ADHA Access August 2012 : Page 32

 “My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: maximize your potential by obtaining your bachelor’s or master’s degree or beyond. One should also consider advancing your profession by conducting research.” —Debbie E. Walker, LDH, RDH I believe the dental hygiene profession should concentrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: plain and simple, it is about autonomy! I know far too many brilliant hygienists without an outlet for their talents because of job shortage. I believe after 100 years as a profession, we already should own our opportunities and dictate its path. We should also focus on the development of young, savvy, exciting leadership with emphasis on being a member of our professional organization. I live in: Oceanside, Calif. I attended dental hygiene school at: Indiana University, South Bend, class of 2000. I became a dental hygienist because: It was rated the number one career for women when I enrolled. I desired to be a part of an exclusive group of female entrepreneurs. My current position as a dental hygienist: Currently, I serve as a civilian dental hygienist for the 1st Dental Battalion, Navy Dental Center, Camp Pendleton, Calif. I have the extreme privilege to provide individualized GHQWDOK\JLHQHVHUYLFHVIRU$PHULFD¶V¿QHVW0DULQHVDQG Sailors. The thing I enjoy the most about being a dental hygienist is: I thoroughly enjoy the understanding that occurs when I explain the nature of periodontal disease and its systemic effects to my patient. Compliance becomes effortless and I feel proud. The most gratifying thing I have accomplished as a dental hygienist: There are so many, but the most gratifying would have to be a solo cross-country relocation from Chicago to Southern California to accept a career opportunity to serve as a civilian dental hygienist for the United States Navy. Looking back, it truly has been one of the more gutsy undertakings of my life— except for the bungee jumping, skydiving and online dating, of course! The thing I would most like to accomplish as a dental hygienist in the future is: serve as executive director of ADHA. My mentor: 7KHPRVWLQÀXHQWLDOSHUVRQLQP\OLIHLV Randi Drangmeister. She is an astounding woman who has beaten cancer twice and despite numerous hardships has remained the most positive and most encouraging person I know. She has never been afraid to share her opinions or knowledge; especially when they are outside mainstream thought. Her free spirit is engaging to all she meets, and I have a great deal of respect for her. Randi’s mantra is: LEAD, FOLLOW, OR PULL OVER! Quite frankly, who could argue with that? The current trends affecting the practice of dental hygiene are: part-time hours, laser usage, changes in access to care, market saturation, practice management, and technological advancements. The keys to solving the access to care problem in America are: to develop stronger relationships with lawmakers to address legislation for such to occur and for each dental hygienist to demonstrate a passion for solving the access to care problem. The most important thing ADHA membership has done for me: ADHA membership brings a richness of dental hygiene moguls to my life, allows my leadership to ÀRXULVK&#0f;DQGNHHSVPHFRQQHFWHGWRFXUUHQWWRSLFV My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: maximize your potential by obtaining your bachelor’s or master’s degree or beyond. One should also consider advancing your profession by conducting research. ,IVRPHRQHLVLQWHUHVWHGLQ¿QGLQJRXWPRUHDERXW me or my job: please contact me directly through the Orange County Dental Hygienists’ Society website for which I am President www.ocdhs.org. 3UR¿OHLVSUHSDUHGE\$'+$FRPPXQLFDWLRQVVWDII,I\RX know an ADHA member who would make an interesting FDQGLGDWH&#0f;VHQGXVKHURUKLVFRQWDFWLQIRUPDWLRQ$WWQ&#1d; FRPPXQLFDWLRQV#DGKDQHW ■ 32 AUG 2012 access

Profile

Mallory Edmondson

“My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: maximize your potential by obtaining your bachelor’s or master’s degree or beyond. One should also consider advancing your profession by conducting research.” —Debbie E. Walker, LDH, RDH I Live in: Oceanside, Calif. I attended dental hygiene school at: Indiana University, South Bend, class of 2000. I became a dental hygienist because: It was rated the number one career for women when I enrolled. I desired to be a part of an exclusive group of female entrepreneurs. My current position as a dental hygienist: Currently, I serve as a civilian dental hygienist for the 1st Dental Battalion, Navy Dental Center, Camp Pendleton, Calif. I have the extreme privilege to provide individualized dental hygiene services for America's finest Marines and Sailors. The thing I enjoy the most about being a dental hygienist is: I thoroughly enjoy the understanding that occurs when I explain the nature of periodontal disease and its systemic effects to my patient. Compliance becomes effortless and I feel proud. The most gratifying thing I have accomplished as a dental hygienist: There are so many, but the most gratifying would have to be a solo cross-country relocation from Chicago to Southern California to accept a career opportunity to serve as a civilian dental hygienist for the United States Navy. Looking back, it truly has been one of the more gutsy undertakings of my life - except for the bungee jumping, skydiving and online dating, of course! The thing I would most like to accomplish as a dental hygienist in the future is: serve as executive director of ADHA. My mentor: The most influential person in my life is Randi Drangmeister. She is an astounding woman who has beaten cancer twice and despite numerous hardships has remained the most positive and most encouraging person I know. She has never been afraid to share her opinions or knowledge; especially when they are outside mainstream thought. Her free spirit is engaging to all she meets, and I have a great deal of respect for her. Randi's mantra is: LEAD, FOLLOW, OR PULL OVER! Quite frankly, who could argue with that? I believe the dental hygiene profession should concentrate the biggest part of its resources on this goal: plain and simple, it is about autonomy! I know far too many brilliant hygienists without an outlet for their talents because of job shortage. I believe after 100 years as a profession, we already should own our opportunities and dictate its path. We should also focus on the development of young, savvy, exciting leadership with emphasis on being a member of our professional organization. The current trends affecting the practice of dental hygiene are: part-time hours, laser usage, changes in access to care, market saturation, practice management, and technological advancements. The keys to solving the access to care problem in America are: to develop stronger relationships with lawmakers to address legislation for such to occur and for each dental hygienist to demonstrate a passion for solving the access to care problem. The most important thing ADHA membership has done for me: ADHA membership brings a richness of dental hygiene moguls to my life, allows my leadership to flourish, and keeps me connected to current topics. My advice to someone starting out in dental hygiene is: maximize your potential by obtaining your bachelor's or master's degree or beyond. One should also consider advancing your profession by conducting research. If someone is interested in finding out more about me or my job: please contact me directly through the Orange County Dental Hygienists' Society website for which I am President www.ocdhs.org. Profile is prepared by ADHA communications staff. If you know an ADHA member who would make an interesting candidate, send us her or his contact information. Attn: communications@adha.net.

Previous Page Next Page

Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here