Dental Careers in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

 

Join us on Jan. 23 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time for the fourth installment of The Many Faces of Public Health Service webinar series. During Part IV, panelists will share how their career choices led them to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and why they chose to take their careers out of the dental office and into the public health arena.         The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps protects, promotes and advances the health and safety of the nation. Hear from two dentists who decided to advance their careers through public service while also addressing the needed public health services for underserved communities.   Register today to learn more about exceptional career pathways and the experience of a lifetime.   MEET OUR PANELISTS:     Cmdr. Cara Ortega, D.D.S., M.P.H. Cmdr. Ortega graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry and received a Master of Public Health degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. Cmdr. Ortega started her career as a U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) officer detailed to the U.S. Coast Guard. She served her first five years in Cape May, NJ, at the Coast Guard Training Center, followed by two years at the Coast Guard boat station in St. Petersburg, FL. In 2018, Cmdr. Ortega transferred agencies within the USPHS and to work for the Immigration Health Service Corps near Houston, TX. She is currently working on a Certificate in Dental Public Health from Texas A&M College of Dentistry.     Lt. Cmdr. Darnell Thomas, D.D.S., M.P.H. After graduating with a dental degree from the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry in 2008, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and served five years stationed at Lackland AFB, TX and Nellis AFB, NV. While fulfilling his commitment to the Air Force, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas explored the opportunities in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) to advance and promote the health of our nation and completed an interservice transfer to the USPHS in 2013. His first duty station with the USPHS was with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at FCI La Tuna in El Paso, TX. After five years with the BOP, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas transferred agencies in 2018 to begin work with the Immigration Health Service Corps, also in El Paso, TX. During his time in the USPHS, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas increased his knowledge of public health and in 2019 completed a master’s degree in Public Health through the University of North Texas Health Science Center.       This webinar is part of The Many Faces of Public Health Service webinar series, co-sponsored by the American Dental Education Association and the U.S. Public Health Service.   We hope to “see” you on Jan. 23!   - The ADEA GoDental Team