People Watching

Ohio State Gives Distinguished Alumni Award

The Ohio State University, Columbus, honored Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, with the Dental Hygiene Distinguished Alumni Award. Rethman has been involved in dental hygiene for more than 25 years from clinical practice to speaking to publishing. She is a clinical instructor of Dental Hygiene at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and was recently appointed to the American Academy of Periodontology’s Task Force on Dental Hygiene Education. She is also a consultant to the American Dental Association’s ( ADA ) Council on Dental Practice and a featured speaker for the ADA ’s Seminar Series.

Dental Hygiene Students Dedicated to Service

In the Community Oral Health class instructed by Sherri Lukes, RDH, MS, at Southern Illinois University’s Dental Hygiene Program in Carbondale, students learn about the dental public health programs and the role of a community-based dental hygienist. They are also encouraged to volunteer their time to furthering oral health in the community. On April 26, junior dental hygiene students Becky Blair, Jennifer Bollaert, Amy Cox, Stephanie Korando, and Hillery Zettler visited Parish Elementary School in Carbondale for “When I Grow Up Day.” The students passed out toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss to the children and demonstrated how to use them on oversized teeth models. They also brought a cassette of instruments, gowns, gloves, and masks to educate the children about dental hygiene as a career.

First Recipient of Linda Devore Scholarship Announced

Deborah E. Fleming, RDH, MS, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Dental Ecology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is the winner of the 2004 Linda Devore Leadership Scholars Program sponsored by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and Pfizer Inc. In its first year of inception, the award honors Linda E. Devore, RDH, MA, professor and chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene at the University of Maryland, who passed away from cancer in 2003. The program is open to junior faculty members who exhibit strong leadership skills and are committed to a career in dental hygiene education. The recipient spends 1 month at the University of Maryland, 2 weeks with Pfizer Inc, and 1 month with ADHA working on projects relating to community service, public health, management, education, legislation, and research. Fleming began her career in academia under the tutelage of DeVore at the University of Maryland where she served as the clinical coordinator for junior dental hygiene students. Now at UNC, she is the coarse director for Oral Microbiology and Immunology and part of the junior clinical course faculty. She is currently developing a service learning course for the dental hygiene curriculum, which teaches students through participation in community service projects and is funded through a private endowment provided by UNC alumni James and Jean Ueltschi.