Building Healthier Communities – One Student at a Time

Meet Erin Heap…TRAILBLAZER

LCDR Erin Heap, RDH, BSDH

“I entered dental hygiene school straight out of high school, first earning my associate degree while beginning my coursework toward my Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration. From the start, I knew I wanted to keep learning and prepare myself for future opportunities.

It wasn’t until 13 years later that I finally found the courage to begin a master’s degree. Although I had always felt drawn to continuing my education, I wondered—especially after such a long gap—whether I still had what it takes to pursue an additional degree. To be honest, I was nervous about whether I would be successful in a virtual, post-graduate classroom.

After more than a decade working in clinical dental hygiene, I still loved what I did. When I enrolled in a Master of Public Health program, I wasn’t entirely sure what my next career step would be. I was content working in federal public health dentistry, but something pushed me out of my comfort zone.

What motivated me most was the belief that I could do more. Even though I didn’t yet know what that “more” looked like, I wanted to be ready when the opportunity came.

I knew completing the MPH program, along with a graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership, would not be easy. When I began my coursework, I was working full-time as an active-duty officer in a uniformed service, while also raising a toddler and pregnant with my second child.

With my husband’s constant encouragement and support, who never let me give up, I found ways to keep going. There were late nights, homework squeezed into my toddler’s nap times, and literature reviews tucked into the diaper bag so I could read whenever I had a spare moment.

Now, three years later, I am in my final weeks—polishing my capstone and preparing to receive my diploma.

While the ADHA scholarship had been on my radar since I started the MPH program it was not until I entered my final year that I decided to apply for it. Admittedly, I had been putting off applying because I wasn’t sure I would be successful, especially with the time constraints of everything already on my plate. After reviewing the opportunities on the website, I decided to take a chance and apply for each scholarship I qualified for.

I was both honored and elated to be selected as a recipient of both the Irene Woodall and the Alice M. & Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarships, which together provided enough funding to cover my final year of classes. This support brought powerful encouragement as I entered my last semester.  It reminded me that there are dental hygienists, people I had never even met, who were willing to support me simply because I was brave enough to step forward and pursue something more.

During my final semester of coursework, while still working full-time and raising two young children, I pushed through, thinking my life was about to slow down and return to normal. That’s when I became aware of a new opportunity to put some of my new knowledge to work – with a federal agency supporting healthcare for tens of thousands of individuals, as the first dental hygienist on part of an interdisciplinary team.

After reviewing the job description, I felt an unexpected sense of peace, even knowing it would bring a hectic transition if this was my opportunity. Hygienists can offer much more than just clinical practice and compassionate care.  We can be trailblazers – advancing administrative operations, designing impactful programs, and helping shape policies to expand access to care for underserved populations while also being fiscally responsible.

In that moment, I knew I was prepared to be that hygienist.

I submitted my application, went through the interview process, and right in the middle of life’s chaos, I accepted the position.

ADHA scholarships empower dedicated dental hygienists to overcome real-life challenges, advance their education, and expand access to high-quality care for the communities that need it most.

When you fund a scholarship, you’re not just supporting a student, you’re investing in a future leader in healthcare who will use their education to improve systems, increase access, and uplift entire communities.

Together, we are building healthier communities—one student at a time.”

Celebrating Students Like Erin