Matt Crespin, the 2019-2020 ADHA President, is back to host this week's episode of the Official American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Podcast. Matt introduces the concept of advocacy with the help of his guest, Ann Lynch, ADHA's Director of Advocacy and Education, who talks about the world of dental hygiene advocacy and her role within it.

Episode Highlights:

• Anne's background and her current role with ADHA

• The advocacy work that ADHA is doing
• What hygienists can do to advocate in their own state and some examples of what is happening at the state level that impacts the profession
• The strategic goals of ADHA advocacy

Quotes:

"I think that it's really important that dental hygienists position themselves as experts in their field."

"It's great that you are able to help navigate our work at the Federal level and making sure that dental hygienists are at the forefront, at the table, and part of the discussion."

"Lawmakers love it when you offer to be a resource for them."

"We know that…currently there a lot of, an ever increasing amount of, ethical issues, along with validity and reliability surrounding that process for initial examination."

"I believe that there will be a day that dental therapists are as commonplace as nurse practitioners and physician assistants are today in the health care team."

Links:

American Dental Hygienists' Association homepage: https://www.adha.org/

ADHA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/youradha/

The Dental Podcast Network Channel One homepage:

http://dentalpodcastnetworkchannelone.otcpn.libsynpro.com/

The Dental Podcast Network Channel Two homepage:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dental-podcast-networks-channel-two/id1478530429