Compiled by Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS, with information from the American Dental Hyigenists' Association
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) held its 92nd Annual Session and the 2015 Center for Lifelong Learning in Nashville, Tenn., in June 2015. Over 2,000 were in attendance. The meeting had two plenary sessions with inspirational speakers, and over 30 continuing education courses.
I attended a media roundtable, attended by ADHA officers and senior staff. According to the verbal and written reports, I will share the following information with you.
- ADHA’s vision is to transform the dental hygiene profession to improve the public’s oral and overall health. ADHA remains dedicated to education, alliances, and advocacy.
- The ADHA and the Academy of Academic Leadership (AAL) initiated a pilot project with seven dental hygiene programs to generate transformation within their curricula and learning domains/outcomes.
- 37 states allow dental hygienists to provide direct access to care.
- Several states are working on dental hygiene workforce models, and have successfully passed legislation in this area.
- The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) adopted Dental Therapy Education Standards on February 6, 2015.1 The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) submitted two letters to CODA supporting adoption of the standards.
ADHA Past Presidents and Isaac Carpenter
Front Row, L to R: Marge Green, Virginia Woodward, Kelli Swanson Jaecks, Maria Perno Goldie, Ann Battrell, Kimberly Benkert.
Second row L to R: Pamela Quinones, Helena Tripp, Ann Naber, Lisa Potter, Diann Bomkamp, Susan Savage
- ADHA celebrated the service of Director of Finance and MIS, Isaac Carpenter, who will retire in September after 35 years of service. There were many tributes to Isaac throughout the meeting, including one by the past ADHA presidents who worked closely with Isaac. He will be missed!
ADHA Past Presidents Ann Battrell (now ADHA Executive Director) and Maria Perno Goldie with Isaac Carpenter
- ADHA has hired Robert Moore, CAE, as its new Chief Operating Officer.
- ADHA officers newly installed at the ADHA’s 92nd Annual Session include: Jill Rethman, RDH, BS, Prescott, Ariz., president; Betty Kabel, RDH, BS, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., president-elect; Tammy Filipiak, RDH, MS, of Mosinee, Wis., vice president; Donnella Miller, RDH, BS, MPS, of Clarksville, Tenn., treasurer; and Kelli Swanson Jaecks, MA, RDH, of Salem, Ore., past presdient. Remaining in her position as speaker of the house is Carolyn Roberton, RDH, BSDH, of Auburn, Wash.2
- The newly installed district trustees for 2015-2016 are as follows: Peter Gangi, RDH, BS Ed, of Methuen, Mass., District I (Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt.); Sharlee Burch, BSDH, MPH, EdD, of Lexington, Ky., District V (Ind., Ky., Mich., Ohio); Diana Saylor, RDH, of Nashville, Tenn., District VI (Ala., Ark., La., Miss., Tenn.); and Matt Crespin, RDH, MPH, of West Allis, Wis., District VII (Minn., N.D., S.D., Wis.).2
For more information on ADHA, visit the website and Facebook page.3,4 And join ADHA for the 93rd Annual Session and CLL in Pittsburgh, PA June 8-14, 2016.5
