CDHA Awards sponsored by TD Insurance Meloche Monnex

Jacqueline VanMalsen is a graduate student in the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Alberta School of Dentistry. She has worked in clinical practice, in academia as an instructor in periodontology, and in community oral health and primary care as the first dental hygienist with Alberta’s Primary Care Initiative. Currently she sits an as elected councillor with the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta. Jacqueline is particularly passionate about access to infant and toddler oral health care, prevention of early childhood caries (ECC), integration of dental hygienists in health care teams, and linkages between systemic health and oral health. Under the supervision of Drs. Sharon Compton and Maryam Amin, Jacqueline’s graduate research focuses on improving access to oral health care for infants and toddlers and promotion of the first dental visit by age one for young children.

Julie Farmer, DipDH, BSc(Hon), is currently enrolled in the thesis-based Master of Science Dental Public Health degree program at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, the Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry, and the Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry. Her interests include promoting access to care and providing oral health education for marginalized populations and the general public through clinical practice, community involvement, and public policy advocacy. Her current research activities involve qualitative analysis of the role of dental hygienists in reducing oral health disparities in Canada, and quantitative research on the magnitude of oral health inequalities in Canada and the United States.

Laura Perri, RDH, DipDH, BSc, BEd, has held positions in dental hygiene education and administration since 2004 in the Greater Toronto Area. She also has experience in general and orthodontic dental hygiene practice. Laura was a steering committee member for the revision of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association Code of Ethics. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Education program at Brock University in the thesis stream. Laura's research focus is on exploring Ontario dental hygiene educators' perceptions of personal capacity building during their implementation and evaluation of the entry-to-practice competencies and standards for Canadian Dental Hygienists.

Congratulations to the CDHA Visionary Award winner, Brittany Siry of Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, who is enrolled in the Master of Education, Health Education & Active Living Stream.� Here is the executive statement from Brittany’s essay, outlining her vision for the future of dental hygiene.

It is a tumultuous time in the dental hygiene profession. Regulation and legislation are changing to allow dental hygienists to practice more independently and with a great variety of skills to help alleviate the growing concern with access to oral care. During what should be an exciting time in the profession of dental hygiene, there seems to be a growing divide between those who foresee a future of independent dental hygiene clinics and those who are happy with the status quo. There also seems to be a lack of confidence among many dental hygienists about their ability to practice independently and a lack of confidence in their knowledge and skills as primary oral care providers.

Playing off of strategies attempted in the nursing profession, my vision for unity and support in dental hygiene involves online networks and forums. In such a vast country with so many different regulations and visions of dental hygiene practice, online networking makes sense. This initiative aims to build and maintain forums where dental hygienists could come and receive support and guidance as well as friendship and camaraderie with their colleagues across Canada. Along with the online presence, an internal education campaign for hygienists may be launched, reminding dental hygienists of their role as primary oral care providers and what that means.

While it may not be everyone’s choice to leave the dental office and start up their own business, I think more self-confidence in hygienist’s role and scope would be beneficial no matter what their chosen practice. My vision for the future of the dental hygiene profession is cohesive and supportive. More specifically, I’d like to ensure that all hygienists felt confident delivering all aspects of their scope of practice and were fully aware and supported in their role as a primary oral care provider. I feel that with more self-confidence and awareness of our roles and abilities, more dental hygienists will feel confident and supported to try new avenues for dental hygiene practice.

It is my hope that with more hygienists practising in non-traditional locations, it will be easier to show the public and the government that our profession has the skills and desires to be able to help serve the unmet need of preventative dental care in Canada for all populations.

His graduate work has involved research on the learning experiences and outcomes of dental hygiene baccalaureate education in Canada. It was based in part on contemplation of the Health Council of Canada�s statements that an increase in credential requirements should occur when there is evidence that there will be a corresponding improvement in client care outcomes. Zul�s research focused on verification of empirical support for improved proficiency in critical thinking, evidence based decision making and overall comprehensiveness of client care in degree level graduates. He has outlined a number of strategies to support the vision of baccalaureate education as the entry-to-practice credential for dental hygiene. These include further research on client outcomes and quality of life, and lobbying by professional associations for more studies on the impact of advanced education on dental hygiene practice. This enhanced professional competence, as outlined in Zul�s research, will align with the abilities required to provide safe and quality care for clients of increasing complexity in the 21st century.

While attending a humanitarian event in Vancouver, aimed at Canadian youth, Janice was privileged to hear the Dalai Lama, and activist Mia Farrow speak about the global consciousness and commitment for change possessed by this generation. Subsequently, observing her own dental hygiene students' involvement with the issues of those populations lacking the benefits of oral health care, Janice realized that this future cohort of dental hygienists embodies all that previous visionaries have struggled to accomplish. 2010; 44, no.2 65

However, with the increased educational and professional opportunities such as private dental hygiene practice, also comes greater responsibility. It is more important than ever to contribute, though research, to the body of knowledge that is uniquely dental hygiene. Janice's vision for her profession includes the availability of higher level learning in Canada through a Master of Science degree in Dental Hygiene, a development that she believes will act as a catalyst in propelling the profession forward.