In this issue:

President's Message
Upcoming Events
COVID-19 Update
Cultural Sensitivity
Board Profile
OBD News
Student Section
Registered to Vote?
Facebook Page
Component Events
Membership Information

ODHA Appreciates our Sponsors!

April 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members!

I hope everyone is enjoying the new season of spring. If you have been more stressed then usual lately, I encourage you to take time for self-care this month. For me, self-care is getting outside for a walk during my lunch break or drinking some herbal tea in the evening. What does self-care look like for you during a busy week?

As you have heard, the Oregon Dental Conference has been cancelled. This means that our “All RDH” event is cancelled too. I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to organize the event and the amazing sponsors. We appreciate you!

Last month, I got the chance to speak with the students at OIT in Klamath Falls. While preparing for my presentation, I was able to reflect on the benefits of membership and what students need to know about ADHA. These are my top 5 reasons why I think new graduates benefit from membership.

Local networking to help you find a job and meet dental hygienists in your area.
Local continuing education and volunteering opportunities.
Access to the latest information about our profession.
Advocacy to move our professional forward and protect what we have fought for.
Mentorship and leadership opportunities to help you reach your career and leadership goals.

The members of ODHA and ADHA that I have met over the years have been some of the most inspiring people in my life. They have inspired me to grow both professionally and personally. If I had never been a member, I would not be where I am today. I am proud to be a member and I believe that the benefits are truly priceless.

If you are interested in becoming more involved on a state or local level, please email [email protected] The open leadership positions include Vice President, Secretary, Advocacy Director, High Desert Director, Metro East Director, and At-Large Director. There are chair and secretary positions open for the local components as well. If you want to learn more about each position, click here.

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

Upcoming Events!

2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

New Month, New Location!

The 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference (ODHC) will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square in Tigard, OR. Mark your calendars & watch for information coming soon!

COVID-19 Updates

ADHA has developed a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 information specifically for the dental hygiene community that includes ADHA's interim COVID-19 policy, FAQs, and actions that dental hygienists can take today. If you have COVID-19 specific questions, please share them directly with ADHA. Here is a video message from ADHA President Matt Crespin: Watch now:

Looking Through the Lens - Cultural Sensitivity

This month’s ODHA newsletter is a good time to start a monthly column on health equity, diversity and inclusion. While our focus has rightly been on the impact COVID- 19 in our daily lives and in our dental offices, I would like to share an idea how we can look through the lens of cultural sensitivity to make our world and local spaces just a little better and more positive.

Culture can be defined in many ways, but I would like to present this picture to think in terms of defining culture.

If we look at culture in this global view, we can and should increase our cultural sensitivity and awareness in terms of how a person interacts or thinks and not just their language or practices. It is much easier for us to see visible signs of culture if we narrowly define it in terms of language, practices or outward appearances. But when we broaden that definition to encompass how a person interacts with another person or how one thinks, or what one’s value system is, there is no way for us to anticipate reactions to stressors or changes happening. Developing cultural sensitivity can help us to adapt to persons who have different experiences, thoughts, values and practices than we have.

Here are some things I have been practicing to develop deeper cultural sensitivity-

A non-medical/dental person “hoarding” gloves or masks may have reason for their behavior- can I show non-judgmental sensitivity and not mention that medical and dental personnel actually NEED these items?
A person who seems to be over or under reacting to the pandemic may have a reason for their reaction- can I try to not respond either way to them, but just be kind?
A coworker who is panicking over hours being cut may have real concern over lost wages that he or she cannot disclose- can I offer to limit my hours so that person can have more hours?
An over-wrought parent who is trying to find ways to occupy their child’s time is using video games and television for many hours, way more than I would think is “good for their child”- can I print off dental worksheets that are age-appropriate from dental resources such as Mouthhealthy? Or offer to take the kids for hikes or outings to a park? And do it without mentioning the hours of screen time?

As dental hygienists we have a great opportunity in the next few months in our professional and personal lives to show compassion and the willingness to do any job needed for the dental team and community in which we live. How we present ourselves with kindness and grace will speak volumes to our coworkers, friends and families. Let’s practice cultural sensitivity to those around us and hope others will extend grace and kindness in return when we fall short and need grace extended.

