ADHA annual session
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is wrapping up preparations for its 88th annual session on June 15-21 at the Nashville Convention Center and Renaissance Marriott Hotel.
Between Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, June 18, ADHA will host the Center for Lifelong Learning portion of the meeting, which includes 32 continuing education courses, as well as an exhibition with more than 100 companies displaying the latest products and information in the oral healthcare industry.
A new feature will be the ADHA/Henry Schein Dream Center. The Dream Center is the first-ever interactive, hands-on operatory experience on the exhibit floor. The Dream Center will feature a full operatory with five different product stations for attendees to visit and explore the latest in dental hygiene technology. The product stations and sponsors are as follows:
- Salivary diagnostics—OralDNA Labs
- Loupes and infection control—Orascoptic and Kerr Total Care
- Ultrasonics—DENTSPLY Professional
- Spectra, caries detection aid—Air Techniques
- Lasers—Ivoclar Vivadent
A center station will provide the full operatory experience provided by DentalEZ Group. Each station will include a five-minute educational interaction with a representative from the sponsoring company in which participants will receive a one-on-one hands-on experience.
As part of the 88th annual session, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will host an open hearing on Saturday, June 18 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. The purpose of this Open Hearing is to provide individuals, institutions, and organizations that will be affected by the document an opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to the Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene Education Programs.
ADHA, in collaboration with The Wrigley Foundation, will also be sponsoring a community service day. Partnering with Remington College Dental Hygiene clinic, on Wednesday, June 15th, dental hygienist volunteers will host school-age children between the ages of four four and 18 from local Nashville area summer camps and day care institutions. Attendees will receive dental hygiene education as well as create a take home safety kit that will include their height and weight, tooth imprints, and a photo for their parents to keep on file.
On Tuesday, June 21, ADHA will offer for the first time a three-part workshop focusing on the what ADHA is doing to move the profession forward and a preview of an exciting new program that will be debuting this year. This will be an interactive workshop with time for questions and answers throughout the three different parts. The workshop parts are as follows:
- Part I: The Kellogg Foundation Five State Dental Therapist Initiative and What it Means to Your Profession. This portion will provide information to attendees about the history, purpose, and planned efforts related to the Kellogg Foundation’s national dental therapist initiative. The panel will provide participants the ability to learn more about the Kellogg initiative and how it impacts dental hygiene education, practice, and state-level advocacy.
- Part II: Executive Committee/Staff Panel at Annual Session. The Executive Committee/Staff Panel portion of the workshop will use the President’s and Executive Director’s Annual Reports as background, to provide an update to provide an update on how ADHA’s strategic plan fits into the changing professional landscape and ask questions of the staff and leadership.
- Part III: Special Announcement from 2011-12 President Pam Quinones. Incoming ADHA President Pam Quinones, RDH, BS, will provide an overview of an exciting new program developed and presented through corporate support that is designed to address the broad based need for leadership development and how these leadership skills can help to navigate the new landscape of dental hygiene career opportunities. This new program is called: ADHA Professional Leadership Workshop. Better Together.
For more information on any of these topics, please visit www.adha.org/annualsession.