September 16, 2009

2009 Graduates Transition to Active ADHA Membership
Congratulations on your recent graduation!  Once you’re a licensed registered dental hygienist, you qualify for active membership at no additional cost.  As an active member, you’ll be able to explore your career options, increase your professional edge, and get discounts on professional items such as loupes, books, scrubs, car rentals and insurance, just to name a few.  Remember: Transition to active membership once you receive your license.

Online
Log in to your account at ADHA.org and click on “Convert to Active Member”

Call
(312) 440-8900 and press 1

Email

1. Your name
2. ADHA member ID number
3. License number
4. State of licensure

Send to us at: member.services@adha.net.

Hygienists needed for NIOSH health and safety hazards survey
ADHA is working with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in developing a survey for healthcare workers.  We are looking for dental hygienists to participate in a 90-minute interview to help evaluate a survey addressing the use of high-level disinfectants. 

To be eligible for the interview, you must use high-level disinfectants on a routine (weekly) basis. These agents include glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthaldehyde, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid mixture.  The purpose of the interview is to assess whether the survey questions make sense, are easy to answer and that everyone understands the questions the same way.  The eligible participant will be reimbursed $200 for his/her time.
 
Benefits to the participant may include increased knowledge of health and safety hazards of health care workers, and the types of controls and work practices that are used to eliminate or reduce exposures.  There are no known physical or psychological risks from taking part in this study.
 
All information you provide will be kept confidential and destroyed at the end of the study.  To see if you qualify, please contact Martha Popovic at 1-800-WESTAT1 (937-8281), extension 5897 or at 240-314-5897.

Call for 2010 NOHC Program Session Submissions
The Planning Committee for the 2010 National Oral Health Conference (NOHC), "Pursuing Excellence in Dental Public Health," invites plenary and concurrent workshop proposals addressing scientific research, program evaluation, community-based interventions and partnerships related to dental public health.
The program proposal form and instructions for electronic submission are available at http://www.nationaloralhealthconference.com 

Please indicate your preference for a plenary or concurrent session; however, the final decision on program format will be made by the Planning Committee.  Please submit your proposal no later than September 30, 2009.  Notification of selection will be made in October 2009.  Any questions may be directed to Pam Tolson at natoff@aaphd.org or Sandi Steil at sandi@assn-srvs.com.

The 5th National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco
Unlike smoking rates, use of smokeless and spit tobacco is on the rise across the United States.  With more and more states and localities going “smoke-free,” the major tobacco companies have responded by recently introducing a number of new smokeless tobacco products into the market.  These phenomena have serious implications for oral health. 

You can learn more about how dental professionals can effectively address these implications by attending the 5th National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco, which will be held in Madison, Wis., on September 21, 22 and 23, 2009. 

Detailed information regarding the summit is available at http://www.uwosh.edu/smokeless.  There you can find the full schedule, travel and lodging information and more.  You can also register online.

For more information, contact Chris DeIuliis, the summit director, at 800-633-1442 or deiuliis@uwosh.edu.

Web Conference Series for State Oral Health Programs
Please join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday, October 13 at 2 PM EDT for the CDC Web Conference Series for State Oral Health Programs. The CDC Division of Oral Health and ASTDD will present two Healthy Aging web conferences: Assessing the Oral Health of our Aging Population and Oral Health Programs and Resources for the Aging Population.

Oral Health Programs and Resources for the Aging Population
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Central Time
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Mountain Time
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific Time
(U.S. and Canada)
Presenters:
Robyn I. Stone, Dr.P.H., Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS), American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Washington, D.C.

Barbara Smith PhD, RDH, MPH, Manager, Geriatric and Special Needs Populations, American Dental Association
Linda Altenhoff, D.D.S., Manager, Oral Health Program/State Dental Director, Texas Department of State Health Services

Description: Following the presentations and discussion on oral health surveillance for seniors, the second webinar will focus on state successes with implementing programs to serve the needs of their older adult population. Which stakeholder and partners should be involved? What are the funding mechanisms? How many seniors are being served? How can these programs be replicated? Please join the ASTDD Healthy Aging Committee as they present "Programs and Resources for the Aging Population" with guest speakers from individual states, the Institute for the Future of Aging and the ADA, describing who the essential stakeholders are, how targeted oral health programs are designed and implemented, and how the CAPIR Council of the ADA is implementing their program for improving the oral health of seniors.

Detailed instructions on how to participate will be forthcoming. Limited phone lines will be available. We are requesting states to limit participation to state dental directors or program managers and staff (no more than two lines per state). For additional information, please contact Astrid Palmer at (770) 488-6013 or gye1@cdc.gov.

America’s Toothfairy Affiliates create moments that change children’s lives
Never having seen a dentist, 10-year-old Gavin’s fear and apprehension were quite visible when he first entered the school-based dental clinic. The staff at Minnesota’s Just Kids Dental Health (JKDH), a non-profit Affiliate of NCOHF: America’s Toothfairy, did their best to put him at ease, but Gavin was visibly shaking and very afraid.

Cautiously, he finally opened his mouth and allowed the dental hygienist to lightly polish and apply fluoride varnish (donated through NCOHF) to his teeth. The great taste left him happy! At JKDH’s next visit to the school, Gavin was the first child poking a head through the clinic room door before the start of school asking, "Can I be first today?" Stories like Gavin’s are happening because caring dental hygienists like you support NCOHF: America’s Toothfairy through giving campaigns to the ADHA Institute/NCOHF Toothfairy Campaign. One hundred percent of the contributions go to programs that create moments like this -- moments that change children’s lives forever. Find out more right now at www.AmericasToothfairy.org or www.adha.org because every child deserves a healthy smile!

Advertising

Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Memphis, Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) seeks nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences. Founded in 1972, the College is located on a major health science center campus with five other colleges (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Graduate Health Sciences). The 40 full-time faculty of the College offer twelve programs from three University of Tennessee campuses whereby the 546 students can obtain a baccalaureate degree in Dental Hygiene and Medical Technology; a master’s degree in Cytopathology Practice/Histotechnology, Health Informatics and Information Management, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology; and doctorates in Audiology and Physical Therapy. Post professional degrees are awarded in Audiology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Health Informatics and Information Management, Dental Hygiene and Physical Therapy (both MSPT and ScDPT).

The Dean reports to the Chancellor of UTHSC and serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College. The Dean is responsible for the educational, service and research programs; personnel matters within the College; budget; and physical facilities. The University seeks a leader with a proven record in college administration, management of academic programs and someone with a commitment to further developing and expanding the programs within the College to meet Tennessee’s allied health workforce needs.

Applicants must have (1) an earned doctorate; (2) graduated from an allied health science program with preference for one of the programs offered by the College; (3) teaching and scholarly experience; (4) successful external funding experience; (5) substantive academic administrative experience at the departmental level or higher; (6) demonstrated ability to interact and negotiate successfully with both internal and external constituencies; (7) an understanding of the academic and clinical allied health sciences, particularly as they relate to broader health care issues; and (8) a forward-looking vision of the allied health sciences within the university, community and state. Experience with faculty practice plans is preferred. The successful candidate must have a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

Qualified applicants must submit a letter of interest accompanied by curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of three (3) references to:

Chair, Susan R. Jacob, PhD, RN
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
877 Madison Avenue, Suite 620
Memphis, TN 38164
Phone: (901) 448-6135

The starting date is on or before June 1, 2010. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

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