Tricia Keith oversees the daily operations of the Preclinical Dentistry (PCD) Lab, helping ensure it is ready each time students arrive to work. Since moving into the role of lab coordinator in 2021, she works most closely with D1, D2, and IDP students as they build early clinical skills.
Keith has worked at UAB for more than 15 years and comes from a dental hygiene background. She also holds a master’s degree in instructional design and development from UAB. That combination shows up in how the lab is arranged, how exercises progress, and how consistency is maintained across sections and sessions.
In addition to supporting routine coursework, Keith prepares the lab for special uses, including recruitment activities, continuing education programs, D4 Board Licensure Exams, and D3 Family Day. Each event requires the space to shift quickly while still meeting clinical expectations.
“A lot of what we do isn’t visible, but it shapes every session. When the details are right, students can just get to work,” Keith said.
Her role anchors the lab in a setting where repetition, structure, and careful preparation shape how students learn to work – long before they enter clinic.