PDHA PRESENTS AWARD:

Congratulations to Senator Patricia Vance, recipient of the Certificate of Recognition Award presented at the PDHA Annual Session in November in Pittsburgh.

The award is presented to a member of the general public for their contributions to further the interests of the dental hygiene profession. The PDHA is committed to improving the oral health of Pennsylvania’s citizens by increasing access to oral health care and oral health education.

Senator Vance is a Pennsylvania Senator and a registered nurse. She is aware first hand of the oral health and medical needs of the elderly, the poor and the low-income citizens. Senator Vance has worked tirelessly to change Pennsylvania law to allow public health dental hygienists to practice with more autonomy. This law change permits a larger number of individuals access to oral health education and preventive dental hygiene services. It is but the first step of many to reduce the barriers to access health care.

Senator Vance was unable to be present in November. She will be presented her award in December.

(L-R) Sandy Zagar, director of HACC’s Dental Hygiene Program; Megan Brightbill, vice president of the PDHA; Kathy Schlotthauer, the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association adviser at HACC; Vance, and Morgan Plant, lobbyist for the PDHA.

PA Dental Hygienists thank Sen. Pat Vance
(to read complete article, click on link).