Lasting Impressions | Fall 2016

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 51 Tanya Gress is known for her efficiency at problem solving. At right, Gress discusses clinical needs with Bridger Jensen, D.D.S., chief resident of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the CDM. the hospital’s oral surgery clinic. Eventually, Gress managed both oral surgery clinic locations, until she became manager of clinical support in 2015. Diane Ede-Nichols, D.M.D., M.H.L., M.P.H., the CDM’s chair of community and public health sciences, was Gress’ rst chair and has known her for 15 years. “We need to clone her,” Ede-Nichols said. “She is one of those rare people you can give anything to, and she will get it done. I am so impressed at how she assesses a situation and rapidly anticipates how to x it. And she has this gi of knowing what you need, even before you know you need it.” Once, Ede-Nichols said, Gress showed up at Ede-Nichols’ o ce with the perfect gi bags needed for a graduation ceremony. She hadn’t asked Gress to get them, but Gress had thought ahead and saved Ede-Nichols time and money. “She is terri c that way, always thinking about what other people need,” Ede-Nichols said. “If someone mentions something in passing about what they like, she will make a mental note and get it for them when she sees it. She is a nurturer, always meeting the needs of people around her, both at work and in her family.” Steven Kaltman, D.M.D., M.D., who serves as chair of the college’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and dean of hospital and extramural a airs, has also worked with Gress for the past 15 years. “Tanya was instrumental in helping me put together the oral surgery residency program,” Kaltman said. “She is a renaissance woman, and I am so fortunate to have her help me navigate the waters every day. She also cares about the university and is always trying to build the brand in a positive way.” Gress’ motivation and her ability to juggle numerous responsibilities and situations make her unique, he added. “She has an old-school work ethic. She is a multitasker and a forward thinker, always being proactive,” Kaltman said. In 2006, Gress received NSU’s Sta Person of the Year STUEY Award as recognition for her hard work. Gress said she was honored to receive the award, but prefers to remain behind the scenes. She typically can be spotted walking down the hallways of the CDM with two phones in her hands, stopping to answer questions, and popping in and out of o ces, or the clinics, as needed. Gress loves the fast pace of her job, and that every day brings something new. “It’s never boring, that’s for sure,” she said. “Whatever I plan for the day never happens. I feel like I accomplish what is put in front of me at the moment, and I try to get the resolution, whatever it may be. ere’s always so much going on. I try to help anybody who comes to me or send them to where they can get help.” When she’s not at the CDM, she enjoys being with her husband, Tom; her son, Kyle; her daughter, Megan; and son-in-law, Eric. “Family is everything to me,” she said. “I’m also very close to my sister and mom, and we spend a lot of time together.” Continually taking on even more responsibilities as the manager of clinical support, Gress does her best to help things run smoothly at the CDM. “I don’t think anything of it. People come to me and I help,” she said. “I enjoy what I do.”