The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is proud to recognize eighteen leaders in oral health for their outstanding contributions to the profession of dental hygiene, the national association, and to the overall health and well-being of the Canadian public.
Since 1975, CDHA’s Dental Hygiene Recognition Program (DHRP) has honoured more than 120 dental hygienists in 14 categories for their excellence in scholarship, leadership, community involvement, and research. These award winners have set high goals and achieved much in their professional and personal lives.
After reviewing 34 submissions to its 2014 program, CDHA is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s DHRP awards: Airra Custodio, Julie Farmer, Zul Kanji, Joyce Kwok, Pauline Leroux, Sue Lighthall, Niagara College, Oxford County Public Health’s Oral Health Team, and Susan Young. Honourable mentions are given in the oral health promotion category to Leslie Battersby and the College of New Caledonia’s dental hygiene and dental assisting students, Olu Brown, Melissa Holmes, and Vancouver Community College. CDHA’s recognition program is made possible by the generous support of industry sponsors TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, SUNSTAR G•U•M, DENTSPLY, and Crest Oral-B.
In addition to its Dental Hygiene Recognition Program, CDHA also offers three awards to members whose volunteer service at either the local or national level is deemed outstanding. The recipients of this year’s CDHA board of directors’ awards are Salme Lavigne (Life Membership), Jacki Blatz (Distinguished Service Award), and Bev Woods, Carole Whitmer, and Anne Caissie (Awards of Merit).
Serving the profession since 1963, CDHA is the collective national voice of more than 26,800 registered dental hygienists working in Canada, directly representing 17,000 individual members including dental hygienists and students. Dental hygiene is the 6th largest registered health profession in Canada with professionals working in a variety of settings, including independent practice, with people of all ages, addressing issues related to oral health. For more information on oral health, visit: www.dentalhygienecanada.ca.
