Public health has been described as the place where the greatest need and the greatest passion meet. A dental hygienist at Peak Vista Community Health Centers in Colorado Springs, Margaret Quijada is an inspiring example of how a career can turn into a mission of community service. 

Margaret Quijada is a registered dental hygienist with a degree of Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. She was a broker and the owner of a real estate firm in Colorado Springs before deciding on the dental field. In fact, her entry into the dentistry began in 2022 when she worked as a healthcare coordinator in a corporate dental office.

While pursuing her dental hygiene degree, she was introduced to public health and felt drawn to the opportunity to serve underserved communities. She shared, 

She now works as a clinician at Peak Vista, focusing on the needs of the community. 

In her role, Margaret keeps a very demanding balance between the direct care for patients and the operational duties that ensure the clinic's smooth functioning. She prepares her operatory, handles her schedule, and makes sure all the equipment and supplies are available and ready for use. Her clinical work includes the prophylaxis of both adults and children, periodontal maintenance, scaling and root planing (SRP), the application of sealants and SDF. Apart from the above, she also keeps on the move by preparing educational materials for the patients and offering support to the doctors and assistants during exams.

Margaret's responsibility is also nested in the larger public health efforts at Peak Vista. Besides the clinic, the projects include medical, dental integration, refugee resettlement program, AIDS clinic, and partnerships with substance abuse treatment centers. Peak Vista gets its budget mainly from federal funds and is, therefore, a "delicate balance of regulations" with frequent audits. Notably, despite the complexity layers of bureaucracy, the message is unequivocal: all services will be provided regardless of the patient’s financial ability to pay.

Each Peak Vista location serves different populations based on community needs. Margaret noted that the downtown clinic frequently serves homeless individuals assisted by the Springs Rescue Mission. Another clinic mainly serves HIV/AIDS patients, while the Jetwing clinic, where she works, serves a predominantly Hispanic population. Most of the patients are Spanish-speaking with very limited dental knowledge and often have never received a professional dental cleaning.

Margaret is equally candid about the difficulties of public health work. While she describes the “patient connections” as “incredible,” she openly recognizes challenges such as limited time for thorough SRP procedures, limited tools, high burnout, and conflicting demands from leadership. Having experienced those challenges herself, she stresses the importance of self-care in public health work. 

she said. It is necessary, indeed, to have very strong boundaries to be able to carry on this kind of work. As she added, 

Although carrying such an emotional load from the job, Margaret reveals that the main thing that makes her feel energized is the positive impact she has on her patients' lives. It is thoroughly evident from her time at Peak Vista that dental public health is far beyond just the physical work. 

Margaret’s role at Peak Vista truly brings public health to life. The job is physically and mentally demanding, with one clinician alone carrying responsibilities far beyond what might have been expected. Her dedication demonstrates the love, resilience, and commitment required to support patients, promote access, and improve health equity in the community.