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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.

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Contact NJDHA

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

Welcome!

What’s Coming Up?

10.1.18 IOH Applications Open: Scholarships Due 2.1.19

11.1.17: IOH Applications Open: Rosie Wall Community Spirit grants
Due 2.28

11.1.17 IOH Applications Open: Research grants Due 2.28

11.14.18 Pediatrics Study Club

11.18.18 Northern meeting

1.13.19 SouthShore Meeting

1.27.19 NJDHA BOT Conf. Call

2.1.19 GKAS

2.24.19 Southern Meeting

3.1.19 Westphal Scholarship Applications Open Due 9.1

3.3.19 Central Meeting

3.11.19 Bergen Meeting

3.31.19 Southern Meeting

3.31.19 Central Meeting

3.31.19 Northern Meeting

4.7.19 NJDHA Networking & BOT

4.16.19 Bergen Meeting

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

9.15.19 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.

Congratulations to Faith Zimnes, RDH, MA

Winner of the 2017 Mary Jane Kellogg Dutton Faculty Mentorship Award Join all of NJDHA in extending congratulations to Faith during Opening Session at GSC. Faith was nominated by her students at Rowan College at Burlington County Dental Hygiene Program. Click here to read the nominating essay.

Congratulations to Jane Forrest, RDH, EdD

Winner of the 2017 Carol King Award for Advancing the Profession Join all of NJDHA in extending congratulations to Jane during Opening Session at GSC. Jane was nominated by her Winnie Furnari (Bergen). Click here to read Jane’s essay.

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:

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.

Congratulations to Jean Rath, RDH

Recipient of a 2017 Wrigley Company Foundation Grant through ADHA. Jean is the Director for St. Christopher’s’ Foundation for Children Community Oral Health Initiatives program. Congratulations!

EIC & NJDHA Prevention Days
in partnership with NJDHA

4.17.18 Seniors Day

EIC Students welcomed 25 seniors to the clinic for a day of preventive care.

NJDHA Secretary Latanya Williams was on hand for the event.

3.27.18 Special Needs Day

EIC Students visited A.Harry Moore Special Needs School, & saw 58

special needs children, ages ranging from 3 to 21 years old. This event is

co-sponsored by NJDHA as part of an outreach to communities of need.

NJDHA President Linda Knudsen was on hand for the event!

3.20.18 3rd Grade Day
EIC students welcomed 42 children from the local charter school for a day of preventive care.

NJDHA Thanks Premier, Sunstar, and GSK for supporting this program.

NJDHA Thanks the Sponsor of 2018 GSC Student Networking

Sunstar Americas

NJDHA Thanks the Sponsor of 2018 GSC CE Speaker

Premier Dental

NJDHA Thanks the Sponsor of Educator Networking

and the Access to Care Panel at 2018 GSC

Procter & Gamble

Congratulations to Melissa Obratka, RDH, BBAOM

Congratulations to Melissa Obratka, RDH, BBAOM (Northern) named in December 2017 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 Jane Forrest, RDH, EdD

Congratulations to Jane Forrest, RDH, EdD (Southern) named in December 2017 by Dimensions of Dental Hygiene magazine's 10th annual event as one of "6 Dental Hygienists to Know" in the research category.

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!

NJDHA Thanks the Sponsor of 2018 GSC Continental Breakfast

NJSPID

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.

NJDHA Thanks the Sponsor of 2018 GSC Attendee Bags

Dental Studies Institute / Dental Search

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.

Congratulations to Newly Elected 2019 Officers

At the 1st General Membership Meeting on 11.26-27.18 at Garden State Conference, Jaci Klepadlo (SouthShore) was elected as 2019 President. Her theme for the year is “Small Steps Lead to Big Changes”. 2018 President Linda Knudsen (Northern) will continue on the Board as Immediate Past President.

Also elected were:
President Elect Kim Attanasi (Northern)
Vice President Dorothy Ferreira (Bergen)
Secretary Erica Garcia (Northern)

Treasurer Staci Violante (Central)

For more info about these new officers, Click Here.

Successful Smile for Our Heroes

Free Veteran Dental Care

11.3-4.18 in Dover NJ

Zufall Health

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