Doing our best,
Karen Hall, RDH EPDH

Board Member Spotlight

Kris Johnson, RDHAP, MS graduated with an associate degree in dental hygiene from Shoreline Community College in Washington State, a Bachelor of Business Management from St Mary’s College of California, and her master’s in dental hygiene at Idaho State University.

Kris is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association/North West Component.

Her experience in the field of dental hygiene includes writing, speaking, consulting, corporate, teaching, and research; her passion lives in education.

In April of 2019, Kris relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area back home to Portland to help take care of her ailing mom. Currently, she is a full-time clinician in both Tigard and Lake Oswego, OR.

Oregon Board of Dentistry News

OREGON BOARD OF DENTISTRY MEETING

The Oregon Board of Dentistry will meet on Friday, April 24 as a conference call instead of in person. The open session of this board meeting is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 AM. Anyone may participate in the open session of the board meeting. The agenda and public packet for this board meeting will be posted on the board website approximately one week before the meeting. Scroll down to About Us and click on Meetings. The public packet is usually more than 500 pages in length. We recommend that you review this document online, and only print pages if you need them. If you would like to attend the open session of this or any future board meeting, please contact ODHA Advocacy Director Lisa J. Rowley for more information. Upcoming Oregon Board of Dentistry meetings will be held on June 19, August 21, October 23, and December 18.

The Licensing, Standards & Competency Committee meeting that was also scheduled for April 24th has been cancelled.

Student Section

OREGON TECH DENTAL HYGIENE- CHEMEKETA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INTERNATIONAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM - 2019

PROGRAM GOALS: Impact the lives of communities in Grenada by providing free dental care and promote oral health.

PROGRAM LOCATION AND DATES OF TRIP: Grenada in the Caribbean Islands. August 7th - August 17th, 2019

This was the first time for the OIT Dental Hygiene Program to travel to Grenada. Although the previous IEP group provided great insight into what to potentially expect, we did not know what was to come and, for a few of us, we had never been out of the country. This experience challenged us in multiple aspects. For example, we began with no supplies and had to work extremely hard to gather donations. We barely made it to the deadline, but we succeeded with more supplies than what was required for the trip.

Another way this experience challenged us was in our ability to be adaptable to unexpected situations. We worked nonstop for four days in the community clinics. We saw multiple children, patients with medical complications, and patients who have never had a cleaning. We never knew who would be in our chair next, but we treated everyone with the care they deserved. The work was hard, but we saw the positive change we were making in the people of Grenada, which motivated us to work harder. We were able to build comradery with the locals by celebrating with them during their Carnival and gain a better understanding of their culture. The kind and grateful nature of the locals and patients we became friends with impacted us in many ways. Never have we regularly seen patients so excited to receive dental care. Overall, we are thankful to have been a part of the IEP and make such an impact in the lives of others. This experience helped improve our ability to be better, more versatile clinicians.

The following quote represents how much appreciation we felt from the people of Grenada: “To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may mean the world.”

TEAM MEMBERS: Samantha Phillips, Katherine Li, Kyndall Marelich, Brittany Eggers, Danielle Wiles, Mackenzie Hosley, Melissa Goyins, Olivia Burger, Maira Martinez, Michelle Robinson, Carissa Welding, Sharon Crawford (INSTRUCTOR)

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Oregon Primary Election

Are You Registered to Vote?

The next Oregon Statewide Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Political parties use primary elections (also called primaries) to determine which of their candidates will go on the ballot for the general election in November. If you want to vote in the Democratic Party primary you must be registered as a Democrat. If you want to vote in the Republican Party primary you must be registered as a Republican.

The last day to register to vote in this primary election or to change your party affiliation for this primary election is April 28th. You should update your voter registration if you have moved, changed your name or mailing address or if you want to change your party affiliation You can register to vote online.

All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail. Ballots for this primary election will be mailed to registered voters beginning April 29th. You can return your ballot by mail, take it to your local elections office, or drop it in one of the many drop boxes throughout the state. Your ballot must be physically received by 8:00 PM on May 19th. Postmarks do not count. If you have questions about voting in Oregon you can call 1-866-673-8683 or call your county election office.

