ADHA - AS2009 - Testimonials

How did You hear about the 2009 ADHA annual meeting?
I have received multiple mailings and postings through professional magazines and e-mail. I also teach part-time atIdaho State University (ISU), and am currently a graduate student working on my Master of Science in Dental Hygiene fromISU. Some of my colleagues are attending and presenting at this meeting.

What drew you to attend the 2009 ADHA annual meeting?
I have always wanted to attend a national meeting. This summer is the first when timing has been in my favor for attending. In the midst of my clinical research project for my thesis, I have submitted an abstract and plan to present a poster about the results at the meeting.

What excites you the most about the 2009 meeting in DC?
The ability to present results from my thesis project excites me the most. I am conducting a clinical research study looking at nonsurgical periodontal therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; i.e., emphysema, chronic bronchitis) and attempting to determine if hand instrumentation or ultrasonic instrumentation (compared to no treatment) affects quality of life, increases respiratory symptoms, or causes other illness. This study is landmark for dentistry and dental hygiene, as no studies have evaluated dental care and its effect on the respiratory system in ambulatory patients.

Barnes W. Gail Barnes, RDH, PhD

The new 2008 format was different however; it seemed to be tailored more to my needs as a dental hygiene educator. The best part of the 2008 meeting was that 4 of my students participated in the table clinic contest. It was nice to see their enthusiasm for their future profession. They also had an opportunity to meet and take pictures with past President Jean Connor and some of the ADHA staff. On a personal note, I felt the camaraderie more at this annual session than I ever have in the more than 12 annual sessions I have attended. We were a group of professionals with a common educational background. It didn’t matter the race, age, gender, etc. you could still remember your firsts in dental hygiene education; be it your first patient, seeing your new instruments, etc. I was extremely excited to learn that this year’s annual session will be in Washington, DC the city where I received my dental hygiene education. DC has so much to offer for attendees and their family members joining them. I eagerly look forward to seeing my professional friends again. Most of them I only see at the annual session.

Maura Ordovensky Maura Y. Ordovensky, RDH, BS

I found out about the ADHA Annual Session through the email updates and newsletters I receive as an ADHA member. In addition, my component is always involved in our state HOD which always discusses Annual Session.

I have always wanted to attend an ADHA meeting. Last year, many of our local component officers went to New Orleans and came back with such positive feelings and a great breadth of information about where our profession is headed.

What most excites me most about the upcoming ADHA meeting is the opportunity to be with so many other dental hygienists from around the country. It will be an incredible thing to see. I can’t wait to be a part of a multiple day event geared strictly toward bettering the practice and profession of dental hygiene.

Angela Yoho

Angela Yoho

How did you hear about the 2009 ADHA annual meeting?
I heard about the annual meeting through my ADHA student chapter advisor, as well as from the preliminary program insert that came with my monthly issue of Access.

What drew you to attend the 2009 ADHA annual meeting?
After experiencing the intimate network of support and encouragement of the Dental Hygiene profession on a larger scale at the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienist’s Association annual session, I was interested in experiencing the profession on the national level. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the 2008 annual meeting, but one of my classmates did travel to Albuquerque for the meeting last year and came back enthusiastic and passionate about Dental Hygiene. She was eager to share her experiences and she motivated me to participate!

What excites you the most about the 2009 meeting in DC?
It will be nice to be able to let off a little steam with other students, and participate in the student track. As a new graduate, I will be eager to listen to any tips offered in Seeking the Right Fit: Finding the “Perfect” Job. One of my favorite things is learning about new products that might enhance the profession or patient care, so I am looking forward to the exhibits, as well. While all of these are points of interest, I am most excited about taking part in Hygiene on a grand scale and networking with other hygienists from across the country to find out what makes the profession so exciting for them, in hopes that I can put my best foot forward and jump-start my career in Dental Hygiene!