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New Jersey
Dental Hygienists' Association

KUDOS

Congratulations to Carly Scarano, RDH (Central) winner of the 2017 Westphal Scholarship, presented to a member for degree completion. Click here to read the prize winning essay.

Congratulations to Latanya Williams, RDH, BS (Bergen), the 2018 winner of the NJDHA Frances D. Fluhr Outstanding Service Award !

Congratulations to Dr. Ethan Glickman, the 2018 winner of the award given to a non-RDH for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Profession.

NJDHA presents the Gurenlian Leadership Award to a graduate at each of the dental hygiene programs. NJDHA welcome these future leaders to the profession:

   German Pachon, Eastern International College on 4.27.18

   Taylor Paglione, Rowan College at Burlington County on 4.28.18

   Ashlee Rogalsky, Bergen County College on 5.4.18

   Alyssa Dockweiler, Middlesex County College on 5.14.18

   Jessica Garwood, Camden County College on 5.15.18

Congratulations to Athena Chen (RCBC), recipient of the Southern-NJDHA 2018 Award for Excellence in Communication

Congratulations to Kelsey Meehan (CCC), recipient of the Southern-NJDHA 2018 Award for Excellence in Communication

Congratulations to Heather Alexander (MCC 2018 graduate), recipient of Central-NJDHA's 2018 Mara Sculler Award.

Congratulations to Jean Rath, RDH (Southern), recipient of a 2017 Wrigley Company Foundation Grant through ADHA.

Congratulations to Jane Forrest, RDH, EdD (Southern) named by Dimensions of Dental Hygiene magazine's 10th annual event as one of "6 Dental Hygienists to Know" in the research category.

Congratulations to Melissa Obratka, RDH, BBAOM (Northern) named by Dimensions of Dental Hygiene magazine's 10th annual event as one of "6 Dental Hygienists to Know" in the clinical practice category.

Congratulations to Susanna Scherer, RDH (Bergen) winner of the 2017 Westphal Scholarship, presented to a member for degree completion. Click here to read the prize winning essay.

Congratulations to Jane Forrest, RDH, EdD (Southern), the 2017 winner of the NJDHA Carol King Award for Advancing the Profession of Dental Hygiene! Click here to read Jane's essay.

Congratulations to Faith Zimnes, RDH, MA, (Southern) the 2017 winner of the NJDHA Mary Jane Kellogg Dutton Faculty Mentorship Award. Click here to read the RCBC student chapter's nominating essay.

From the ADHA 2017 Jacksonville meeting
Jaclyn Klepaldo, RDH (SouthShore) Philips/Pennwell "Heart to Hands" Award

Congratulations to Denisse Benitez (Rutgers), Winner of 2017 Northern Allers/Rummel Award

Congratulations to Sandra Berger, RDH, BS(Central), the 2016 winner of the NJDHA Frances D. Fluhr Outstanding Service Award !

Congratulations to Shirley Birenz, RDH, MS (Central) the 2016 winner of the Board of Trustee's Special Award for Service.

Congratulations to Sam Zwetchkenbaum, DMD, the 2016 winner of the award given to a non-RDH for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Profession.

Congratulations to Adriana Hakobyan (EIC), recipient of the Bergen-NJDHA Award.

Advertise and Support NJDHA

Corporate Friends who wish to reach NJDHA members may download these documents

Advertising Order Form

Mail List Order Form

Looking for a Dental Hygienist? Check this advertising opportunity:

Employment Advertising Order Form

Looking to increase your brand awareness? Be a part of NJDHA Annual Cofnerence (formerly known as Garden sTate Cofnernece) on November 2, 2019 at the Priceton Westin.

Prospectus

Registration as DocX

Registration as PDF

Contact NJDHA

NJDHA Central Office
2 Danbury Court
Marlton NJ 08053
856-574-4324 fax
centraloffice@njdha.org

Welcome!

What’s Coming Up?

3.1.19 Cheryl Westphal Theile Scholarship Application Open due 9.1

5.2-3.19 NJDA Annual Meeting

5.5.19 Northern Meeting

5.16.19 SouthShore Meeting

5.21.19 Bergen Meeting

6.21-25.19 ADHA Louisville

7.1.19 IOH Applications Open: Wrigley Community Service Grants
Due 10.1

7.14.19 SouthShore Meeting

7.23.19 NJDHA BOT Conf. Call

9.1.19 Cheryl Westphal Theile Scholarship Application DUE

9.15.19 Northern Meeting

9.20.19 Southern Meeting

9.29.19 Bergen Meeting

10.15.19 Bergen Meeting

10.20.19 SouthShore Meeting

10.27.19 Central Meeting

11.1.19 NJDHA BOT Meeting

11.2.19 NJDHA Annual Conference (formerly known as GSC)

11.12.19 Bergen Meeting

11.17.19 Southern Meeting

11.17.19 Northern Meeting

12.8.19 Central Meeting

"New Jersey Dental Hygienists' Association"

NJDHA History Corner
Reports from time to time
Historian Rhoda Gladstone (Northern)

What were the early years of NJDHA like?

