Instructors
Dr. Eldon Hastings
Founder/Director/Instructor
Dr. Eldon Hastings received his Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) from Brigham Young University and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1969.
He graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Training Academy and was employed by the FBI as a special agent in Texas, Washington, D.C. and New York City.
He served as a councilman on the Gilbert Town Council from 1985-1987 and as vice mayor of Gilbert from 1987-1989.
Dr. Hastings has been involved in the community as a member of East Valley Mental Health Association, Desert Samaritan Hospital Advisory Board, American Academy of preventive Dentistry and the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is a retired member in good standing of the American Dental Association and the Arizona Dental Society.
Dr. Hastings was appointed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and served as a commissioner on the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education.
Dr. Hastings practiced dentistry for 40 years in Arizona and retired in 2009. He now devotes his full time to the American Institute of Dental Assisting, Mesa, Arizona.
Tammy Bos D.A.
Director of Instructors, Instructor
Tammy graduated from a local dental assisting school and received her Arizona State x-ray certification in 1988. She is passionate about her career in dentistry and enjoys the opportunity of sharing experiences with her students. Tammy regularly attends continuing education classes to stay abreast of the latest innovations in dentistry. This helps her better assist her students to learn the skills they need to enter the dental assisting field. Her students love her and the vast amount of experience she has to share with them. Tammy currently works full time as a dental assistant to a general dentist.
Beverly Gladden D.A.
Instructor
Beverly went to Apollo College for Dental Assisting and achieved her x-ray coronal polish certification as well. Beverly began her career as a Dental Assistant with a General DDS and currently serves as a Lead Dental Assistant to one of the top Dental offices in the Valley. Beverly also values training, and teach Back Office and hands-on Dental Assisting at the American Institute of Dental Assisting. Beverly loves helping students learn what she loves to do.
As a young child Beverly was drawn to people’s teeth and what they looked like and from there, she feels she was destined to be in a Dental profession. She shares that she really enjoys every aspect of dentistry that she’s had exposure to and loves helping people change their lives via better health and smiles. What drives Beverly is continuing to learn and experience how the industry combats disease and finds the industry rewarding because it provides for her family, and a valued career.
Racquel (Tillie) Cervantes D.A.
Instructor
Racquel attended the Pima Institute for Dental Assisting and after her internship, was hired in 1994 to her first General Dentistry role. Currently Racquel is a surgical assistant for a periodontal office where she has gained extensive experience. She has also served as a back office manager. She also enjoys serving as an instructor at the American Institute of Dental Assisting.
Racquel has always loved going to the dentist and after her career started, she was grateful to patients who were grateful to the staff for ending they pain they had experienced. She is especially passionate about surgery and she looks forward to serving more patients as her career grows.
Paola Hernandez D.A.
Instructor
Paola graduated from the American Institute of Dental Assisting in 2007 and began her career in May of 2008 as a Dental Assistant for a General Dentist. Currently Paola serves as a Lead Assistant and has worked in the same office for over 14 years. She also has served as an Instructor with the American Institute of Dental Assisting for 8 years.
She shares that she wanted to find a career that did not require much schooling time and is grateful to find the American Institute of Dental Assisting in 2007 which has led her to a career in which she loves to come to work for each day and enjoys the people she works with. She has a passion for teaching students in a way in which they believe they can be a great dental assistant.