ODHA Facebook page

Have you liked or followed our Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association Facebook page? We are working toward moving all our component pages to our state association page - so we can house all events and information in one place.

Give us a "like" today - so that you can continue to follow the important news and activities from your association!

Component News and Events

Want to know what CE courses or events are coming up in your area? Visit: http://www.odha.org/events for information or to register for component and state events!

High Desert Component

Welcome Brittaniy, High Desert Chair

Brittaniy Buckingham, BS EPDH
Membership and ODHA Leadership

I decided to become a member of ADHA/ODHA because of the benefits not only to myself, but also the profession of dental hygiene. I feel encouraged that as a member I can learn about special events and continuing education, as well as professional networking. As a member I am confident that if I have any questions or concerns with the practice of dental hygiene or dentistry overall, I can reach out to ODHA for support. With an ADHA membership I have access to valuable resources to promote myself as a hygienist as well as a leader in the community and at the dental office.

Not only am I a member of ODHA and ADHA, I am a component chair for the High Desert district of Oregon. I wanted to be more involved with ODHA because I love being able to offer support to those who are trying to improve the practice of Dental hygiene. I enjoy planning events and offering support to local leadership for encouraging involvement of ODHA.

Metro East Component

Our March meeting was cancelled due to instructor illness. We will reschedule.

We did have a wonderful community outreach at the Compassion clinic March 7th. We set up 4 mobile chairs and had 7 students from Mt Hood serve un-insured community members. One community member had cancer and had begun chemotherapy. His physician wanted him to have oral preventive therapies. He could not afford it, so waited for this clinic to have care. He and his wife spoke no English but communicated very effectively their gratitude.

There was no April meeting to encourage everyone to go to the ODC - which is cancelled.

Next meeting:
May 13, 2020 | 6:00- 8:30 | 2574 Troy Ct., West Linn
This course will be taught by Karan Bershaw and will be on Integrating Preventive Strategies into our practices as we implement Caries Control.

North West Component

Hello from your NW directors, Leslie & Kris,

Before COVID-19 pandemic struck, we had a CE course on February 20^th at St Vincent’s Hospital in Souther Auditorium from 6-8pm. Kris Johnson spoke on “A Look at the National Landscape of Dental Hygiene Practice and Licensure” She discussed the results of her graduate research regarding what it takes as a new graduate of a dental hygiene program to become licensed in our states across the Nation. She also addressed future work models, what that might look like for hygienists, and how it relates to our level of education.

Given the current self-quarantine, stay tuned for updates on our next CE course (May). We’re hoping all will be well and back to normal by then, if not we may be presenting via Zoom!

March 31, 2020 | 6:00 pm | Location: Zoom Meeting
Pacific University Seniors present their Capstone projects.

South West Component

Our most recent CE was in Eugene on January 23, 2020 covering "The Dental Hygienist's Role in Sleep Apnea Care" by Dr. John Sullivan and Nancy Lashley-Sullivan. We had about 12 members learn about signs that we can see in our patients that may be suffering from Sleep apnea. We also got more information about what sleep apnea is and how it effects our bodies. We also covered the CPAP and mouth appliances that open the airway to prevent sleep apnea from occurring. We also offered a light snack of veggies and chips with water to drink. The Sullivan’s brought cookies to share and they were yummy! Members also got a chance to get one of two $10 Dutch Bro Gift cards.

We also had a South West Leadership Planning Meeting on Feb 20, 2020. Primary discussion was about remaining year CE and begin planning for 2020-2021 season. Our group is hoping to bring Colgate sponsored speaker Jamie Collins next season to discuss "Growing Vaping and Oral Health Concerns" to our component and would like to do a sort of "South West tour" with her presentation, such as present in Eugene, then Medford, and maybe even go to the coastal town. However, we need to have at least 50 people at each meeting site for Colgate to sponsor her. If you or your think your office would be interested in having her come to our component area, please contact our Director, Paige Holt or Chair, Jamie Christianson. Also, we wanted you to know that these meeting are open to any member that wants to participate but we must know ahead of time as we do most of these meeting via ZOOM.

