Leading the Way: Dental Hygiene Education at UHM

Dental Hygiene Strategic On August 10 and 11, 2006, more than 50 local and national stakeholders mapped a strategy for dental hygiene education to lead the process of improving the oral health of Hawai‘i’s peoples. The strategic planning for dental hygiene education at UH Manoa was sponsored by the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.

The event featured two national speakers and participants -- Colleen Schmidt, Director of Education, American Dental Hygienists Association and Norma J. Wells, Director, University of Washington Undergraduate Dental Hygiene Program. Mark Greer, Chief, Dental Division, Department of Health, and Carolyn Kuba, Chair, Department of Dental Hygiene were featured local presenters. The sessions were facilitated by an expert team led by Donna Ching, Extension Specialist in the Family and Consumer Science Department at UH.

Several companion reports to the strategic planning process stimulated participant discussion:

"Leading the Way: Dental Hygiene Education in Hawaii" - White Paper for Dental Hygiene Education Strategic Planning
"Supply & Demand: Assessing the Dental Hygiene Workforce in Hawaii" - A Report on the State of the Dental Hygiene Workforce
"Dental Hygiene: Focus on Advancing the Profession" by the American Dental Hygienists' Association

Proceedings from the event will be available soon.

For more information: Contact Marla Acosta at (808) 956-8522, Office of the Dean, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.

The only school in Hawaii accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association.