ADHA Announces Recipient of 2005 Distinguished Service Award

Chicago—June 27, 2005—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Norma J. Sommers, RDH, of Albuquerque, N.M., as a recipient of the 2005 ADHA Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication to the profession of dental hygiene.

Sommers received her associate of science degree in dental hygiene at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 1972. She still continues her work as a dental hygienist in a clinical setting in her native state of New Mexico.

Sommers’ involvement with ADHA has included her roles as a delegate from both New Mexico Districts I and II as well as her role as an alternate delegate. She has also served as the chair of the House of Delegates as recently as 2001 and been a member of the access to care committee.

Sommers was honored during the opening ceremonies at ADHA’s 82nd annual session in Las Vegas on June 25.

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of 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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