By Ann-Marie C. DePalma, RDH, BS
Many dental professionals are aware of the AGD, the Academy of General Dentistry. Continuing education courses that are approved by AGD are known to be high quality educational endeavors. What about dental hygiene? What does dental hygiene have to assure high quality and educationally significant programs?
The American Academy of Dental Hygiene is just that association. Founded in 1985 by a group of New York hygienists, the AADH's objective is to foster the continuing pursuit of education and research in the art and science of dental hygiene, to provide formal recognition of excellence in the practice of dental hygiene, and to recognize distinguished community service in the effort to foster improved oral health.
Membership is granted to hygienists who pursue life-long learning about oral health by providing documentation of at least 75 hours of approved continuing education programs within five years of application and 30 hours of continuing education bi-annually to maintain membership. Approved courses must undergo strict association guidelines, so members know that courses which have been approved meet the life-long learning goals of the association.
In addition, after a member has maintained membership for three years, an application for fellowship within the association can be achieved. Fellowship candidates must possess a bachelor's degree or higher, provide a case presentation at an annual AADH meeting, and demonstrate several other leadership/educational objectives.
AADH hosted its annual meeting this year at RDH magazine's Under One Roof Conference in Chicago in July. I was privileged to attend as an AADH member. This was the first year of the association's collaboration with UOR, and AADH hopes to make it an annual event. Membership information was available for UOR participants in the exhibit hall, and many took advantage of learning what the association has to offer.
The annual business meeting was hosted on Saturday, July 23, with a presentation following the meeting by Kimberly Benkert, RDH, MPH, COM. Kim's presentation focused on myofunctional therapy. The business meeting included Fellowship awards to Anne Koznesoff, RDH, MS, and Joyce Turcotte, RDH, MEd. In addition, a new member certificate was presented to Anne Guignon, RDH, MPH, and a special presentation to Patti DiGangi, RDH, BS, and Harriet Ludgin, RDH, MAdEd, for their work on updating and enhancing the AADH newsletter.
Leslie Andrews, RDH, MBA, served as secretary for the meeting and also was instrumental in the development of the AADH exhibit booth for the UOR exhibit floor. Other business included general audience introductions, nomination and balloting for officers, governor's council and committees, adoption of the 2005-06 budget, and a discussion of retired membership category.
The new officers for the 2005 and 2006 year are:
• President: Joyce Turcotte, RDH, MEd, Connecticut
• President-Elect: Mary Calka, RDH, Connecticut
• Immediate Past President: Linda Bohacek, RDH, MS, Wisconsin
• Treasurer: Judy Nist, RDH, BA, Rhode Island
• Secretary: Lois Sobel, RDH, Massachusetts
• Executive Director: Nancy Barnes, RDH, BS, North Carolina
It was agreed by all in attendance that in order to increase membership and visibility of the association the annual meeting should continue to be held in conjunction with RDH UOR. Discussion will occur with RDH officials and officers of AADH. Next year's UOR will be July 26-28, 2006 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hope to see you there!
For more information about AADH, contact executive director, Nancy Barnes, RDH, BS, at [email protected]; or for application information, contact AADH, Inc., P.O. Box 328, Farmingdale, NY 11735, or visit www.PLS.org and click on links at the bottom of the home page.
