Dearest
Friends and Colleagues across PA,
Do you realize what a fabulous group of over 200 new colleagues
are graduating this spring 2008? After visiting all eleven
Dental Hygiene college programs in PA - I am really impressed
by their responsibility, enthusiasm and competence in “assessing,
planning, implementing and evaluating” their impact
as oral healthcare professionals. Now that they have graduated
however, they may appreciate a little guidance and mentoring
as their academic support team has faded.
We, as licensed, experienced colleagues need to reach
out and contact one new graduate to welcome them
& share a friendly conversation. In this computerized,
impersonal world they could use your encouraging touch to
energize their interest in our professional network and in
our ADHA/PDHA organization. We want them to develop a new
network of colleagues in dental hygiene.
Please contact either of our energized Membership Co-Chairs
for direct contact information of a new grad in your area:
Lorraine Lockawich at 610 336-4568 home in Lehigh Valley
area Lorirdh@rcn.com
OR
Leeann Easley at 814 333 8688 home in Northwestern area eeasley@zoominternet.net
A priority of my tenure is to “reach out and touch”
our new graduates and our disenfranchised colleagues with
words of encouragement and friendship. We have included several
graduating class photographs in this journal and will post
all eleven class photos on the web: www.PDHAonline.org
Check it out! We are thrilled to CELEBRATE their accomplishment
and WELCOME them into our profession! Please join us and extend
a warm phone call or email to a colleague in your area this
week; let them know what’s happening in your professional
circle.
As for legislative activity ~ much is on the ‘brink
of happening’ in PA:
- Water fluoridation legislation is attempting to emerge
from committee: please refer to the GR update and photo
of interdisciplinary rally on Capitol steps May 12th supporting
water fluoridation.
- Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner and Local Anesthesia
regulations, successfully passed and signed by the Governor
last summer, are making the regulatory process rounds. This
process may take another 12-18 months but when we send out
the CALL to participate through comments & support of
these regulations, Please Be Ready.
- Use this lag time - please contact your favorite public
health facility; explore how you might become a hired healthcare
provider for their clients. We know that volunteer work
is admirable and very necessary but volunteer work will
not resolve the Access To Care problem for millions of Pennsylvanians.
- In order to mobilize the RDH work force in underserved
areas RDHs need to be paid for therapeutic and preventive
services in public health facilities. PDHA is laying the
groundwork for recognition of RDHs as Medicaid and Government
insurance providers in PA.
- Your membership is vital to support our professional and
legislative advances. Please renew your membership.
Sure hoping to meet you at a professional education/social
event this summer. Please check out the CE courses and public
health updates online at our website: PDHAonline.org
Yours in Dental Hygiene,
Jaclyn Gleber, RDH, EdD
PDHA President
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