Kimberly “Kim” Bastin, Ed.D., director of dental hygiene, dental hygiene associate professor, and assistant dean of health professions and wellness, SCF

Kimberly “Kim” Bastin hopes to be remembered as a loving family member, friend and dedicated professional who helped others achieve their goals. For nearly 10 years at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, Bastin has devoted her career to helping dental hygiene students receive the highest quality education to prepare for jobs in health care.

Bastin is the director of dental hygiene, a dental hygiene associate professor, and the dean of health professions and wellness at SCF. Leading her programs and teaching students who will impact lives through patient care brings her fulfillment.  

“My role allows me to assist others in achieving their goal of becoming health care professionals,” said Bastin. “It’s exciting to witness that ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student finally grasps a challenging concept. These future professionals will go on to provide care to thousands of people throughout their careers.”

Bastin, who lives in Parrish, grew up in the small town of Henderson, Kentucky. Her grandmother encouraged her to explore a career in dental hygiene as she knew someone whose daughter worked in that field.

“As a new college student unsure of my direction, I appreciated my grandmother’s insight,” Bastin said. “I researched the profession and took a proactive step by securing a job as a dental hygiene assistant. That experience allowed me to observe the requirements firsthand and determine if I enjoyed working with patients in a health care setting.”

Working in a dental office had a positive impact. She applied for a dental assisting program at her local university, after missing the dental hygiene program application deadline, which ultimately benefited her. By earning degrees in both programs, she gained a unique skill-set and the preparation for teaching.

“This choice not only kept me on track academically but also advanced my dental knowledge before I entered the dental hygiene program,” she said. “This passion ultimately led me to become a college professor. Over the years, I have educated future professionals in dental assisting and dental hygiene.”

Bastin is grateful to work with her faculty team at SCF. She would encourage students to take advantage of time with faculty and fellow students, accept guidance and support, and push forward with their studies.

“The education at SCF is top-notch,” Bastin said. “Each faculty member brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise and is deeply committed to providing an exceptional education for students pursuing specialized allied health fields. There will be challenging moments, but those difficulties will help build resilience. Classmates and faculty are invaluable resources and ready to help students succeed and reach their goals.”

Continuing education is an essential part of Bastin’s profession. She also stays involved with professional organizations and contributes to professional publications through her role.

“In health care, licensed professionals must complete continuing education to maintain licensure—a process I’ve always seen as an excellent opportunity to stay current with the advancements in my field,” she said. “Throughout my career, I have held several leadership roles, such as the secretary for the Florida Dental Hygienists Association and the secretary and president-elect for the Kentucky Dental Hygienists Association.”

Outside of work, Bastin enjoys scuba diving and searching for fossilized shark teeth with her husband, walking with her two dogs, getting manicures and pedicures, and working out. In the future, she hopes to maintain the excellence of the SCF dental hygiene program, find a better work-life balance to gain more time to visit her nephews in Michigan, and retire at an optimal time.

“I aspire to retire at an age in which I still have the energy and passion to pursue all the things I’ve always dreamed of doing.”