Denise Goudelock

Staff Spotlight

Denise Goudelock Position: Dental Hygienist/Public Health Service Officer

By Clare Jensen

Denise Goudelock is a true public servant. Whether it is in her work as a dental hygienist at the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA), her oral health promotion/disease prevention community engagements through her work as a Public Health Service Officer, or her free-time spent volunteering with various organizations and churches over the weekend, she simply loves helping people.

Denise Goudelock has worked as a dental hygienist with the Indian Health Services for 20 years. She has spent 16 years as a Public Health Service Officer, and the past 10 years in the dental clinic at the PTHA.

She knew from the beginning she didn’t want to work for a private dental office. “I love working to promote and advance public health,” she said. And as part of her responsibility as a Public Health Service Officer, Denise Goudelock really gets public with her work.

She works with several other departments at the PTHA in regards to prevention education to a wide variety of patients, from smokers to diabetics. She also spends each Tuesday at Chief Leschi Elementary providing dental education, screenings, fluoride varnish and sealants, where she has come to be known as the “Tooth Lady.”

“I love working with community activities and the other departments…I’m not just cleaning teeth all day,” she said.

Even though “just cleaning teeth” has its rewards for Denise Goudelock as well.

“Seeing people get healthy again in their mouths, and seeing them motivated to take care of their oral health is really rewarding,” she said.

And while Denise Goudelock’s passion is helping others, she also takes the time to help herself.

In the time she has worked as a dental hygienist Denise Goudelock has earned her master’s degree in Organizational Management and is currently working towards a certificate in Emergency Management Specialization.

This spring, Denise is eligible for a promotion from Commander to Captain in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), something she is hopeful, and pretty confident about receiving.

“I think people see the passion and the effort I put into my work, and people see results,” she said.

That may be why Denise Goudelock received the USPHS Captain Candace M. Jones Dental Hygienist of the Year Award in 2006.

“That was really the highlight of my career,” she said, as she was able to travel to Denver CO. and meet the Surgeon General of the United States at the time.

Denise Goudelock spends her weekends with her twelve year old son Jared, volunteering with organizations such as World Vision, and two children’s ministries at Life Center and Tacoma Christian Center. Denise and her son also enjoy working with Special Olympics every year.

She said she gets joy out of volunteering, even though it is “totally different from dentistry, but you’re still working with kids and you’re still helping people.”

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