Melissa DeFiore
Melissa DeFiore began her career as a dental assistant at a young age. Her love of dentistry motivated her to return to school and pursue dental hygiene. Upon graduation, she immediately returned to school to pursue her second love -- education. She began her education career at Rutgers School of Health Professions as an adjunct in the department of Allied Dental Education, where she taught both clinical and didactic courses. During that time she sought out her CDA. After the program closed, she went on to teach in the dental hygiene program for Burlington County College in New Jersey. Currently, Mrs. DeFiore is an assistant professor for the dental hygiene program at Community College of Philadelphia, where she serves as clinic coordinator for second-year students and teaches radiology and a preclinical course to first-year students. She has practiced dental hygiene since 2003, with experience in periodontal, pediatric and general dentistry. A former president of CNJDHA, she holds memberships in the ADHA and the ADEA. She continues to practice as a clinical dental hygienist for a private practice in New Jersey. Mrs. DeFiore completed her associate degree in applied science in dental hygiene at Middlesex County College in New Jersey, her BSHS -- an education track at UMDNJ (now part of Rutgers University) -- and her MSDH with an education concentration at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
Vaishali Singhal
Vaishali Singhal is an associate professor at Rutgers University's School of Health Professions (SHP) and Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) in Newark, New Jersey. Teaching at the university since 2001, she serves as faculty of the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Program at SHP as well as course director for Practice Management and Ethics and Jurisprudence at RSDM. At the faculty practice of RSDM, Dr. Singhal specializes in treating patients with serious mental illness. In 2019, she completed her doctoral thesis at SHP, evaluating ways to improve the oral health of patients with serious mental illness. She completed a Master of Science in health sciences at Rutgers University in 2011 and received her DMD from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 1993. Her Ph.D. and M.S. programs included specialized courses in education, which is Dr. Singhal's passion. Dr. Singhal’s research focuses on ways to improve the oral health of the population with serous mental illness. She has received grant funding towards her research.
Debra Jennings, DMD
Dr. Debra Jennings obtained her DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. With a 21-year experience at Trident Technical College, she taught in the Dental Hygiene and Expanded Duty Dental Assistant programs. During this time she also taught a clinical course to first-year dental students at MUSC to enhance their knowledge of four-handed dentistry. Before attending the MUSC, Dr. Jennings earned dual degrees from the University of South Carolina in archeology/criminal justice and biology/chemistry. Her 30-plus years of practical experience in the dental field runs the gamut from dental hygiene to dentistry. In addition to teaching, she has authored and edited various texts and articles for the dental community. When not in the academic arena, she has volunteered with the Smiles For A Lifetime clinic that services low-income and immigrant populations.
