ADHA Access May-June : Page 32

“ I believe the dental hygiene profession should concentrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: Reducing the isolation of the dental hygienist and promoting more interdisciplinary cooperation.” —Cindy Kleiman, RDH, BS The thing I enjoy the most about being a dental hygien-ist is: meeting other hygienists throughout the U.S. and other countries around the world. It is fascinating to “compare notes” on standards of patient care in different cultures. The most gratifying thing I have accomplished as a den-tal hygienist is: inspiring other dental hygienists to branch out into nontraditional career paths.  I live in: Scottsdale, Ariz. I attended dental hygiene school at: the University of Pennsylvania. I became a dental hygienist because: in the early ’70s, some women thought differently than today. I only consid-ered typical “women’s” careers, those that would stereo-W\SLFDOO\¿WZHOOZLWKDPDUULDJHDQGNLGV'HQWDOK\JLHQH¿W that mold. Though I’ve not been unhappy with my career, I wouldn’t necessarily have made the same choice today. My current position as a dental hygienist is: indepen-GHQWRUDOFDUHFRQVXOWDQWDQGVSHDNHU,SURYLGHFRQWLQXLQJ education courses on medical emergencies and also on treatment of medically complex patients. I also provide clinical care in a senior-care facility, teach CPR to dental professionals, and provide inter-disciplinary education inter-nationally on oral care in the hospital ICU. The thing I would most like to accomplish as a dental hygienist in the future is: to improve the level of oral care in the hospital setting. My mentor: I have had three mentors in my career. 'UV*LO=D\RQDQG-DFN=DIURQ&#0f;ZKRSUDFWLFHGLQDUHKDE hospital, hired me almost fresh out of hygiene school and instilled in me their passion for special care dentistry. And much later on in my career, a nurse practitioner named Vir-ginia Prendergast expanded my reach into the hospital ICU. She has taught me more about clinical research than I ever WKRXJKW,ZRXOGNQRZ I believe the dental hygiene profession should con-centrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: Reducing the isolation of the dental hygienist and promoting more interdisciplinary cooperation. The current trends affecting the practice of dental hygiene are: -REVHFXULW\GXHWRWKHHFRQRPLFVORZGRZQ¶V effect on private practices, the double-edged sword of more alternative practice opportunities opening up, but with LQFUHDVHG¿QDQFLDOULVNLQDVWUXJJOLQJHFRQRP\ The top three keys to solving the access to care prob-lem in America are: I confess that I don’t have any magic answers to these serious socio-economic issues. The most important thing ADHA membership has done for me is: NHHSLQJPHLQIRUPHGRQLPSRUWDQWLVVXHV in the profession through print and electronic communica-tions. My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: to realize that it’s important to monitor the constantly FKDQJLQJVFLHQFHRI\RXUSURIHVVLRQDQGWRNHHSXSZLWK evidence-based research. ,IVRPHRQHLVLQWHUHVWHGLQ¿QGLQJRXWPRUHDERXW me or my job, please contact: &LQG\.OHLPDQ&#0f;5'+&#0f;%6&#0f; 2UDO&DUH&RQVXOWDQWDQG6SHDNHU&#0f;&#1b;(:LQJ6KDGRZ 5G6FRWWVGDOH$=&#1b;&#1e;&#1b;

&#1c;&#1e;FLQG\VSHDNLQJ# JPDLOFRP&#1e;ZZZFLQG\VSHDNLQJFRP Attendee 6SRWOLJKW What’s the best part of attending CLL? Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, BA, MS, San Carlos, Calif.: ³ ,DOZD\VHQMR\QHWZRUNLQJ with colleagues. This year, I had the pleasure of meeting Naeema from 2PDQ&#0f;DQG,ZLOOZRUN with her to help Oman become a member of the International )HGHUDWLRQRI'HQWDO+\JLHQLVWV&#0b;,)'+&#0c; 7D\ORU+LFNVZDVQ¶WEDG&#0f;HLWKHU´ 3UR¿OHLVSUHSDUHGE\$'+$FRPPXQLFDWLRQVVWDII,I\RXNQRZ an ADHA member who would make an interesting candidate IRURXU3UR¿OHFROXPQ&#0f;VHQGXVKHURUKLVFRQWDFWLQIRUPDWLRQ $WWQ&#1d;&RPPXQLFDWLRQV3UR¿OH&#0f;10LFKLJDQ$YH&#0f;6WH&#0f; &KLFDJR&#0f;,/RUFRPPXQLFDWLRQV#DGKDQHW ■ 32 MAY-JUN 2012 access

Profile

"[ believe the dental hygiene profession should concentrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: Reducing the isolation of the dental hygienist and promoting more interdisciplinary cooperation. " - Cindy Kleiman, RDH, BS I live in: Scottsdale, Ariz. I attended dental hygiene school at: the University of Pennsylvania . I became a dental hygienist because: in the early 70s, some women thought differently than today. I only considered typical "women's" careers, those that would stereotypically fit well with a marriage and kids. Dental hygiene fit that mold. Though I've not been unhappy with my career, I wouldn't necessarily have made the same choice today. My current position as a dental hygienist is: independent oral care consultant and speaker. I provide continuing education courses on medical emergencies and also on treatment of medically complex patients. I also provide clinical care in a senior-care facility, teach CPR to dental professionals, and provide inter-disciplinary education internationally on oral care in the hospital ICU . The thing I enjoy the most about being a dental hygienist is: meeting other hygienists throughout the U.S. and other countries around the world. It is fascinating to "compare notes" on standards of patient care in different cultures. The most gratifying thing I have accomplished as a dental hygienist is: inspiring other dental hygienists to branch out into nontraditional career paths. The thing I would most like to accomplish as a dental hygienist in the future is: to improve the level of oral care in the hospital setting. My mentor: I have had three mentors in my career. Drs. Gil layon and Jack lafron, who practiced in a rehab hospital, hired me almost fresh out of hygiene school and instilled in me their passion for special care dentistry. And much later on in my career, a nurse practitioner named Virginia Prendergast expanded my reach into the hospital ICU. She has taught me more about clinical research than I ever thought I would know. I believe the dental hygiene profession should concentrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: Reducing the isolation of the dental hygienist and promoting more interdisciplinary cooperation . The current trends affecting the practice of dental hygiene are: Job security due to the economic slowdown's effect on private practices, the double-edged sword of more alternative practice opportunities opening up, but with increased financial risk in a struggling economy. The top three keys to solving the access to care problem in America are: I confess that I don't have any magic answers to these serious socio-economic issues. The most important thing ADHA membership has done for me is: keeping me informed on important issues in the profession through print and electronic communications. My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: to realize that it's important to monitor the constantly changing science of your profession and to keep up with evidence-based research. If someone is interested in finding out more about me or my job, please contact: Cindy Kleiman, RDH, BS, Oral Care Consultant and Speaker, 8114 E Wing Shadow Rd Scottsdale Al 85255; 480-342-9655; cindyspeaking@ gmail.com; www.cindyspeaking.com Profile is prepared by ADHA communications staff. If you know an ADHA member who would make an interesting candidate for our Profile column, send us her or his contact information. Attn: Communications/Profile, 444 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 3400, Chicago, IL 60611 or communications@adha.net.

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