American Dental Hygienists' Association Appoints 2003-2004 President

Chicago-July 1, 2003 - So passionate about the health of children, she mortgaged her home and car and sacrificed her retirement and savings to start a school-based oral health program that has served more than 28,000 children in South Carolina. Now, Tammi O. Byrd, RDH, has been appointed the 2003-2004 president of the Chicago-based American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA).

"It's an honor to be appointed president of ADHA," said Byrd. "I'm looking forward to using my leadership position to promote the key public health messages on behalf of dental hygienists across the United States."

Byrd, an active ADHA member since 1977, has served nationally as president-elect, vice president and district trustee, and has held numerous positions on councils and committees.

She has been president of the South Carolina Dental Hygienists' Association, as well as an ADHA delegate. At the local level she has served as both president and vice president of the Greater Columbia Dental Hygiene Association.

Byrd has extensive clinical experience, working as a dental hygienist in periodontic (gum specialty), family and pedodontic (children's) practices. She is the CEO/clinical director at Health Promotion Specialists, Inc.-a group that administers school-based oral health programs. In addition, Byrd is an adjunct faculty member at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, S.C.

Byrd has authored a number of research presentations, and she is actively involved with the South Carolina Healthy Schools Oral Health Coalition, the South Carolina Tobacco Free Coalition and the Maternal Child Health Education Task Force. She received an associate of science degree in dental hygiene at Midlands Technical College.

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 120,000 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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