Meet Our Team

At the National Dental Advocacy Program® (NDAP), our work is powered by compassionate professionals, volunteers, and advocates who believe in equity, transparency, and access to oral healthcare for all.

We are building a national network of mission-aligned leaders committed to serving seniors, medically complex patients, and underserved communities.

NDAP Patient Advocates

Rhianna, DA

Patient Advocate, Wisconsin

Dental Assistant with nearly 10 years of experience supporting 30+ providers and specialists. Rhianna combines clinical knowledge with personal insight from overcoming dental anxiety, allowing her to connect with patients in a compassionate, relatable way.

Areas of Support:

• Patient education & treatment clarity

• Dental anxiety support

• Navigating dental & healthcare systems

• Understanding treatment plans & next steps

• Care coordination & advocacy guidance

Dedicated to helping patients feel informed, confident, and supported every step of the way.

Shelbey, CDA, BCPA

Board Certified Patient Advocate, California

Shelbey Arevalo is the Founder and CEO of the National Dental Advocacy Program (NDAP), as a Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and Certified Dental Billing Specialist (CDBS), Certified Dental Coder (CDC), and Certified in Medical-Dental cross-coding and billing. She bridges the gap between dental and medical systems to help patients navigate complex treatment plans and insurance barriers.

With over 16 years in the dental industry, Shelbey specializes in:

  • Medical-dental cross-coding

  • Insurance navigation

  • Senior care advocacy

  • Sleep apnea billing systems

  • Treatment plan review & breakdown

Her mission is deeply personal — inspired by her experience serving as Power of Attorney for her father. She is committed to making dental care more accessible, ethical, and transparent nationwide.

Patricia, RDH

Patient Advocate, North Carolina

Registered Dental Hygienist with 8 years of clinical experience, combined with a strong background in office administration and logistics. Patricia continues to work chairside, offering a well-rounded, patient-centered perspective.

Areas of Support:

• Preventive care & oral health education

• Patient communication & trust building

• Understanding treatment plans

• Care coordination & advocacy guidance

• Navigating dental & healthcare systems

Passionate about empowering patients to make informed decisions and improving the overall healthcare experience through education and support.

NDAP Administrative Team

Lukas Moreira

Executive Assistant

Lukas serves as the Executive Assistant for the National Dental Advocacy Program, playing a vital role in supporting the organization’s day-to-day operations and continued growth. Working behind the scenes, Lukas contributes across multiple areas, including marketing initiatives, website development, content creation for The Dental Advocate’s Corner Blog, and grant research.

His attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to the mission of NDAP help ensure that resources, tools, and educational content are consistently delivered to better serve patients and providers alike. Lukas is a valuable team member whose work strengthens the foundation of NDAP’s impact nationwide.

We are also grateful to Talent by Zia for fostering an environment that makes this collaboration possible and supports the continued growth of our team.

NDAP Volunteers

Diya Garrepally

Community Resource & Grants Research Volunteer

Pre-Dental Student

Diya contributes to NDAP’s mission by supporting research initiatives and expanding access to educational and community-based resources. Her work strengthens:

• Strategic grant research and funding exploration
• Development of NDAP’s community resource database
• Educational advocacy tools for patients and caregivers
• Public health outreach initiatives

Through her volunteer service, Diya reflects NDAP’s commitment to mentorship, education, and cultivating future leaders in patient-centered oral healthcare.

Google Ads & Marketing Lead | Volunteer

Raven Smith

Raven oversees NDAP’s digital visibility strategy, including management of our Google Ad Grant program and paid search optimization efforts.

Her work strengthens:

  • Google Ads campaign performance

  • Digital outreach strategy

  • Website visibility growth

  • Patient service lead generation

Certified in Google Ads and Google Analytics, Raven brings nearly two years of paid search experience across nonprofit, agency, and in-house roles. She uses data-driven insights to expand NDAP’s national reach and ensure patients and caregivers can access advocacy resources when they need them most.

Open Positions

  • Position Type: Contract-Based or Volunteer-to-Contract Track
    Schedule: Flexible | Case-Based
    Location: Remote (U.S.)
    Reports To: Lead Advocate

    Role Overview

    NDAP is seeking mission-driven Patient Advocates with a dental background to provide direct advocacy support for patients navigating complex treatment, insurance, and care coordination challenges.

    This role is ideal for individuals with clinical or administrative dental experience who want to transition into advocacy-based work that supports seniors, medically complex individuals, and underserved populations.

    Who Should Apply

    We welcome professionals with:

    • Dental assisting background
    • Registered Dental Hygienist experience
    • Dental office management experience
    • Treatment coordination or insurance billing experience
    • Dental administrative leadership
    • Medical-dental cross-coding familiarity (preferred but not required)

    Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA) are preferred but not required.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Assist patients with understanding treatment plans
    • Support insurance navigation and documentation coordination
    • Communicate professionally with dental offices and providers
    • Draft advocacy correspondence when appropriate
    • Maintain HIPAA-compliant documentation standards
    • Represent NDAP’s ethical and brand standards

    Advocates are assigned patients who have already enrolled in NDAP services.

