2005 Pfizer/ADHA Award Presented to Pamela Overman

Chicago—June 27, 2005—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Pamela Overman, BS, MS, EdD, RDH, of Lenexa, Kan., as a recipient of the 2005 Pfizer/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award.

The award, sponsored by Pfizer Inc, honors dental hygienists who exhibit excellence in dental hygiene through outstanding accomplishments that impact the practice and future of the dental hygiene profession. Winners must be active members of ADHA for a minimum of 10 years.

Shortly after her 1972 graduation from University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry, Overman joined with other dental hygienists in her area to form the Greater Joplin Area Dental Hygienists’ Association a component of the Kansas Dental Hygienists’ Association, and served as its first president. She has been involved with ADHA at the national level for many years and held positions such as ADHA commissioner to the Commission on Dental Accreditation. A dental hygiene educator, Overman began teaching at the UMKC School of Dentistry in 1980 and was promoted to acting director in 1981. Upon completion of her doctorate degree in 2001 she was again promoted, this time to assistant dean for academic affairs of the School of Dentistry.

The recipients were honored during a special luncheon at ADHA’s 82nd annual session in Las Vegas on June 26. They each received $2,500 and a commemorative award, as well as round-trip transportation and lodging for the session.

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.

Pfizer Inc is the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical company, providing a broad range of human and animal pharmaceuticals, as well as consumer products.

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