ADHA Announces Recipient of 2007 Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award

Chicago, July 12, 2007—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Tammi O. Byrd, RDH, of Columbia, S.C., as a recipient of the 2007 Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award. She was honored during the opening ceremonies at ADHA’s 84th annual session in New Orleans, La., on June 22nd.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication to the profession of dental hygiene. With this award, ADHA and Johnson & Johnson recognize individual dental hygienists who have made “outstanding accomplishments that have a significant impact on the practice and future of the dental hygiene profession.” The recipients have at least 10 years of membership in ADHA, demonstrate an active involvement in the association, and were nominated by a colleague for their outstanding accomplishments.

Byrd, a graduate of Midlands Technical College in Columbia, S.C., is the owner of Health Promotion Specialists, a statewide school-based oral health program serving 36 school districts across the state of South Carolina. She serves as the chief executive officer, clinical director, and public relations and marketing director. She has actively worked her entire career at improving oral health in South Carolina, and serves as a consultant to other states working to improve oral health through access to preventive dental hygiene care.

Byrd is a member of her local, state, and national dental hygiene associations and is a member of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. Byrd has been actively involved with ADHA, having served as ADHA president from 2003-04. Byrd also served as president of the South Carolina Dental Hygienists’ Association from 1993-94.

Award recipients received a $2,500 check awarded at the President’s Luncheon in New Orleans, La., complimentary round trip airfare and meeting registration, two nights' lodging at the Sheraton New Orleans, two days' per diem, and two complimentary tickets to the luncheon which was held on Sunday, June 24, 2007. The gifts were provided through the generous support of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of more than 120,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit ADHA at http://www.adha.org.

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