Mark Matney, CDA, RDA, CPFDA, FADAA, BS, an assistant professor and program director of Chattanooga State Community College’s Dental Assisting Program has been named a 2017 Fellow by the American Dental Assistant Association (ADAA).  The ADAA is the professional organization for dental assistants. It celebrates its 92nd year in 2017.  

An Ooltewah native, Matney graduated from the University of Phoenix and has been employed in the dental field for 10 years, including eight of those years as a faculty member at Chattanooga State. Having served as a past president and vice president of Tennessee Dental Assisting Association (TNDAA), he is now the TNDAA treasurer.

Matney regularly volunteers at Remote Area Medical, Georgia Mission of Mercy, and a local service, Project Homeless Connect; he also strongly encourages his students to volunteer as well. “We involve our students in these events and they end the service days feeling good about the care they were able to provide. They can’t wait for the next opportunity,” he shares.

Fully supporting Matney’s recognition, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dana Nichols said, “Mark is a respected leader in his field as well as an excellent teacher who focuses on service learning opportunities.”

According to Nursing and Allied Health Dean Mark Knutsen, Matney’s hard work and commitment has been recognized at Chattanooga State for years. “It is nice to see others appreciating his efforts in leading his profession,” states Knutsen.

The mission of ADAA is to advance the careers of dental assistants and promote the dental assisting profession in matters of education, legislation, credentialing and professional activities which enhance the delivery of quality dental health care to the public.

Dental Assistants perform highly technical skilled work under the supervision of dentists in a wide variety of tasks in the dental office, ranging from patient care to administrative duties to laboratory functions.  

For more information about the Dental Assisting Program, a 48-hour, three-semester certificate program, visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/dental-assisting-certificate or call 423-697-4450.