I graduated from Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington in 1983 and received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University in 1987. After teaching for a couple of years, I decided to return to school and study science, and this is where a few fellow students introduced me to dentistry. After working as a dental assistant and volunteering at the University of Washington Medical Center’s dental clinic, I quickly decided dentistry was the perfect career for me. I loved both the arts and science, so dentistry was a perfect combination of the two. Dentistry has provided me with the avenue to express my artistic side while at the same time providing much needed dental care. Right after I received my doctorates degree in Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 1995, I started working for Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers providing care for the disadvantaged population of the Metro Seattle area. This opportunity enabled me to gain invaluable experience in all fields of dentistry, along with a chance to give back to the community I love. In 2001, I left the Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Center to practice dentistry in my private downtown practice. To me, dentistry is so much more than my job, it is my passion. Gloria E. Tucker