Dental Hygienist Earns Doctoral Degree
Heidi Emmerling, RDH, PhD, received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in English with a specialty in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Nevada, Reno, in August.
Her interdisciplinary dissertation, Pens and Probes: The Role of Writing Plays in the Careers of Successful Dental Hygienists, discussed composition and rhetoric scholars as ideal in empowering the writing, therefore success, of future dental hygienists, and that dental hygiene educators have many opportunities to incorporate writing into dental hygiene curricula.
A clinical dental hygienist for more than 18 years, Emmerling has been active in the professional dental hygiene community including service as a past president of the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association, ADHA delegate, past member of the ADHA Public Relations Council, instructor, national lecturer, and author of numerous articles. Emmerling has also been active in academia, teaching all levels of composition at the university, presenting at national scholarly conferences, and contributing articles to academic journals. Her research interests also include feminist discourse, developmental composition, ethnographic research, workplace writing, and technical communication. She is currently an instructor of English composition at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Faculty Member is Promoted to Associate Dean
Karen M. Solt, RDH, MEd, a faculty member at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill, was recently promoted to associate dean for Health Sciences at the school. For the past 2 years, she served as a full-time faculty member in the college’s newly established dental hygiene program. In her new position, Solt is responsible for the oversight of more than 22 health career programs, including dental hygiene, nursing, certified nursing assistant, surgical technology, radiologic technology, nuclear medicine, physical therapy assistant, phlebotomy, fire science, emergency medical technician, paramedic, speech/language pathology assistant, occupational therapy assistant, ultrasound, health information technology, long-term care administration, respiratory care, pharmacy technician, and therapeutic massage programs.
Previously, Solt was a tenured faculty member at Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago before the program closed in 1992. She then taught in the Periodontics Department and, in 1997, she was named chair of the Stomatology Department. She served as chair until the school closed in 2001.
Pfizer/ADHA Excellence In Dental Hygiene Awards Announced
Jaclyn Gleber Musso, RDH, BS, MEd, EdD, Chester Springs, Pa; Kathleen G. Griffin, RDH, BS, MEd, Duluth, Minn; Mary C. George, RDH, BS, MEd, Chapel Hill, NC; Donna J. Stach, BS, RDH, MEd, Denver; Linda L. Hanlon, RDH, BS, MEd, PhD, Boston; and Cynthia C. Amyot, BSDH, EdD, Overland Park, Kan, are the six recipients of the Pfizer/American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) Excellence in Dental Hygiene award, presented at ADHA’s 81st annual session in June.
The award is given to hygienists who demonstrate excellence in dental hygiene through achievements that influence the practice and future of dental hygiene. Recipients must be active members of ADHA for 10 years or more. Winners receive $2,500, an award, and transportation and lodging for the meeting.
