Have you made your final career decision? Do you know what you “want to be when you grow up”?  In our youth we all started down the path that would lead to our final destination but inevitably, we encountered a fork in the road.  That is exactly what happened to Wendy Beyer.  This changed her original career plans but also inspired her to regularly challenge her personal and professional development.

Wendy grew up and went to high school in Manawa, WI.  After graduation, she headed to Minnesota to start her education in speech pathology at St. Cloud State University.  Like so many, she discovered that her original career choice was not what she really wanted and a friend suggested she look into the dental assistant program.  Being a self-proclaimed dental phobic it came as a surprise to Wendy to find herself considering this as an option.  Within the first week she realized why she had her own dental phobias…lack of education.  She began to feel like this was the place for her to be because she could help others by educating them. After becoming a Registered/Certified Dental Assistant, she continued her education at St. Cloud Technical College in the dental hygiene program.  More education helped her to be able to educate others that much better.

Now back in Wisconsin, Wendy has re-connected with her high school sweetheart Dean.  They were married two years ago.  Along with their 5 children ranging in ages from 8-15, they live on a dairy farm.  They have 300 milk cows and 300 heifer replacements and have recently built a new milking parlor.  It was a dream of Wendy’s to live on a farm and she loves the family time it allows for.  This past summer the seven of them were joined by Wendy’s mother-in-law and a nephew on a RV trip to Yellowstone.  She stated it was a trip of a lifetime with a good time had by all.

Wendy has worked in private practice and recently in part due to economics and in part due to the need to challenge herself she became involved with the Seal a Smile program.  A phone call to WI State Public Health Dental Hygienist Lisa Bell got her started.  Lisa then put her in touch with Anne Hvizdak.    After shadowing Anne for a year, Wendy started her own program in Waupaca County.  At this time she works in the schools 1-2 days a week and would like to see the program expand.  She works hard to find dental homes for the children she sees and finds satisfaction in knowing that these children are receiving some sort of preventative care.  Building rapport with the dental community was a challenge she accepted and in turn she knows she is also helping build business for the offices that see the children from her program.

So is Wendy complacent? No, this past year she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Mankato State University.  How exactly Wendy plans to use this degree is unclear.  She senses there may be another career path in her future and her education and experiences should position her well for change if an opportunity arises. 

When asked for words of advice to other dental hygienists, Wendy said, “Treat each patient as an individual respecting their needs AND you are never too old to learn!”