ADHA Announces Recipient of J&J/ADHA Award for
Excellence in Dental Hygiene

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Rita Atwell Sheaves, RDH, BSDH, MSEd, PhD, of Wytheville, Va., as the recipient of the Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene. She was honored during Washington, D.C., on June 21.

With this award, ADHA and Johnson & Johnson recognize individual dental hygienists who have made “outstanding accomplishments that have a significant impact on the practice and future of the dental hygiene profession.” The recipients have at least 10 years of membership in ADHA and its constituents, demonstrate an active involvement in the association, and were nominated by a colleague for their outstanding accomplishments.

Atwell Sheaves received her Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry, Division of Dental Hygiene in 1989. She later went on to earn her Master of Science in health and physical education and her Doctor of Philosophy in curriculum and instruction at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She has been involved with ADHA and also her constituent and component organizations for more than 20 years. Atwell Sheaves is currently an assistant professor of dental hygiene at Wytheville Community College.

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of more than 150,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit ADHA at http://www.adha.org.

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