The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is pleased to announce the installation of a new board of directors at its recent annual general meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Joining new president Mary Bertone of Manitoba and president-elect Mandy Hayre of British Columbia are Gerry Cool (Alberta), Christine Gordon (Saskatchewan), Sandy Lawlor (Ontario), Sophia Baltzis (Quebec), Joanne Noye (Nova Scotia), Tracy Bowser (Prince Edward Island), Nikki Curlew (Newfoundland & Labrador), and Donna Scott (North).
Mary Bertone brings 23 years of experience in the dental field to the position of CDHA President. She has served as the president of the Manitoba Dental Hygienists Association and is currently employed by the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Community Oral Health as an oral health promotion specialist. Mary has also recently taken on the role of project coordinator for Healthy Smile Happy Child, a Manitoba-based early childhood tooth decay prevention project, while maintaining clinical practice in long-term care and in an inner city clinic. She has been actively involved in developing mouth care policies and education resource material, leading caregiver training sessions, and conducting research on long-term care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene and is pursuing a master’s degree in public health while teaching community health to third-year dental hygiene students in the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Manitoba.
Mary’s leadership skills, straightforward approach, compassion, and commitment will serve the national association well. Mary is inspired by the profession of dental hygiene and is proud to be part of an organization that values its members and the people they serve. “Access to care issues are dear to my heart,” she notes, adding, “during my term, I will work diligently to advance the oral health interests of disadvantaged populations and the underserved.”
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.