Lastly, on March 19, 2020 will be our last component CE for the 2019-2020 season due to the growing concerns of the COVID -19 virus and following social distancing. South West team leaders decided to switch this class to Online last week. We hope this helps those that want to attend by not otherwise due to distance as well. This will be our first all ZOOM - CE meeting for our component, so I ask for your patience as we learn how to navigate through it. Then perhaps if it goes well, then we can even look at this being an option in the future.

March 31, 2020 | 6:00 pm | Location: Zoom Meeting
Practical Ergonomics for the Dental Professional: Be a part of the Movement by Brian Wilkinson

Items donated to Women’s Care from South West component of ODHA in 2019.These items were collected from the Eugene location CE in September and October:

208 toothpastes
23 toothbrushes
91 flosses
52 TePe easy picks
12 proxy - brushes

Membership

ODHA Membership Includes:

Free CE (Local Component CEs and many ADHA webinars)
Networking leading to career growth
Community volunteering opportunities
Special ADHA Discounts (use link below)
http://www.adha.org/resources-docs/74110_Membership_Affinity_Programs.pdf
Access Magazine
Discounted conferences
And much more!

Affiliated Organizations

March 2020

President's Message

Greetings ODHA Members!

Welcome to March - and Dental Assistants Recognition Week (March 1-7)! Dental assistants are vital to our dental teams. I am grateful for the dental assistants that have I been privileged to work with during my dental hygiene career. I hope you will take the time to show your appreciation to the dental assistants you work with this month.

Don’t forget that registration is now open for the Oregon Dental Conference in Portland, OR from April 2-4, 2020. Be sure to check out the schedule and course descriptions for Tieraona Low Dog and Katrina Sanders. Also, please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual “All RDH” Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm in room G131-132. This year, we have secured a larger space and plan to have the dental hygiene students present their poster presentations. We will also have light refreshments and snacks to enjoy. Come support the students and get some fun swag from our sponsors!

During the conference I plan to be at the ODHA table #21 in the Oregon Ballroom Lobby. Please stop by to pick up your “Member” ribbon and say hi. I would love to personally meet each and every one of you! Your membership is important, and I want to learn how I can better support YOU!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. We want to hear how you bring awareness to oral cancer in your community. Send your inspiring stories and photos to Laura Vanderwerf to include in our upcoming newsletter!

Tiffany Foy, EPDH
ODHA President
#Inspire

Meet our Delegates!

Laura Vanderwerf, Chair

I’m Laura Vanderwerf and this is my second year as an elected delegate for ODHA and chair, I also serve as ODHA’s secretary. I believe serving our organization is very important, and being a delegate, representing Oregon Hygienist’s and bringing our voice to ADHA’s annual meeting an honor and privilege. If anyone is interested in what being a delegate entails, or has any questions, concerns or comments, do not hesitate to reach out! I would be happy to answer any question I can or refer you to our District XII Trustee!

Paige Holt
I’ve been a hygienist for twenty years now. I graduated from OIT in Klamath Falls with my bachelor’s degree, emphasis in business and teaching. I became a part of my local component in southern Oregon and in 2013 I became delegate: 2015 as alternate to Nashville, then went as delegate in 2016, in Pittsburgh. The support of other officers and guidance from component leaders and members made this an amazing experience to be a part of. I gained leadership ability and my voice I find very valuable. I really enjoyed meeting other hygienists around the country and District XII and can now count them as friends. The relationships and knowledge I received motivate me and have supported me in my career since and have spurred me on to continuing to be a part of the local component as Director and President of SW component, 2013-2017. And now as Director 2019-2021 and Delegate 2019-2021. I look forward to serving and as delegate of ODHA in 2020 in Nawlins.

Kyle Johnstone
Kyle started his dental career in the United States Navy as a Dental Technician, being trained as a Dental Assistant and Dental Lab Tech. He spent his one enlistment on the USS Ronald Reagan, deploying once to the Persian Gulf on an aircraft carrier based out of San Diego at that time.

Kyle graduated from Pacific University’s Dental Hygiene program about a week before starting Pacific University’s Master of Healthcare Administration program. Kyle worked full-time with Willamette Dental as a hygienist and piloted restorative hygiene in the pediatric dental setting while in grad school. This is also when he transitioned to the management team at Willamette Dental Group. After a few years with Willamette, he started with Virginia Garcia (VG) Memorial Health Center.

