Hu-Friedy sponsors dental hygienists at 2010 Chicago Midwinter Meeting

    March 4, 2010
    Company honors winners of essay contest for their contributions to better dentistry.

    CHICAGO, Illinois--Hu-Friedy, a leader in the manufacture of dental instruments, acknowledged the work of two dental hygienists by sponsoring their trip to attend the 2010 Chicago Midwinter Meeting.

    Hu-Friedy conducted a contest to recognize the dedication of hygienists and to help eliminate economic cost barriers that might prevent participation in this meeting.

    The winners, each of whom wrote a short essay on why he or she deserved to attend the midwinter meeting, are among the 15,000-member base of the online community "Friends of Hu-Friedy."

    Approximately 100 dental hygienists submitted essays describing the benefits they expected from being selected to attend the largest annual gathering of dental professionals in the U.S.

    "Dental hygienists play such an important role in preventive oral health," said Ron Saslow, president and chief executive officer of Hu-Friedy.

    "Year after year they conscientiously attend to the dental health needs of their patients and passionately pursue continuing education. Hu-Friedy has the honor of providing quality handcrafted instruments to this group and is committed to doing all we can to enable access to information and education that will add value to their professional lives. In the current economic climate, it is sometimes difficult to attend some of the major conferences, so we are gratified that we could sponsor these two individuals who obviously have made a difference for so many," Saslow added.

    The contest winners were Lesa K, Crane, RDH, BSHS, assistant local coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Program of the Northern Virginia/Germanna Community College in Locust Grove, Va., and Debby Kurtz-Weidinger, RDH, MED, a dental hygienist at the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center Dental Clinic in Phoenix, Ariz.

    Crane said she had not been to the Chicago meeting since 1984. It was then that the native of Decatur, Ill., heard a presentation by Irene Woodall.

    "She inspired me to believe I could become a periotherapist," Crane said. "Now, I've come full circle. I'm an educator myself and the midwinter meeting has course offerings that will help us develop our program. Hu-Friedy has always promoted excellence and quality with its products. This essay contest is an example of the company's commitment to quality and excellence."

    Kurtz-Weidinger has been involved in the treatment of soldiers whose injuries leave them unable to speak, or with other serious oral health issues.

    "They tell me I've made a difference in their lives by listening, providing high-quality dental hygiene treatment and by teaching them to maintain optimal oral health," Kurtz-Weidinger said. "They make me proud of my work."

    For more information on Friends of Hu-Friedy, go to Friends of Hu-Friedy.

    To read more about Hu-Friedy, go to Friends of Hu-Friedy.

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