PNWU-SDM’s Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Robin Reinke, joined the team in June 2023.
Dr. Reinke was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and then her D.D.S. from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, WA.
Dr. Reinke practiced general dentistry at her offices in Tacoma and Federal Way for 22 years. During that time, she was active in the Pierce County Dental Society, serving two terms as a Board Member as well as the Chair of the Peer Review Committee. This experience led her to being appointed to the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission for two four-year terms, serving as the Committee Chair for one year. She was also a dental board examiner for the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB) and the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) for over 18 years.
Dr. Reinke proceeded to get her Master of Public Administration in Health Services while still maintaining her private practice. She became an Affiliate Faculty member in the Restorative Department clinic at UW School of Dentistry as well as giving lectures in the practice management course.
Dr. Reinke left private practice to become an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine. During her career at UNLV, she reached the rank of Professor, taught courses in infection control, patient recordkeeping, and advanced general dentistry, as well as oversaw dental students in the patient clinics. Her area of research focused on oral health literacy and the development of an electronic tool that both measured a person’s literacy level as well as educated them on oral health issues. During her final 4 years at UNLV, Dr. Reinke served as the Associate Dean for Outpatient Clinics. In the community, she was a Board Member for the Southern Nevada Dental Society and volunteered at the school’s Women’s Dental Clinic (for victims of domestic violence).
Dr. Reinke is excited to be back home in Washington State. When not working, she enjoys traveling the world. She has been to all 7 continents and her goal is to see all 17 species of penguins in their natural environment. She also enjoys photography and knitting (now that she is back in a cooler climate).
When asked “What do you find most gratifying about teaching and the educational process?” Dr. Reinke responded: “I enjoy watching students develop into confident dental practitioners over the course of their four years in school, and just hope that I had some small part of their achievement.”