At Virginia Garcia, Kyle managed the McMinnville and Newberg VG Dental Clinics while also providing hygiene services to patients in Newberg for almost four years. He took his MHA degree and experience to Providence Medical Group in Hillsboro, Oregon. While there, he learned much about medical integration but really yearned for Dental.

With a fresh knowledge of medical integration, Kyle utilized his Expanded Practice Permit to work in the Capitol Dental Outreach program at a medical center and homeless resource center. During his time at Capitol Dental, he helped develop and streamline many policies and workflows while training other clinicians on how to most effectively practice tele-dentistry.

While at Capitol, the Dental Director of Clackamas County Health Centers reached out and asked him to join the team. As a dyad with the Dental Director, Kyle currently works as the Dental Clinic Operations Manager for Clackamas County.

Kyle has been involved with the Washington County Dental Hygienists’ Association in multiple roles. He has been or is currently involved with ODHA as a Treasurer, Vice President; and Budget Committee member. Kyle has been involved over multiple years at the ADHA level as a National Delegate and Alternate Delegate.

Meet our Alternate Delegates!

Brandy Cowen
Brandy is an Assistant Professor and Junior Clinic Lead in the Pacific University School of Dental Hygiene Studies. She is a Texas native and graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Brandy serves as the Alternate Delegate for the Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association, and she is an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Education Association, Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention, Oregon Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Tiffany Foy
My name is Tiffany Foy and I am currently your President of ODHA. I am looking forward to attending and representing Oregon as an Alternate Delegate this year at the ADHA House of Delegates in New Orleans, LA. In 2017, I went to my first ADHA conference and it was an amazing experience. That same year I was an Alternate Delegate for the first time. While attending the installation of the new ADHA President and the House of Delegates, I felt like I was a part of history in the making for the dental hygiene profession. ADHA is working hard to move our profession forward on a national level. It was inspiring to meet and interact with the ADHA leaders and fellow Delegates from the across the country in person. As Delegates and Alternate Delegates, we work hard during the year to prepare for these important national meetings. It is an honor to work with our amazing District XII Trustee, Annette Lincicome, and all the leaders from our district.

Jennifer Lusk
Jennifer Lusk is a Registered Dental Hygienist who works in private practice and as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty member at Pacific University where she works with both Junior and Senior students in the dental hygiene clinic.

Jennifer believes that working in private practice helps maintain her skill set, develop relationships with clients, and fulfill her desire to serve others. Working with students in the University environment enriches Jennifer’s life by teaching not only the skills necessary to be a dental hygienist but the importance of dental hygiene and the role hygienists play within the dental community.

Jennifer has served as the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association’s Northwest Component Secretary and has volunteered at both “Project Homeless” in Hillsboro and “Give Kids A Smile” held annually at Pacific University’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. One of her responsibilities at Pacific University has been to assist students at the Boys and Girls Club in Salem.

Jennifer is not only a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) on the national and state levels but also the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). While in dental hygiene school Jennifer was president of the school chapter and served as a Student Delegate at the ADEA annual conference. She also held a position on ADEA’s Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (DHCAS) committee.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Pacific University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from California State University Long Beach. She is also an Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist.

Leadership Development Committee

(L to R) Laura Vanderwerf - Chair, Lori Killen Aus, Sandra Busch

The Leadership Development Committee met for the first time on January 26, 2020 at Lori Killen Aus’ house. Thank you, Lori, for not only hosting, but providing scrumptious scones and finger sandwiches with a lovely tea.

Future plans are to implement “coffee talks” at each of the dental hygiene programs, allowing students to interact with committee members. Starting a mentoring program, where ODHA members can be connected to a current dental hygiene student, having or participating in “grad nights”.

We will continue to meet quarterly to find ways to encourage membership to become involved either on a local or state level. Involvement can be as small as helping with a component meeting, joining a committee or holding an office at the state level.

Our next meeting will be May 2, 2020. If you are interested in joining our committee contact Laura Vanderwerf, LDC chair.

