At 10 years old, Shankisha “Kisha” Sizemore, CRDH, MSDH ’02, ’05 experienced life-changing health care. Sizemore’s dental hygienist and dentist in Bradenton made a memorable impression through their kindness, compassion and openness to let her explore their dental office and tools. They inspired her to someday deliver that same quality care to patients.

Sizemore has lived in Bradenton since 1988. Her parents both retired from military service as mechanic instructors in the U.S. Army. They decided to move to Bradenton, home to extended family members. Her mom worked in foster care, attended classes accompanied by Sizemore and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work.

“I had a firsthand opportunity to see kids in most need,” Sizemore said. “Dentistry is one of the most underserved types of care for children, and dental decay is one of the top chronic diseases. If I can play a part in providing access to care for kids in need, I could make a little bit of change like my mom did for those in foster care.”

Following in her mom’s footsteps, Sizemore chartered a path to higher education and community service. Her journey began at the local Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, where she earned a dental assisting certificate. Sizemore’s goal was to enroll in the local State College of Florida-Manatee Sarasota (SCF) dental hygiene program.

“SCF has a wonderful reputation in the dental community as one of the best dental hygiene programs,” she said. “It is in my community. It’s right here in my backyard.”

Sizemore continued her educational path at SCF Bradenton, where she earned an associate in arts degree in general education in 2002 and an associate in science degree in dental hygiene in 2005. The smaller-sized classes, hands-on learning from instructors and mentorship from the program director equipped her with the tools she needed to be successful in her studies and pursue her future career in education.

After graduating from SCF, she attended St. Peterburg College and earned a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. She later attended the University of New Mexico and earned a master of science degree in dental hygiene. Her thesis work focused on access to care.

“I learned how many children, elderly and minority populations are not receiving the care that they should,” Sizemore said.

After her educational achievements, Sizemore joined her SCF alma mater in the dental hygiene program as an adjunct assistant professor in 2014 and became the coordinator of clinical education in 2022.

“Obtaining my degrees has opened so many doors for me in my professional career,” she said. “I knew upon graduating SCF’s dental hygiene program that I wanted to become a dental hygiene instructor and guide the next generation. Coming back and being an educator and the coordinator of clinical education at State College of Florida has been such a privilege.”

At SCF, Sizemore is dedicated to mentoring students one-to-one, working with faculty, teaching lecture courses to juniors and seniors, and expanding access to care for underserved populations in Manatee County.  

The SCF dental hygiene program is rigorous and highly competitive, with more than 100 applicants each year. There are currently 17 seniors and 18 juniors accepted into the program this fall. Sizemore finds it rewarding to mentor, encourage and help students successfully graduate from the program and become the next oral health professionals.

“As coordinator of clinical education, I try to convey that same enthusiasm and care that my faculty showed me to the students today,” Sizemore said. “I continue to mentor them once they become professionals.”

In her role, Sizemore, fellow faculty and local licensed dentists supervise students as they learn and provide low-cost exams for local patients at the SCF Dental Hygiene Clinic in Bradenton. SCF also provides Manatee County children in grades K-12 with free dental care and other services at the clinic through SCF’s Healthy Smiles program.

Funded by a $10,000 grant award through the American Dental Hygienists’, the Healthy Smiles program brings together SCF’s dental hygiene students and faculty, occupational therapy assistant and radiography students, and community dentists and hygienists to work at three free events. More than 150 kids have been served at the first two events in March and August this year, with a third event planned for February 2025.  Children received free dental hygiene treatment, nutritional counseling, dental radiographs, sensory assessment screenings to identify additional care needed, and referrals to local offices and clinics for immediate treatment needed. Parents were invited to come back to the clinic to receive complimentary dental care.

“Through the Healthy Smiles program, the students are providing care, so I’m hopeful it sparks encouragement for them to continue access to care like I was inspired at an early age,” she said. “With the children and the parents that come through the program, everyone leaves with a smile. We make it fun.”

Additionally, Sizemore extends her public health care access advocacy statewide. Each year, she volunteers at various dental events throughout the state and visits Tallahassee to hold conversations with the Florida legislature about the need for dental care access for underserved populations. She is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and has served on the community service grant committee since 2019, vice president of the Florida Dental Hygienists’ Association and set to become immediate president this year, and a member of the Florida Allied Dental Educators.

“If I can, through various grassroots efforts, start change and inspire other hygienists and hygiene students to also make change, it will just grow across our state,” Sizemore said.

In her personal life, Sizemore and her husband have raised two children in Bradenton. Her son attends middle school, aspires to become a student at SCF Collegiate School, and is interested in becoming a charter captain or working for Florida Fish and Wildlife. Her daughter attended SCF as a dual-enrolled student and transferred to the University of Central Florida as an art major. The family loves spending time in the sunshine and on the water, boating, fishing and cruising. Their goal is to cruise in the Mediterranean.  

“We are so fortunate to have the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida in our community, and we enjoy all it offers,” she said.

Sizemore chooses to lead her life with a positive attitude, grace, compassion and kindness.

“One of my favorite parts of being a dental hygienist is building rapport with patients,” Sizemore said. “We don’t know what patients are coming in with, and if we can show them a little bit of kindness, even if it’s through their dental care, then we can make a bit of change for them.”

In her future, Sizemore looks forward to continuing to mentor students and engage the dental community in making dental care accessible to underserved populations. She also wants to pursue a doctorate degree in education.

“I plan on continued education and growth in my teaching to be the best educator I can be,” she said.