ADHA Mourns the Loss of Its CEO

Ann Battrell, MSDH, CEO of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), passed away on June 7 after a long illness. She was a tireless advocate for the profession of dental hygiene and her advocacy will have a long-lasting impact on dental hygienists.

Battrell became the first dental hygienist and first former ADHA president to assume the position of CEO of the organization. She served as ADHA’s president from 1996 to 1997. She began her career with the ADHA in 2000 as manager of education and moved into the role of director of education 4 years later.

In 2009, the Board of Directors selected her to fill the executive director opening and in 2016 she was named CEO. In her leadership role, she worked diligently to advance the dental hygiene profession, evolve the scope of practice, empower dental hygienists, eliminate inequities, and improve access to care.