Ann Arbor, MI—October 21, 2005— The President of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Katie Dawson, told dental hygiene students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry today that their training and education "will open many doors of opportunity" to them in the years ahead. Founded in 1923, ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of more than 120,000 registered dental hygienists in the U.S.

Those opportunities, she said, would complement, not replace, their experiences in private practice and encompass other areas including public health, education, administration and management, research, and advocacy. Dawson made the special visit to the School of Dentistry prior to attending the Michigan Dental Hygienists' Association House of Delegates meeting this weekend in the Traverse City area.

ADHA President Katie Dawson visited the School of Dentistry to talk to dental hygiene students, faculty, and others about the future of the profession.

Talking to students about her life, Dawson said she conducted a self-assessment in the early 1970s and realized, that as a recently-divorced mother who was working as a secretary for a government agency in Alameda County, California, that her future was limited. "So I took the money from my retirement account, paid off my bills, and began with a clean slate," she said.

With encouragement from her brother, a dentist, Dawson said she pursued her dreams and landed a job in the Registrar's Office at Alameda College while completing her dental hygiene prerequisites. Dawson graduated from the dental hygiene program at the University of California (San Francisco) School of Dentistry in 1976. In her junior year at UCSF she was dental hygiene class president and in her senior year was vice president of the Associated Dental Students. After graduation, Dawson joined the local chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association in Oakland. "That was one of the best things that happened to me because it gave me an opportunity to become involved in other ways, such as seeing how legislation is shaped. I found I liked doing that," she said.

Opportunities to Make a Difference

Reflecting on her career and the dental hygiene profession, Dawson told students that the public health area would probably be the biggest opportunity for them to grow professionally and personally in the years ahead. She cited examples of states allowing dental hygienists to work, not only in dental offices, but also in other ways including providing preventive care to patients in nursing homes, in rural areas, and in some of the poorest communities.

"I want to emphasize that these new roles will not replace our current roles, nor are we trying to compete with dentists," she said. "We're simply talking about using our knowledge and training to provide services to those who have no access to care, or who have very limited incomes, especially the unserved and the underserved."

Dawson also encouraged the dental hygiene students to think about careers as dental educators and researchers. "Many of today's teachers will be retiring in the years ahead, and there is going to be a need to find someone to replace them," she said. There will also be a need for researchers "because so many of our policies are based on research and evidence, and you can help here too," she said. Dawson said she was impressed with how U-M School of Dentistry dentists and dental hygienists are working together at the School's Michigan Center for Oral Health Research on various projects.

She also encouraged students to consider becoming administrators and managers. In response to a question, Dawson said as ADHA president she works closely with the executive director, Ann Battrell, who is the first dental hygienist to hold the position, supervises a staff of 42 people, and works with division directors. "So I'm responsible for what goes on with our organization," she said.

Following her remarks and a question and answer session with dental hygiene students, Dawson was presented with a hand-made, embroidered blanket from the second-year dental hygiene class. Class president Crystal Vernier said the gift was from all 27 students in her class.

Crystal Vernier, second-year dental hygiene class president, presented Dawson with an embroidered blanket following a presentation.

Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the School's dental hygiene program, said, "It was phenomenal to have Katie take some time from her busy schedule to come to our School and talk, not only to dental hygiene students and faculty, but the Dean, staff members, and others. We hope she comes back again."

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.

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