People Watching

Delaware Announces Its Hygienist of the Year

The Delaware Dental Hygienists’ Association (DDHA) announced the recipient of the Dental Hygienist of the Year Award at the DDHA Annual Session in April. Nancy Brohawn, RDH, BSDH, an association member for more than 30 years, is the 2004 honoree. Brohawn is in clinical practice and is very active in advocating for the betterment of oral health. She speaks on oral health wherever needed, from elementary schools to nursing mother groups. She has served the organization as president, corresponding secretary, second vice president, and American Dental Hygienists’ Association alternate delegate. She also sat on the Delaware State Board of Dental Examiners before dental hygienists were allowed to vote or participate. Brohawn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from West Virginia University in 1972.

OMNII Hires Hygienist

Wendy Negron, RDH, BS, MS, has joined OMNII Oral Pharmaceuticals, West Palm Beach, Fla, as the manager of Clinical and Professional Relations. She is responsible for assessing, testing, and evaluating new and improved products from a clinical hygiene standpoint. She will write articles to promote procedures and medications for dental and dental hygiene publications and coordinate key clinician contacts in the field. Travel is part of her position as she will educate dental professionals and OMNII field consultants about the company’s products. Serving as an advocate for dental hygiene, she will maintain the presence of dental hygiene in the development, education, and research of OMNII medications used in the dental arena.

GSK Promotes Dental Hygienist

Ellen R. Guritzky, RDH, was recently promoted to manager of Professional Relations and Conventions at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Parsippany, NJ. In this role, she is responsible for the management of dental conventions in support of GSK Oral Care Brands. Joining GSK’s Dental Marketing division in 2001, Guritzky has been working with dental hygiene professionals, educators, and researchers, while also sharing her expertise in the field with the GSK sales staff and remaining active in national and international dental hygiene organizations. Over the past year, she has spearheaded a Key Opinion Leaders Advocacy Initiative for GSK Oral Care Brands to further continuing education in both school and professional settings. She is also pursuing a degree in Marketing.

Dental Hygiene Educator to Retire

Gail N. Cross-Poline, RDH, MS, professor and chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry in Denver is retiring after 35 years in education. She began her tenure as chair of the department in 1974 after leaving the faculty at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine where she had earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and a Master of Science in Public Health Dentistry. The recipient of many prestigious awards, she most recently received the Joseph Addison-Sewall Award for Leadership and Vision by the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, the Ethel Covington Award from the Colorado Dental Association, and the Women Leaders of Excellence Award from the Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition. Cross-Poline is also an editorial advisory board member for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. She will be honored with an evening reception at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science along with an alumni day with Esther Wilkins, RDH, DMD, both in late July.