ADHA Announces Recipient of 2009 Hu-Friedy Master Clinician Award

Chicago, Oct. 8, 2009-The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Noel Brandon-Kelsch, RDHAP, of Moorpark, Calif., as the recipient of the Hu-Friedy Master Clinician Award. She was honored during the Saturday Plenary Session and ADHA Award Presentations at ADHA’s 86th Annual Session in Washington, D.C., on June 20.

Kelsch, immediate past president of the California Dental Hygienists’ Association, participates in community outreach to the homeless, taking oral health care prevention to the streets of the county. She is self-employed with a private business as an independent practice dental hygienist in Ventura County, meeting the oral health care needs of hospice and homebound patients. Additionally, Kelsch is an international lecturer on the oral and full body affects of methamphetamine abuse. She is also on the board of the Simi Valley Free Clinic and volunteers there regularly. She received her associate’s degree in dental hygiene from Cabrillo College in 1992.

This award is presented to a dental hygienist who demonstrates outstanding clinical expertise in relating the interdependence of clinical practice and patient education for the improvement of patient compliance. There are several criteria a candidate must meet in order to receive this honor, including 10 years of clinical practice and current membership in ADHA.

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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