Elena Ortega, RDH, MS, received her undergraduate dental hygiene education from UCSF. Elena was a member of the inaugural UCSF Master of Science in Dental Hygiene class. Under the mentorship of Dr. Margaret Walsh, she studied doctoral degrees within the nursing profession with a look to the future for the establishment of a dental hygiene doctoral degree. She currently practices as a hygienist for the UCSF oral medicine department as well as teaches part time in a community college dental hygiene program.