Hygiene Rising

This week Matt chats with Melissa Calhoun, RDH, MSDH, MAADH, who has moved states multiple times as a military spouse and been licensed in every single one. Melissa shares some of the professional challenges she faced moving from Florida to Tennessee to Maryland and now California, including having to re-take her clinical board exam in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic on a mannequin. Melissa is currently the president-elect of the American Academy of Dental Hygiene (AADH) and shares a little bit about the organization and her new role. 

Learn more about the AADH at www.aadh.org

Learn more about dental hygiene licensure at www.adha.org/licensure

For more information on the progress of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Licensure Compact visit compacts.csg.org/compact-updates/dentistry-and-dental-hygiene/

ADHA Annual Conference and awards information is at www.adha2023.org 

Improving value-based care, medical-dental integration and dental therapy are important initiatives that ADHA® member Misty Davis, RDH, BS, actively works on. Misty serves in a unique role, expanding and elevating these initiatives as the oral health program manager for the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA). Listen in as your host, Matt Crespin, RDH, MPH, uncovers what drives Misty's resolve and passion for furthering and advocating for improved oral health access and outcomes, and her hopes for the future of our profession!

More information about MPCA's oral health initiatives can be found at https://www.mpca.net/page/oral 

This week, the ADHA podcast closes out National Dental Hygiene Month 2022 with our partner from Colgate®. Your host, Matt, focuses on the theme of empowerment and continues the conversation with Phyllis Martina, RDH, MBA of Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mandy Dennis, RDH, Nicole Ortega, RDHAP, and Jessica Allbritten, RDH. Get empowered by these authors, entrepreneurs, direct access providers, practice movers and shakers, business managers, and then some! This podcast will leave you feeling inspired and ready to shape the career path you envision for yourself.

This week, Matt is joined by Jennifer Frame, RDH, BSDH and author/speaker Rachel Lewis to discuss pregnancy loss and how to best support patients, spouses, friends and colleagues during an extremely challenging time in their lives. As dental providers, we are often among the first to know when a patient is expecting and when a pregnancy loss occurs. By sharing her personal story of loss as a mother, Rachel discovered her passion for writing and speaking as a way to help others cope and continue to hope.

Rachel's website and additional resources: www.thelewisnote.com/adha

Additional grief and loss resources: https://www.chawisconsin.org/initiatives/grief-and-bereavement/ 

https://www.chawisconsin.org/initiatives/injury-prevention-death-review/

This week Matt sits down with recent ADHA Presidential Citation recipient Latisha Canty, RDH, BS, MSN to chat about her role as the president of the National Dental Hygienists' Association (NDHA). Listen in to learn about the great work NDHA is doing under Latisha's leadership to advocate for improved access to care, and to encourage and support more minority dental hygienists to enter the profession. They also discuss the ongoing efforts between ADHA and NDHA to strengthen the relationship and join forces to advance our shared passion for oral health. Matt also lets us in on a few highlights from his recent trip across the pond to the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH) in Dublin, Ireland. Listen now!

ADHA Apology for role in systemic racism: https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/ADHA__ApologytoNDHA_3_2_22.pdf

This week, Matt chats with Jeanette Lalli, RDH, who is the recent winner of the ADHA 2022 Esther Wilkins Future Leader Award. As Community Service Committee Lead, SADHA Secretary, and the current President of the Arizona Dental Hygienists' Association, Jeanette is inspiring fellow hygienists with her passion and drive. Tune in for more about their favorite moments from ADHA22 Louisville and how Jeanette's journey as a hygienist has shaped her approach to leadership and advocacy.

This week, Matt chats with Megen Elliott, MS-OCL, RDH, CDA, a clinician turned educator who now puts her love of the dental field to use to guide others on their journey to a new profession. Listen in as they talk conference highlights and first-timer tips to help you make the most of your ADHA22 Louisville experience. If you haven't yet registered get ready for some serious FOMO. Not to worry, there's still time to join us in Kentucky! Tune in for amazing education tracks, super-fun social events, ticket pick-up logistics and everything else you need to know about the when and where of it all.

Matt chats with author, speaker and mentor Kari Carter-Cherelus, RDH, DA. Listen in as they discuss the importance of educating hygienists about mental health and burnout. Kari is passionate about helping hygienists recognize the signs and implement effective strategies to overcome the damaging effects. Be sure to add Kari's session to your must-attend list at ADHA22. Matt also talks about getting ready to gather live in Louisville this June, celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month in May and Pride all month long.

ADHA Apology for role is systemic racism: https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/ADHA__ApologytoNDHA_3_2_22.pdf