dental and medical staffing firms and practice management agencies. She served as CEO of DDS Staffing Resources and President of Avery Partners. Her career includes numerous industry honors and service on multiple professional boards and councils.
This appointment deepens DANB’s commitment to advocacy, career advancement, and building a stronger, future-ready workforce for the dental assisting profession and the broader oral healthcare community.