OPHA Statement on Water Fluoridation

On January 17, 2020 the Board of Directors for the Oregon Public Health Association (OPHA) voted unanimously to approve statements on climate change, water fluoridation, and Public Charge. These statements are intended to clarify OPHA’s organizational stance on these important public health issues. Click here to view their statement on water fluoridation and click here to learn more about OPHA.

Update Management has a new Vice President of Operations!

Danielle Siver came on board at Update Management in January of 2020 as the Vice President of Operations but has worked with the Update team for years in her vast Association career.

Dani is one of the only people at Update who never took a marketing class in college, her science background provides an analytical balance to an office of creative thinkers. Her non-profit and technical trade association career includes founding one of Oregon’s most successful charter schools, starting a nationally respected event management firm with her family and a stint at a software company. She is known in the community for developing impactful programs, generating revenue, hacking technology and optimizing talent.

The Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association is Dani's first healthcare client and she is excited to represent ODHA's work. Her mother is a retired hygienist and was a graduate of PCC's class of 1982. As a single mother, nearly 3,000 miles from family, she was able to provide for her daughters and made life long friendships. Dani is motivated to bring a first class member experience, leadership support and new opportunities to enhance ODHA's presence in the dental community.

Dani loves cooking, craft cocktails, gardening and travel. Likewise, her two boys have wanderlust and an expensive bucket list. To blow off steam you’ll find Dani in a hot yoga studio or cycle class.

Pacific Faculty Receive ADEA Scholarships

Two faculty members from the dental hygiene program at Pacific University have been chosen to receive scholarships from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Katie Bell will receive the ADEA/Sigma Phi Alpha Linda DeVore Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to an individual pursuing allied dental education study at the baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree level. Katie is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree through Northeastern University. Mónica Sarmiento will receive the ADEA Faculty of Color Tuition Scholarship for Professional Development. This scholarship covers the tuition cost of the ADEA Summer Program for Emerging Academic Leaders. Since 2014, this scholarship has been awarded to 19 individuals; Mónica will be the first dental hygiene faculty member to receive this award. All other recipients have been dental school faculty.

Student Section

Pacific University

Junior Officers: (From L to R) Fiona Phetnouvong, Destyne Johnson and Brooke Hein

Fiona Phetnouvong - Hi, I'm Fiona! I am a junior in the dental hygiene program at Pacific University. I was previously a dental assistant for six years and wanted to pursue my dream career in dental hygiene. I have a beautiful little girl and fiancé that have been my biggest support. I am very thankful and humble that my peers had nominated me as one of the three student officers of ADHA. I wanted to hold the Secretary position because I wanted to have the opportunity to be involved in one of the largest organizations that represent Hygienists and advocate for my peers. This has provided me the opportunity to learn about leadership skills, participate in conferences, and most importantly the relationships and connections I have gained along the way is priceless. I want to make a difference and being a part of ADHA is just the beginning of something wonderful!

Destyne Johnson - My name is Destyne Johnson and I am the Junior President for the ADHA student chapter. I wanted to become a student officer for ADHA because I wanted to represent the class of 2021 by showing our interest and passion of the dental hygiene profession. Coming in as a new junior my knowledge of dental hygiene was limited, however being a delegate gave me the opportunity to further my learning. I have thoroughly enjoyed representing my class and I can’t wait to learn more.

Brooke Hein - My name is Brooke Hein and I am the Vice President student chapter of ADHA class of 2021 at Pacific University. To become an ADHA student officer means that I get to help represent my peers at a local, state, and potentially national level. That’s something I am proud of.

Senior Officers: (L to R) Hannah Swenson, Alex Peña, Carlin Chung

Hannah Swenson - My name is Hannah Swenson and I am the class of 2020’s Vice President for the American Dental Hygiene Association student chapter at Pacific University. Becoming an officer of this association intrigued me as I wanted to be a voice for my class through our journey. Dental hygiene school is extremely rewarding but there’s no denying that it also brings challenges we’ve never encountered. Because of this, my goal as a delegate is to encourage my fellow classmates to keep the environment positive between each other and patient care, while maintaining a balance of school and home-life. I hope to be an advocate for my class and continue to grow in the field of dentistry.