Just Added! Read NJDHA's First Issue of its Journal, November 1955

Click here to see an article from December 1958 that reports the beginning of licensing and forming the association.

NJDHA Oral Cancer Screenings
This outreach to senior centers & health fairs reaches seniors and refers them to dental offices for complete care. Events in the last year have included:

10.11.18 at Salem Health Fair

Organized by Lee Ann Simmons (Southern), with Dr. Ethan Glickman onsite
Thanks to Delaware Technical Community College for donating supplies!

5.7.18 at the Elizabeth Senior Center

Organized by Luz Munera (Northern) with Dr. Ethan Glickman onsite
Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern), Erica Garcia, RDH (Northern) and Lea D'Angelo (Southern) provided care at this event. NJDHA thanks Crosstex, Hu-Friedy, Colgate,Microflex, GSK, and Sunstar for supporting this event!

10.19.17 at the Salem Health Fair

Organized by Lee Ann Simmons (Southern), with Dr. Ethan Glickman onsite
Thanks to Delaware Technical Community College for donating supplies!

9.23.17 at the Rahway Senior Health Center
Organized by Dana Farrell (Northern), with Dr. Ethan Glickman onsite
Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern) & Pat Fernandez, RDH (Bergen) provided care, and Erica Garcia, RDH (Northern) assisted. .

Fluoride Varnish Outreach
This outreach to per-schoolers provides screenings, fluoride varnish, education, and referral to dental offices. Events in the last year have included:

August 2, 2018 with Jamesburg

Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern), Kim Attanasi, RDH (Northern), & Yvonne Goldman, RDH (Northern) provided care.

May 22 & 24, 2018 with Jamesburg

Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern), Kim Attanasi, RDH (Northern), & Yvonne Goldman, RDH (Northern) provided care. RCBC students, with Faculty Linda Hecker, participated in the event!

November 16 & 30, 2017 with Hamilton Head Start

Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern), Kim Attanasi, RDH (Northern), & Yvonne Goldman, RDH (Northern) provided care.

November 5,6,& 7, 2017 education for Hamilton Head Start parents & staff
Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern),
Kim Attanasi, RDH (Northern),
Yvonne Goldman, RDH (Northern),
Hilda Mallol Noel, RDH (Northern),
Denise McSorley, RDH (Cental),
& Tina Modi, RDH (Central)
provided the education.

August 3, 2017 at Jamesburg Summer Camp Program
Linda Knudsen, RDH (Northern),
Kim Attanasi, RDH (Northern),
& Yvonne Goldman, RDH (Northern)
provided care.

This program is supported by United Way of Central NJ
and donations from 3M.

ADHA District 2 Meeting

June 2-3, 2018, Bensalem PA

NJDHA's ADHA delegation attended this meeting to prepare for proposals to come before the ADHA Hosue of Delegates in Columbus OH this June. Joining the delegation, was Christian Benitez, CCC student, class of 2019.

front, l to r: Delegates Pat Bocage, Becky Pugh, Winnie Furnari

back, l to r: Delegate Jaci Klepadlo, CCC Student Christian Benitez

NJDHA Delegates to ADHA on 6.20-25, 2018 in Columbus

NJDHA’s delegation balloted for new officers, and voted on new policies, as well as networking, testifying, and running to support IOH!

Dental Hygiene BS Degree Program Opening at EIC
EIC is pleased to announce the opening of its online degree-completion program for RDHs seeking a BSDH degree. The program is accredited in all states except California. Call 201 630 2080 for more info.

Congratulations to Latanya Williams (Bergen),

winner of the 2018 Frances D. Fluhr Outstanding Service Award. Latanya will be there so be sure to shake her hand! Latanya was nominated by Linda Knudsen so be sure to read the attached nominating letter.

Congratulations to Dr. Ethan Glickman,

identified as the 2018 recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Profession of Dental Hygiene. This award is presented to non-RDHs who have made significant contributions.

EIC Geriatric Day 9.25.18

In Partnership with NJDHA

The 3rd annual Geriatric Day at Eastern International College on Tuesday September 25, 2018 was held, despite the bad weather, flooding and storm. Students were able to see 26 geriatric patients ages 60 and above! It was a great day during which our senior dental hygiene students provided quality care to the patients including head and neck exam, oral cancer screening, full mouth examination, debridement, radiographs, fluoride treatment, and denture/prosthesis care. Students also educated the patients about optimal quality of life through good oral care and to help them understand the importance of regular dental visits. Pictured at right is Senior Student Basma Sarsam, treating her patient.

