Hospital Assistant I – Dental Dispensary & Sterilization

University of California San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Hospital Assistant I supports the UCSF School of Dentistry’s Predoctoral Dental Clinic by providing essential dispensary and central sterilization services. This role plays a key part in maintaining dental inventory, supporting clinical operations, and ensuring the proper sterilization, distribution, and maintenance of dental instruments and supplies used by student providers delivering care to approximately 35,000 patients annually. The position requires close collaboration with clinical teams and adherence to established protocols to support safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care and education.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of one year of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least two years of experience as a dental assistant or in dental instrument sterilization.
Knowledge of dental terminology, materials, and equipment.
Knowledge of dental sterilization procedures and equipment.
Physical ability to meet the demands of the position, including lifting, standing, and repetitive hand use.

Nice To Haves

Chairside dental assistant experience.
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification.
Sterilization certification.

Responsibilities

Clinic Dispensary Support Support clinical activities within the Predoctoral Dental Clinic.
Dispense dental materials and equipment while maintaining proper inventory control.
Provide guidance to students on the appropriate use of clinic materials and equipment.
Service, assemble, and prepare clinic instrument kits for reuse.
Monitor, clean, and restock supply carts, emergency carts, and disposable items.
Perform routine maintenance of water and vacuum lines following safety and environmental guidelines.
Sterilization & Central Supply Operations Prepare, clean, and sterilize contaminated dental instruments using approved equipment and protocols.
Sort, process, and maintain dental instruments in accordance with sterilization standards.
Monitor and document sterilization cycles and biological indicator testing.
Ensure proper operation of instrument washers and autoclaves.
Maintain accurate sterilization logs and distribution records.
Support inventory monitoring and restocking within central supply areas.
Assist with special events hosted by the School of Dentistry, including occasional weekend support.
Distribution & Inventory Support Distribute sterile instruments to student lockers.
Collect contaminated instruments from clinics throughout the dental school.
Perform routine sterilization equipment testing, cleaning, and maintenance.
Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant work environment.
Receive deliveries, verify documentation, and match supplies with purchase orders.
Additional Duties Perform other related duties as assigned to support clinic and departmental operations.