Alex Peña - My name is Alexandria (Alex) Peña and I am the senior President of the American Dental Hygiene Association student chapter for the class of 2020 at Pacific University for the second year in a row. I enjoy being a voice for my peers and providing resources to help thrive in the health field. At Pacific University, we hold monthly meetings for the ADHA student chapter and all students are to attend the meetings in order to remain active in the association. We work together in forming public health opportunities, volunteer work and promotion of the oral cavity and overall health. The collaboration of junior and senior students through the student association meetings has strengthened my peers and my ability to delegate and develop leadership skills by setting core examples of success. Staying engaged with the association empowers students by offering a breadth of knowledge for what dental hygiene has to offer. Being an active student member of the American Dental Hygiene Association has enlightened me with the expansive amount of education that the ADHA has to offer. By helping to plan and lead monthly ADHA meetings at Pacific University I have learned about dental strategies to provide the highest quality of care which has ensured my belief for a bright future after and during student life.

Carlin Chung - My name is Carlin and I am the secretary for the ADHA student chapter. My reasons to jump into this role included my desire to connect with and to represent my classmates and profession in a way that would utilize my strengths. As secretary, I have been able to aid in planning and organizing student meetings and events. Supporting my classmates in both big and small ways has been a joy during my time in the program.

Oregon Institute of Technology (Klamath Falls)

Dental Hygiene Students at Oregon Tech Deliver Services to Rural Populations in Jamaica - The trip was part of the International Externship Program, which provides students the opportunity to travel outside the United States and provide dental care in nontraditional settings and within new cultures.

Six students and two faculty members from Oregon Institute of Technology’s dental hygiene program in Klamath Falls traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica in September 2019 to provide dental care to underserved populations in rural areas.

The trip was part of the International Externship Program (IEP), which provides students the opportunity to travel outside the United States and provide dental care in nontraditional settings and within new cultures. The goal is to, not only provide much needed dental care to underserved populations, but also provide students an opportunity to develop confidence, skills, and a passion for community service. These skills can benefit them in future work settings such as public health, dental missions, rural health and mobile dentistry. This is a commitment by each team member, as they must each raise $2,700 through private funds, donations and fundraising events.

The 2019 IEP team members were Breanna Bass, Shayla Engelbrecht, Kailey Flockoi, Melanie Fournet, Megan Schrock, and Allison Wood. Faculty instructors coordinating and traveling with the students were Jeannie Bopp and Lois Goeres. Rural sites were selected by Great Shape Inc. where clinics were set up in churches or community buildings. Students learned to deal with hot, humid conditions, power outages, old equipment, and long bus rides to the sites on very crude narrow roads, up to an hour long each way.

The people of Jamaica were extremely grateful and appreciative of any care they received. They showed appreciation with gifts of coconuts, avocados, dancing, and traditional Jamaican food. They had little to give but their smiles and appreciation were reward enough.

“The trip had it all, work, sweat, tears, laughs, fun, and memories that will last a lifetime” (Allison Wood).
“I will forever cherish this experience and everyone that helped me get there. I hope to someday be able to provide services like this again. It has made me realize how much I love this life of mine and cherish my dedication to this healthcare profession” (Megan Schrock).
“We have served hundreds of Jamaicans this week and it has made my heart full” (Kailey Flockoi).
“The people of Jamaica were amazing & the most appreciative people I have ever met!” This experience taught me many valuable lessons…”(Melanie Fournet).

Through this trip, these students have experienced the power of compassion, teamwork, and giving of their knowledge and skills to change the lives of others less fortunate. They will be amazing leaders upon graduation as they apply this experience to their own communities.

Upcoming Events!

Oregon Dental Conference

ODC Registration is OPEN!

Please mark your calendars to attend ODHA’s annual All RDH Celebration at ODC on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Interested in sponsoring the All RDH Celebration? Download our sponsorship form!

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ADHA Annual Conference

ADHA Annual Conference Registration is OPEN! Come and collaborate with fellow dental hygienists while attending wonderful CE!

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Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference

ODHA is excited to announce the date and venue for our 2020 Oregon Dental Hygiene Conference! Join us October 23-25 at the Embassy Suites at Washington Square, for another great conference of CE and networking. More information coming soon...