Dr. Amanda Jo Okundaye joined UNLV School of Dental Medicine in fall 2008 as a guest lecturer and now serves as associate program director of the school’s dental anesthesia residency. She teaches clinical medicine, dental anesthesiology, and management of medical emergencies within the pre-doctoral degrees, as well as courses within the dental anesthesiology, general practice and pediatric dentistry residency programs.

Dr. Okundaye is a board-certified dentist anesthesiologist, educator, and nationally-recognized speaker whose work centers on advancing patient safety and anesthesia standards within dentistry. Her clinical and academic focus includes airway management, risk stratification, and management of medical emergencies in office-based anesthesia, with particular expertise in pediatric and special needs populations.

She earned her BS in anthropology from Florida State University and her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, followed by advanced training in general dentistry, hospital dentistry, and dental anesthesiology at Lutheran Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Okundaye is a Diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology. She plays an active role in shaping anesthesia standards and policy, serving as an anesthesia evaluator and inspector for the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners, and contributing to professional organizations at the national level. She has led and instructed major continuing education courses in sedation and anesthesia safety, and is deeply committed to mentorship and the development of future clinicians.

Through her work in education, clinical practice, and professional leadership, Dr. Okundaye is dedicated to improving outcomes and elevating the standard of care in dental anesthesia.