CDHA Scholarship Program

Meaghan Bennett

Meaghan’s educational achievements include a three-year Advanced Diploma in Dental Hygiene, a Bachelor of Health Science, and certificates in dental assisting, human services, and adult education. She is currently pursuing a Master of Health Studies with a teaching focus through Athabasca University. In addition to her academic studies, Meaghan has worked in a variety of dental settings including traditional private practice, dental public health, and dental education. Meaghan has worked for both provincial and federal public health programs, including as a community dental hygienist with Indigenous Services Canada’s Remote Areas Program. Since 2017, Meaghan has been working as a dental hygiene and dental assisting educator, teaching dental hygiene theory and curriculum in clinical and community health settings. She has taken on the lead community health faculty role at Oulton College and has a clear passion for the scholarship as well as improving the quality and inclusiveness of dental hygiene care in Canada.

Kathleen Feres-Patry

Kathleen has loved going to work as a dental hygienist for over 40 years! At Kanata Dental Hygiene she experiences joy whenever she sees third and fourth generations of her clientele. Known professionally as “KFP”, Kathleen is also a faculty member of the Canadian National Institute of Health Inc. where she educates dental hygiene learners in ethics, jurisprudence, and professionalism. A lifelong learner, Kathleen graduated with distinction from the Faculty of Education at Brock University with a BEd in adult education in 2019 and is now enrolled in the Master of Education program (health professions education stream) at the University of Ottawa. Kathleen’s long-term goal includes collaborating to research and compile Canadian practice-specific information for a manuscript to be entitled, Ethics & Jurisprudence for Canadian Dental Hygienists. In her private time, Kathleen enjoys walking, swimming, spending time with her “Bunch”. She is an active member of her parish.

Jennifer Johnson

Upon her graduation from Dalhousie University’s Diploma in Dental Hygiene program, Jennifer Johnson moved to rural Newfoundland to practise in a newly opened clinic. She quickly became active in her new community and enjoyed volunteering at her first Gift from the Heart event! Her time there inspired her to return to Dalhousie this fall to complete her Bachelor of Dental Hygiene. Jennifer has a keen interest in public health and health policy, which are just some areas of focus for the program. In her spare time, she can be found hiking, baking or volunteering.

Mackenzie Leslie

Mackenzie obtained her Diploma in Dental Hygiene from Camosun College in 2017. While at the college, she was recognized by the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia for her work with special care. Since 2017, Mackenzie has worked in a private practice clinic located in Mill Bay, BC. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors exploring Vancouver Island where she was born and raised. She is honoured to continue her studies at the University of British Columbia in the degree completion program. Mackenzie believes that oral health is integral to overall health and so volunteers to provide oral health promotion at local public schools. She knows that our profession empowers dental hygienists to be lifelong learners and recognizes that obtaining her degree will afford her more opportunities within the dental hygiene profession. She looks forward to her future, providing quality and accessible care to those in need. Mackenzie is thrilled to receive this scholarship to reduce financial stress and to aid her in her studies. She is deeply appreciative of the continuous support from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and is honoured to be chosen as a recipient of this generous scholarship.

Arryn Nemeth

Arryn graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Dental Science in 2014. For the past eight years, she has worked not only in clinical dental hygiene practice, providing compassionate and proficient care to a variety of communities, but also as a territory manager for a major dental supplies company (LumaDent Inc.). Additionally, Arryn has volunteered for various projects with the British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association and the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (formerly the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia) aimed at reviewing current practices, engaging stakeholders, and laying the foundation for change within the dental hygiene profession in British Columbia.

Arryn is an enthusiastic, lifelong learner, dedicated to oral health and overall wellness, and passionate about improving the lives of Canadians. She is currently working part time as a dental hygiene practitioner in the Greater Vancouver area while pursuing her Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of British Columbia, with the goal of becoming a more effective and strategic leader in health care. It is her hope that the MHA will provide her with the foundation to shift her career from clinical practice to program development and provide her with the necessary skills to build policies that will effect systemic change within the health care system, aiding in the redistribution of power to vulnerable populations.