ADHA Announces Recipient of 2008 Discus Dental/ADHA Distinguished Service Award – Lisa M. Esparza, RDH, BS, MSDH

Chicago, August 11, 2008—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Lisa M. Esparza, RDH, BS, MSDH, of Albuquerque, N.M., as a recipient of the 2008 Discus Dental/ADHA Distinguished Service Award. She was honored during the second plenary session at ADHA’s 85th Annual Session in Albuquerque, N.M., on June 21st.

The award is presented to ADHA members who have provided exemplary service to ADHA, its constituents, and its components. Each winner has a minimum of 10 years of ADHA active membership and association leadership, has advanced the art and science of dental hygiene through service to the association, and was nominated by their constituent.

Esparza has served as a component and constituent officer as well as on national councils and committees for more than 19 years.  As president of her state association her first project Senior Smile Care Day was recognized with the ADHA/Colgate Meritorious Community Outreach Award which lead to the creation of needed community clinics and services.  Esparza was recruited to serve as co-coordinator and a trainer of P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness) and has trained four thousands plus dental healthcare and educational professionals and community workers in the importance of recognizing and reporting suspected abuse and neglect in the community.

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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