RCBC Students Start New Externship

Rowan College at Burlington County’s dental hygiene student, faculty and nursing faculty were treated to a 1 hour discussion with Angie Stone, RDH, BS the author of Dying from Dirty Teeth: Why the Lack of Proper Oral Care Is Killing Nursing Home Residents and How to Prevent It. Ms. Stone talked about her experiences with the elder community and their unique oral health care conditions. She identified the disconnection of oral care services between the dental and medical fields. This breakdown in collaboration of services occurs from the time when your geriatric patient leaves your dental office practice environment and goes into assisted living or skilled nursing facilities.

As our senior population makes their way into these programs, their discontinuation of optimal oral care causes rapid oral health deterioration. This occurrence is linked to the rapid decline in overall health. Angie Stone has experience, evidence-based outcomes and viable protocols in place for elder oral health care and improved quality of life. The only missing ingredient is a large dental hygiene grassroots movement.

RCBC Dental Hygiene Program Director Linda Hecker was so inspired by Angie Stone’s book that she is implementing Dying from Dirty Teeth into the senior Public Health curriculum. Senior externships, including brushing and flossing residents’ teeth at a local Assisted Living Community, are in the planning stages. These externships will hopefully begin in the Spring 2019 semester.

Congratulations to Carly Scarano, RDH (Central)

Carly is the 2018 recipient of the Westphal scholarship. The scholarship competition is a member-benefit that presents a scholarship to a degree-completion candidate. This year, the scholarship is again valued at $1,000. Click Here to read her essay.

EIC 3rd Grade Day 10.16.18

In Partnership with NJDHA

37 dental hygiene senior students from EIC welcomed 57 children from the local charter school for a day of preventive care. 39 students received dental screenings, prophylaxis, sealants, fluoride applications, and xrays. The remainder of children received face painting, stickers, patient education, watched movies, and colored. Vice President Tina Modi (Central) was on-hand for the event. Pictured at right is one 3rd grader receiving treatment.

EIC Special Needs Day 10.23.18

In Partnership with NJDHA

37 EIC Students visited A. Harry Moore Special Needs School,and saw 56 special needs children, ages ranging from 4 to 20 years old. The children received tooth brushing, fluoride varnish, and for some, oral hygiene instructions. Pictured at right is one of the children receiving treatment.

Awards: Awards season is open!

To nominate, or apply, for any NJDHA Award, contact Central Office.
All awards will be presented 11.2.19 at the Annual Conference (formerly known as Garden State Conference). Contact Central Office with any questions.

Click here for Fran Fluhr Outstanding Service Award

Click here for Carol King Advancing the Profession Award

ADA's Veterans Smile Day

Free Veteran Dental Care

11.3-4.18

Pictured L to R: NJDA Executive Director Art Meisel, NJDHA President Jaci Klepadlo, ADA President Dr. Jeffrey Cole, ADA Past President Maxine Feinberg

Member Benefit-Need Scholarship for Degree Completion or Graduate Degree?

The NJDHA Westphal Theile scholarship is named in honor of Cheryl Westphal Thiele, RDH, EdD, Past President of NJDHA and ADHA, and the first RDH to serve on the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry. The scholarship is presented at the NJDHA Annual Conference to a licensed RDH who is pursuing a post-associates degree from an accredited institution in dental hygiene or studies related to the professional roles of the dental hygienist. Applications are due 9.1.19 and should be sent to Central Office centraloffice@njdha.org. Click Here to read more.

Sunshine Needed for Latanya

It’s with a heavy heart that we post this go fund me page for one of our own. Latanya Williams has been an integral part of NJDHA for many years and all of the hygienists in the State have benefited from her years of volunteering and tireless efforts of moving us forward. If you can spare even $1, we ask you to consider giving back to her and her family in their time of need 💔

NJDHA thanks these sponsors of Annual Conference (formerly known as Garden State Conference)

Sunstar, sponsor of Student Networking

Dental Studies Institute / Dental Search, sponsor of Attendee Bags

Looking for an opportunity to Volunteer...

Nominations: Nominations for 2020 - offices are open!

NJDHA is dependent on the volunteers who are willing to shepherd the association forward. No special skills are needed, only the dedication to your profession and colleagues. Without you, the association withers. READ MORE

EIC hosted Special Needs Day on 3.12.19

in Partnership with NJDHA

EIC Geriatric Day 04.16.19
In Partnership with NJDHA

The 4th annual Geriatric Day at Eastern International College, in participation with NJDHA on Tuesday April 16, 2019 was held, It was a great day during which our senior dental hygiene students provided quality care to the patients including head and neck exam, oral cancer screening, full mouth examination, debridement, radiographs, fluoride treatment, and denture/prosthesis care. Students also educated the patients about optimal quality of life through good oral care and to help them understand the importance of regular dental visits.

11.1-2.19 NJDHA Annual Conference (formerly known as GSC)
Online Registration will open August First!

Topics will include:
• Oral Cancer with Susan Cotton

sponsored by Q-Optic, Oral Cancer Foundation, Crown Seating, and Smileco

• Local Anesthesia with Marion Manski,