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A Message from the President:
Dear Colleagues,
December is upon us and unbelievably, at least to me, 2009 is coming to a close. This is the time of year when we gather with our family and friends to celebrate the holidays. We reflect on the past and anticipate the future.
The same applies to the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association. MDHA met many objectives during this past year. We had a very successful Lobby Day last January. Several of the dental hygiene students attended and they were key players in promoting our concerns to the legislators. There were four Sealant days throughout the state where our students provided free sealants to children. We sponsored another Educators Forum to continue the dialogue between the dental hygiene educators at each of the four programs in Maryland and MDHA. Spring Scientific Session was very successful with a record number of attendees. District III, of which Maryland is a member, celebrated the election of its new trustee, Jill Grassmick, and the election of its previous trustee, Pam Quinones, as ADHA Vice-President. Several MDHA members donated their time and volunteered their services at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Annual Session this past June in Washington, D.C. We had four Delegates and three Alternate Delegates represent MDHA at the ADHA House of Delegates.
MDHA saw the passage of the bill allowing hygienists to give local anesthesia, infiltration only. Our legislative committee worked diligently on this to help MDHA present relevant information to the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners as they considered these rules and regulations.
On November 1st MDHA had its Annual Session with the House of Delegates where we had the election and installation of our new officers.
As we look ahead, I am very pleased to say that the MSBODE recently voted on the Rules and Regulations for Local Anesthesia. Once these are approved by the Legislature the dental hygiene programs can begin to offer an appropriate course. Following the successful completion of this course, a NERB exam in local anesthesia will be required .
MDHA’s first event in 2010 will be to sponsor Dental Hygiene (Lobby) Day in Annapolis on Friday January 29, 2010. We will have our Legislative Luncheon in the Miller Senate Office Building this year. Please come to represent MDHA and show our solidarity! This is our opportunity as Registered Dental Hygienists to speak to our legislators and discuss the issues which are important for our patients, our profession and the future.
As your new President I look forward to seeing MDHA accomplish many more goals. I anticipate a successful and productive year for MDHA in 2010.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Mancino, RDH, President MDHA
