ADHA Announces 2008 ADHA/Oral-B Esther Wilkins Future Leader Award

Chicago—August 11, 2008—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Mina Nicolle Ulaszek Benjamin, RDH, BS, of San Marcos, Texas, as the recipient of the 2008 ADHA/Oral-B Esther Wilkins Future Leader Award.

The award was created to recognize dental hygienists who exhibit a strong commitment to the dental hygiene profession and have demonstrated leadership in ADHA within five years of graduation. Benjamin was nominated by her state organization, the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association (TDHA).

Benjamin was honored at the second plenary session of ADHA’s 85th Annual Session in Albuquerque, N.M., on June 21st.  She has served as both vice president and president of her Student Dental Hygienists’ Association chapter as well as a student delegate to ADHA. Benjamin currently serves on several councils committees on the constituent level.  She has been very visible in her state’s legislative efforts to expanded functions for dental hygienists and abolish the restrictions on administration of local anesthesia or nitrous oxide.

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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