Wayne Community College has named its dental clinic on campus in memory of Erma Neal Thomas, a WCC alumna whose work in the dental field made a significant impact on the lives of others.
The Erma Neal Thomas Dental Clinic was officially dedicated at a ceremony filled with Thomas’s family, friends, and former colleagues.
Thomas was a 1973 graduate of WCC’s Dental Hygiene program. She became one of North Carolina’s first public health dental hygienists and worked in that role for 26 years, screening and teaching over 10,000 children each year in Wayne County Public Schools and Goldsboro City Schools.
Often called the “tooth lady” by elementary-school children, Thomas taught toothbrushing techniques and worked to create policies that brought school-based and community water fluoridation to Wayne County. She trained teachers, pioneered the first fluoride mouth rinse program, and coordinated the first dental sealant program in the state.
“Erma’s knowledge and advocacy of dental hygiene transformed the field, both locally and on a larger scale,” said WCC Dean of Applied Technologies Ernie White. “As we name our dental clinic in her memory, it is a permanent reminder of what she valued for decades: education, public health, and above all, service to others.”
In addition to her work in public health, Thomas served as president of the Southeastern Dental Hygienists’ Society and the North Carolina Dental Hygienists’ Association. She earned several awards throughout her career, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor awarded by NC’s governor.
Edna Hensey, one of Thomas’s colleagues and close friends, spoke at the dedication ceremony about Thomas’s career that spanned decades.
“Erma was a leader in all that she did,” Hensey said. “Together with colleagues, she not only served her community here in Wayne and surrounding counties but also changed the face of dental public health across the state. This is a fitting legacy for such a wonderful public health servant and person.”
WCC’s dental department operates its dental hygiene clinic for the public. Students in the College’s Dental Hygiene program receive hands-on experience working with patients under the guidance of their instructors, honing their skills while providing service to the community.
The Erma Neal Thomas Dental Clinic naming was made possible by a donation from Thomas’s family.
Thomas’s daughter, Cathy, said her mother learned about the naming of the clinic before she passed. “She promptly began crying joyful tears,” Cathy said. “She loved dental health, and we’re so very proud of her legacy. This school and this clinic offered Mom great training that led to a wonderful career.”
The dental clinic accepts patients at various times each semester. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the clinic at 919-739-6780.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.