The American Dental Hygienists' Association hosted its 82nd Annual Session, themed Optimizing Opportunities, June 22-29, at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
Each year, there are a plethora of workshops, forums, networking sessions, student related activities, a national dental hygiene show, continuing education programs, and lunch and learn sessions, receptions, and social and professional interactions all supported by a diverse group of dental hygienists.
The following are some highlights from this year's meeting, which had around 1,200 participants, a record attendance.
• Congratulations and a warm welcome to ADHA's new executive director, Ann Battrell, RDH, MDSD, and President Katie L. Dawson, RDH, BS
• Additional ADHA officers installed at the annual session included Marge Green, RDH, MS, Yorktown, Va., president-elect; Jean Connor, RDH, Cambridge, Mass., vice president. Two officers remaining in their positions are Carol A. Jahn, RDH, MS, Warrenville, Ill., treasurer, and Terri Brisbin, RDH, Berlin, N.J., speaker of the house.
• The newly installed district trustee for 2005-2006 is Beverley C. Litchfield, RDH, BS, EDd, of Scarborough, Maine, District I.
• Re-elected district trustees for 2005-2006 are as follows: Pamela L. Quinones, RDH, BS, of Rockville, Md., District III (Del., Washington, D.C., Md., Va., W.Va.); Lynn M. Ramer, LDH, of Logansport, Ind., District V (Ind., Ky., Mich., Ohio); S. Kaye Adams, GDH, of Bloomington, Minn., District VII (Minn., N.D., S.D., Wis.); Esperanza "Hope" Garza, RDH, BS, of Houston, Texas, District IX (Okla., N.M., Texas); and Sharon Zastrow, RDH, of Scottsdale, Ariz., District XI (Ariz., Calif.).
• District trustees continuing their term for 2005-2006 are as follows: Sherri L. Meyers, RDH, MS, of Wind Gap, Pa., District II (Conn., N.J., N.Y., Pa.); Anita F. LaTourette, RDH, of Norcross, Ga., District IV (Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.); Patricia J. Davis, RDH, of Kingsport, Tenn., District VI (Ala., Ark., La., Miss., Tenn.); Mary C. Kelly, RDH, BS, of Des Moines, Iowa, District VIII (Ill., Iowa, Kan., Mo., Neb.); Lori J. Brogna, RDH, of Roy, Utah, District X (Colo. Mont., Utah, Wyo.); and Caryn A. Solie, RDH, of Sparks, Nev., District XII (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nev., Ore., Wash.).
Award Winners
• 2005 Sonicare/RDH Magazine Mentor of the Year Award recipient is Jane Weiner, RDH.
• ADHA Distinguished Service Award recipients are: Norma J Sommers, RDH New Mexico DHA; Susan W. Polydoroff, RDH, Maryland DHA; Irene Mary Connolly, RDH, MS, Virginia DHA; Kristy Menage Bernie, RDH, BS, California DHA; and Stephanie Bossenberger James, RDH, MS, Utah DHA.
• 2005 Pfizer/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award. This year's winners are: Kathleen H. Alvarez, RDH, MS (California); Christine Hovliaras-Delozier, RDH, MBA (New Jersey); Pamela R. Overman, BS, MS, EdD, RDH (Kansas); Anna M. Pattison, RDH, MS (California); Gail B. Stoops, RDH, AAS (Arizona)
• ADHA/Pfizer Inc, Linda DeVore Leadership Scholars Program award. The recipient is Kathleen Jordan D'Ambrisi, RDH, MS. Kathleen is an assistant professor at Harrisburg Area Community College, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
• Colgate/ADHA Community Outreach Award was given to: The Portneuf Valley Idaho component (Idaho) and the Fredericksburg Dental Hygienists' Association (Virginia).
• 2005 Crest/ADHA Award for Clinical Dental Hygienists. The award honors clinical dental hygienists who make distinctive differences in the lives of their patients. This year's winners are Lisa Bell, RDH (Illinois) and Sandra O. Rossetti, RDH (New York). Bell was honored for The Champaign County Child Dental Access Program. Lisa's project provides dental care to children from low-income families. Rossetti was honored for her work at the Small Smiles Dentistry of Syracuse. Sandra provides oral health services to a large Medicaid population in central New York State.
More details on the ADHA Annual Session can be found at www.adha.org for members and potential members.
The association hopes to see everyone next year at the 83rd Annual Session at Disney's Contemporary Resort Orlando, Fla. The dates are June 21-28, 2006