    Compensation Structure

    Compensation for contract-based Patient Advocates is structured as a case-based service fee consistent with nonprofit operational standards. Rates are established by the organization and designed to reflect fair market value for services rendered.

    NDAP does not provide compensation based on referral generation or revenue sharing. All compensation arrangements are reviewed to ensure compliance with nonprofit governance standards and applicable regulations.

    Volunteer-to-contract opportunities may be available for individuals seeking experience before transitioning into paid case work.

    Why This Role Matters

    You are not “working a case.”
    You are helping someone regain clarity, dignity, and access to care.

    This role bridges the gap between patients and providers.

    How to Express Interest

    Please submit:

    • Resume or CV
    • Brief statement of interest
    • Availability / capacity

    Email: Shelbey@nationaldentaladvocacy.org or complete our Leadership Interest Form below

  • Position Type: Volunteer Leadership Role
    Time Commitment: 5–8 hours per month (flexible)
    Location: Remote
    Reports To: NDAP Marketing Director (Board Lead)

    The National Dental Advocacy Program (NDAP) is seeking a Marketing Committee Co-Lead to support hands-on content creation, social media engagement, and lead generation efforts.

    This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating meaningful content and wants to use their marketing skills to help seniors, caregivers, and underserved patients find advocacy support nationwide.

    Role Focus

    This position is execution-driven and growth-oriented. Primary focus areas include:

    • Content creation using NDAP tools
    • Social media posting & scheduling
    • Email/newsletter support
    • Lead generation support for patient advocacy services

    You will collaborate with the NDAP Marketing Director (Board Lead) and the Google Ads & Marketing Lead to ensure messaging remains consistent, ethical, and mission-aligned.

    Responsibilities

    • Draft and schedule educational and awareness-based social media posts
    • Assist with email campaigns and newsletter content
    • Repurpose blog or website content into social media assets
    • Support basic Canva graphics (if comfortable)
    • Monitor engagement and assist with inquiry routing
    • Contribute ideas to increase visibility and patient inquiries

    Ideal Candidate

    • Experience with social media management or digital content creation
    • Strong written communication skills
    • Organized, dependable, and self-directed
    • Familiar with Canva, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or email platforms
    • Passionate about healthcare access, patient advocacy, or nonprofit work

    Bonus (not required):
    Experience with nonprofit marketing, healthcare messaging, or digital lead funnels.

    Why This Role Matters

    Marketing at NDAP is about connection and access.

    Every post and campaign helps:

    ✔ Seniors understand their dental rights
    ✔ Caregivers find guidance
    ✔ Patients navigate insurance barriers
    ✔ Families access advocacy support

    Your work directly supports mission-driven growth.

    Growth Opportunity

    This is currently a volunteer leadership role. NDAP is actively pursuing grant funding and sustainable program expansion. Committee members may be considered for future compensated opportunities as funding allows.

    How to Apply

    Please submit:

    • Resume or LinkedIn profile
    • Short statement of interest
    • Estimated monthly availability

    Email: shelbey@nationaldentaladvocacy.org
    Subject Line: Marketing Committee Co-Lead Application

  • Position Type: Volunteer Board Director
    Term Length: In accordance with NDAP Bylaws
    Meeting Frequency: Quarterly Board Meetings + Committee Participation

    Role Overview

    NDAP is seeking a licensed attorney to join its Board of Directors to provide strategic oversight, governance guidance, and compliance perspective as the organization continues to expand nationally.

    This is a governance role — not legal representation — and operates within board-level advisory responsibilities.

    Ideal Background

    • Experience in nonprofit law, healthcare law, compliance, or governance
    • Familiarity with 501(c)(3) regulations
    • Understanding of healthcare privacy (HIPAA) or nonprofit ethics (preferred)
    • Strategic mindset and commitment to public health equity

    Board Responsibilities

    • Uphold fiduciary duties (care, loyalty, obedience)
    • Provide governance oversight
    • Support risk management and compliance awareness
    • Participate in strategic planning
    • Serve as an ambassador for NDAP’s mission

    Why This Role Matters

    As NDAP grows, strong governance ensures:

    ✔ Legal and ethical integrity
    ✔ Sustainable expansion
    ✔ Responsible patient advocacy
    ✔ Board-level accountability

    This role strengthens the foundation that protects both patients and the organization.

    This is a volunteer governance position and does not establish an attorney-client relationship with NDAP or its patients. Legal services, if needed, are engaged separately and independently.

    How to Express Interest

    Please submit:

    • Resume or CV
    • Brief statement of interest
    • Availability / capacity

    Email: Shelbey@nationaldentaladvocacy.org or complete our Leadership Interest Form below

NDAP is expanding its national impact and seeking mission-aligned professionals who are committed to improving access, transparency, and equity in oral healthcare.

The National Dental Advocacy Program® (NDAP) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All roles operate in accordance with nonprofit governance standards, IRS regulations, and applicable state and federal laws. NDAP is committed to ethical patient advocacy and transparent operational practices.

Leadership Interest Form