PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Indiana Dental Hygienists!
I am honored to be entrusted with the leadership of this association.
I am thankful to have so many dedicated professionals around me:
on the board, in committees, in our schools, and all our members.
I hope we have a year filled with growth and find a sense of
community in each other.
The theme for 2022-2023 is “Building for the Future.” This is a continuation of the previous theme: “Be the Change.” Without support from our members, we would not be the association we are today and I would not be the dental hygienist I am today. To build for the future we need our dedicated members to commit to being the change for themselves, their profession, and this association.
This past year, the IDHA Board of Directors finalized the IDHA Strategic Plan for 2022-2025. With that blueprint in mind, I have identified goals for the coming year: Leadership Development and Advocacy.
When I think of “Building for the Future” I am hopeful we will continue growing as a strong and active professional association. We are all integral building blocks in this endeavor. Our unique experiences and talents ensure that we all have something to offer dental hygiene and our association. This relationship is not one-sided. We can all gain tremendous professional and life experience by networking with our peers. This association has given me a greater sense of community with my fellow hygienists. I believe it is a strong, tight-knit community that flourishes. You can help IDHA flourish by bringing your unique experiences and ideas to the table. Become a member of our committees to help us build for the future!
Having an influential association allows dental hygienists to protect our profession, expand our scope of practice, and advocate for necessary legislative changes.
In the coming year, We will promote the full utilization and scope of practice for all dental hygienists. In this effort, it will be imperative to enhance our interprofessional collaboration to advance oral health in Indiana. I hope our efforts in HI-PAC and our Legislative Committee can shine through and make a difference in our profession and the oral health of our fellow Hoosiers.
There are always opportunities to get more involved- the more you put into your profession, the more you will get out of it.
Please consider how YOU can help build the future of dental hygiene in Indiana through active involvement in IDHA. Your membership matters!
“There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.” — Idowu Koyenikan
Kimmy Rezutko
IDHA President 2022-2023
COVID-19 Resource Center for Dental Hygienists
01/03/2022
We have updated the ADHA Interim Guidance for Dental Hygiene Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic to reflect changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance for Dental Settings, Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Sections During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
ADHA has updated the name of the resource to Interim Guidance for Dental Hygiene Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Additionally, new information has been added to the resource to share an update from the CDC regarding Epidemiology and Control of Selected Infections.
ADHA Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights
House of Delegates Task Force
The Board received a review of findings from the January 24 House of Delegates Town Hall and a report of recommendations from The ADHA Task Force on Pathways to ADHA Board Leadership. The Task Force has developed a roadmap for guiding bylaws reform and remodeling how to cultivate the strongest leadership within the ADHA Board of Trustees. Their recommendations are being developed as Proposed Bylaw changes by ADHA Legal Counsel and will be submitted to the Committee on Policy and Bylaws by the deadline for House of Delegates business on the last Friday of March. The Chair of the Taskforce, Christina Emmert, ADHA Speaker of the House, provided the Board with activities planned for communication and continued engagement of the ADHA Delegates in the upcoming months.
Advancing Equity Begins Within
ADHA’s equity consultative partner, Just Health Collective, presented results from their qualitative and quantitative review of diversity and inclusion within ADHA’s structure, policies and practices. The team outlined seven actionable recommendations for defining and advancing an organizational vision for health equity and belonging over the next three-five years. The Board engaged in a generative discussion of these recommendations, considering strategies, priorities and challenges to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the dental hygiene community. The Board renewed their commitment to fostering a sense of belonging for all dental hygienists at ADHA.
Financial & Membership Check In
Treasurer Secrist, along with ADHA Chief Financial Officer Cameron Hawkins, reviewed the second quarter financial statements. The ADHA Membership Engagement team updated the Board on the robust retention and renewal campaign currently in process for 2022. The Board discussed continued implications from the pandemic and strategies for maximizing new member acquisition as well as non-dues revenue opportunities.
The Business of Governance
Additional topics, reviews and recommendations on the agenda from Saturday’s working sessions included:
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Proposed Bylaws change to Senior status membership category
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National Appointments for CODA Commissioner, Appeal Board and Review Committee candidate recommendations and nominations
Resources at the Ready!
ADHA leaders! Don’t forget you have a rich resource of support documents, videos and guidelines available to you within the Volunteer Leadership Portal. Questions about membership, how to maximize effectiveness of your campaigns, financial management tips and so much more are there for you. Take advantage of it by logging in to your account at: https://mymembership.adha.org/
President Burch’s fourth quarter video is also available for use at your state and local meetings! Share this recap with your members for a summary of recent accomplishments and things to look forward to this spring and summer. Email Kathy Pujol to request the link for your events.
Upcoming Events
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June 22-23: Live Dental Hygiene Leadership Summit - this event is designed just for current and future leaders of ADHA! Encourage your colleagues at the local and state levels to register and come soak up essential business training.
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June 24-26: ADHA22 Conference in Louisville, KY promises to be the celebration and education event of the year. Be sure to register now
Welcome new ADHA President Dawn Dean!
Award for Clinical and Academic Excellence and served as a Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA) President. Her professional career includes work as a clinical dental hygienist, clinical instructor at West Liberty University, Sarah Whitaker Glass School of Dental Hygiene, and an RDH expert witness and entrepreneur. Dawn has also authored several professional articles for Access Magazine.
Currently, Dawn is an Assistant Professor at the WVU School of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene, in Morgantown, West Virginia, and a Twice Toothpaste Pro Team Ambassador.
Dawn has held numerous leadership positions on the local, state and national levels, including two consecutive terms as TSDHA president and president-elect, as WVDHA president and president-elect, WV IOH Liaison, and WV Delegation Chair. She served as ADHA District III Trustee from 2016-2020 and as the 2020-2021 ADHA Vice President. Dawn has served on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, IOH Board of Directors, Board Governance Manual Committee as Chair, Nominating Committee as Board Advisor, Student Relations Committee, and Council on Public Relations as Chair. She received the 2017 West Virginia University School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society in 2018.
Dawn and her husband, Michael, have three, beautiful adult daughters and now consider themselves official empty nesters. She is a Sigma Phi Alpha National Dental Hygiene Honor Society WVU School of Dentistry Alpha Xi Chapter Member, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Member, Toastmasters International Member, and WV Oral Health Coalition Member. She is also a certified Sports Yoga instructor and an avid antique collector.
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Dawn Ann Dean, RDH, MSDH of Wheeling, West Virginia, is the 2022-2023 President of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA).
Dawn graduated with an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene from West Liberty State College in 1984. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Virginia University, Eberly College of Arts & Sciences, in 1986, and subsequently a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Research & Administration from the West Virginia University, School of Dentistry, in 1992. Dawn was awarded the WLSC Golden Scaler Award and the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association