Meet Sandra, DANB’s new Board Chair

Sandra Garcia Young head shot plus quote

Sandra L. Garcia Young, CDA, CDIPC, RDA, FADAA, FAADOM, of San Antonio, Texas, began her term as DANB Board Chair in September.

Find out how Sandra’s journey in dentistry led her to the Air Force, private practice, education, national leadership, and more. Plus, learn about her vision for strengthening the dental assisting profession. 

Tell us about your dental background.

When I look back over nearly 30 years in dentistry, I realize how fortunate I’ve been to experience the profession from so many different perspectives — including the military, private practice, education, and the nonprofit sector. But regardless of how my title has changed over the years, I still consider myself a dental assistant at heart. That is where my career began, and everything I have accomplished was built on my foundation as a dental assistant.

Today, I’m the practice administrator for dental services at CentroMed, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in San Antonio. My responsibilities include operations, workforce development, regulatory compliance, infection prevention, and patient safety, among others. Most importantly, I have the privilege of supporting teams that provide quality oral healthcare to medically underserved patients and children in my community.

My journey in dentistry began in 1996 when I joined the United States Air Force and completed the Dental Assistant Apprentice Program at Sheppard Air Force Base. The Air Force gave me an incredible clinical foundation and instilled the importance of teamwork, accountability, patient safety, and service principles.

“Regardless of how my title has changed over the years,
I still consider myself a dental assistant at heart.”

I continued my career at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, where I worked alongside third-year dental students and specialty residents and gained experience through specialty clinics. I helped dental students learn four-handed dentistry, which made me realize how much I enjoyed teaching and mentoring others.

Another important chapter in my career was at Stafford Family Dental, where I worked as a dental assistant. I took on greater leadership responsibilities while still being very involved with patient care. Working closely with Dr. Stafford helped me understand how all the pieces of a dental practice work together.

My interest in teaching and developing others eventually led me into dental assisting education. From 2006 to 2011, I served as a dental assisting program director, where I helped prepare more than 300 dental assisting graduates for their careers.

What did you enjoy most about working in dental assisting?

What I have enjoyed most is the growth and the opportunities this profession has given me. I started as a young dental assistant in the Air Force and could have never imagined all the places dentistry would take me — from chairside assisting and specialty dentistry to education, healthcare administration, infection prevention, national leadership, and advocacy.

I also love that dentistry gives us an opportunity to make an impact in so many different ways. Sometimes it happens chairside with one patient. Other times it happens by mentoring a new dental assistant, developing a safer process, educating a team, or helping improve access to care for an entire community.

Something I’m most proud of is serving my community through an FQHC. Being part of an organization that provides care to medically underserved populations and children continually reminds me that oral healthcare can truly change lives. My career has evolved tremendously, but that connection to patients and service has always remained at the center.

What do you wish more people knew about dental assistants?

I wish more people understood just how much dental assistants know and how essential they are to dentistry.

Dental assistants are the people who make everything come together. They understand the patient, the provider, the procedure, the instruments, the materials, infection prevention, radiology, technology, documentation, and the flow of the practice, often all at the same time. They anticipate what is needed before anyone has to ask.

I also wish people understood that dental assisting is not just a stepping stone — it is a profession and a career. Dental assistants can build careers in clinical practice, education, infection prevention, management, public health, sales, consulting, advocacy, regulatory compliance, and leadership. My own career is an example of how far a foundation in dental assisting can take someone.

Dental assistants deserve to recognize the value of what they bring to dentistry, and they deserve recognition from the rest of the dental community as well.

What do you hope for dental assistants in the future? 

I hope dental assistants continue to receive greater recognition, stronger professional identity, and more opportunities for advancement.

“I want dental assistants to see themselves as healthcare professionals
and understand that investing in their knowledge and skills
can open doors they may not even know exist.”

I want a future where dental assistants clearly understand the value of education, certification, and lifelong learning — not just because a credential is required, but because professional development creates opportunities. I want dental assistants to see themselves as healthcare professionals and understand that investing in their knowledge and skills can open doors they may not even know exist. 

I also hope we continue to strengthen career pathways for dental assistants. We need talented people to enter the profession, but it’s also important to give them reasons to stay, grow, lead, and build careers.

Ultimately, I want the next generation of dental assistants to dream big. I want them to look at leadership positions, education, infection prevention, public health, administration, advocacy, and organizations like DANB and say, “There is a place for me there.” 

What are you looking forward to most as DANB’s Chair?

DANB and DALE Board members seated

There is very little I don’t get excited about when it comes to championing dental assistants, so having the opportunity to serve as DANB Chair is incredibly meaningful to me.

What I am looking forward to most is continuing DANB’s outreach and engagement with dental assistants and making sure they understand what DANB is, what certification represents, and what professional credentialing can mean for their careers.

I am also excited about listening. Dental assistants across the country have different experiences, challenges, regulations, and career opportunities. I want us to continue finding ways to reach them where they are, hear their voices, and help them recognize that they are part of a much larger professional community.

After nearly 30 years in dentistry, I have personally experienced how education, certification, mentorship, and professional involvement can change the trajectory of a career. Serving as DANB Chair gives me an opportunity to help create those same possibilities for others.

Most of all, I am excited to champion dental assistants. I consider it an incredible privilege to represent a profession that has given me so much and to help ensure that the dental assistants coming behind us have even greater opportunities than those of us before them.

Learn more about DANB’s Board.