
The Esther Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award Honors Icon in Dental Hygiene Education
Educator, mentor, scholar, and innovator, Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, RDH, MS, EdD, FADHA, transformed dental hygiene education and inspired generations of oral health professionals.

The dental hygiene profession will celebrate one of its most influential leaders when Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, RDH, MS, EdD, FADHA, receives the prestigious Esther Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award on August 7 in Anaheim, California. Supported by premier sponsor Philips Sonicare and supporting sponsors Kettenbach and HuFriedyGroup, the cocktail reception will be held during Dimensions’ Discovery EXPO.
Gadbury-Amyot’s remarkable career spans more than three decades of service to dental hygiene education, scholarship, mentorship, and professional advancement. After practicing clinically as a dental hygienist for 15 years, she pursued her passion for education, earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene followed by a master’s degree in dental hygiene education. She joined the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry faculty in 1992, where she would go on to serve in numerous leadership roles, including clinical coordinator, director of the dental hygiene graduate program, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, interim vice provost of online education, and associate dean of instructional technology and faculty development.
Known as a champion of lifelong learning, Gadbury-Amyot has dedicated her career to advancing educational innovation and faculty development. Her scholarship includes 95 peer-reviewed publications and numerous presentations delivered regionally, nationally, and internationally. Her work has significantly influenced the integration of technology in education, portfolio assessment, and graduate dental hygiene education. Perhaps her greatest legacy is her commitment to mentorship. Throughout her career, she has guided countless students, faculty members, researchers, and future leaders within the profession, fostering excellence and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
Even after her retirement in 2019 as professor emerita, Gadbury-Amyot has remained actively engaged in education, scholarship, and professional service. Her lasting impact on dental hygiene makes her a truly deserving recipient of the Esther Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award. To attend, visit dimensionsdiscoveryexpo.com.