ADHA Announces Recipient of 2007 Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award

Chicago—July 12, 2007—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Mary Turner, RDH, of Roseville, Calif., as a recipient of the 2007 Johnson & Johnson/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award. She was honored during the opening ceremonies at ADHA’s 84th annual session in New Orleans, La., on June 22nd.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication to the profession of dental hygiene. With this award, ADHA and Johnson & Johnson recognize individual dental hygienists who have made “outstanding accomplishments that have a significant impact on the practice and future of the dental hygiene profession.” The recipients have at least 10 years of membership in ADHA, demonstrate an active involvement in the association, and were nominated by a colleague for their outstanding accomplishments.

Turner received her associate’s degree in dental hygiene from the Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene with an emphasis on educational instruction from the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC). She stayed at UMKC to complete work on her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene, with an emphasis on curriculum and higher education administration. She attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE) in July of 2005. Currently, she is attending Argosy University and is in the process of earning a doctorate in education.

Since she began her dental hygiene education in 1977, Turner has been a member of ADHA. From 1979-1992, and for a year in 1996, Turner practiced as a periodontal hygienist in an clinical setting. Since 1983 Turner has served as a member of the clinical faculty of UMKC, responsible for the clinical instruction of dental students, dental hygiene students, and periodontal residents utilizing a team concept.

Award recipients received a $2,500 check awarded at the President’s Luncheon in New Orleans, La; complimentary round trip airfare and meeting registration, two nights' lodging at the Sheraton New Orleans, two days' per diem, and two complimentary tickets to the luncheon which was held on Sunday, June 24, 2007. is the gifts provided through the generous support of Johnson & Johnson.

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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