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Welcome
Dental Hygienists to the website of
The Long Island Dental Hygienists Association!
Presidents
Message:
Dear Colleagues,
I have been a Registered Dental Hygienist and a member of our
Association since 1992. I still remember my first Long Island
Dental Hygienists’ Association Meeting and how I was in
awe of the Board of LIDHA. I was in awe of them because I knew
how hard it was just to get through school and now there I sat
listening to my “peers” some of who were my professors
at school, telling me the struggle had just begun. Of course
I have come to learn “struggle” might have been
too harsh a word and perhaps “challenging” a better
one. I remember thinking what could possibly be harder than
the Dental Hygiene Program at SUNY Farmingdale. Being active
in our Association for the past fifteen years has taught me
that there is so much more to Dental Hygiene than meets the
eye. We have so many avenues to go down in regard to diversification
within our profession. I have seen our profession grow in directions
that were only whispered about perhaps just thirty years ago.
Even the Educators at that time were already working on a Bachelor’s
Program that they had the insight to foresee for Dental Hygiene.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Association we are now
able to administer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and block
anesthesia is just around the corner. Because of our Association
we are looking very much forward to raising the bar in our profession.
Some up and coming advances we are looking towards are things
such as the ongoing development of an advanced degree program
which will allow hygienists an opportunity to expand their horizons
to becoming an Advanced Dental Hygienist Practitioner. There
is so much more to come. I have noticed that the past Presidents
of LIDHA have had their own agenda of how to enhance our Association
for it’s members. Some of their ideas have come to fruition
in the form of the LIDHA web page, the camaraderie that has
developed between SADHA and LIDHA, outreach programs in our
communities, building on our continuing education requirements,
securing and representing our Profession as we feel it should
be, and getting involved in the Legislative and Governmental
Affairs portion of our careers.
Here is the “challenging” part. It took great numbers
and twelve long years to get local anesthesia into our practice
act. The sad fact is one per cent of Long Island Hygienists
are members of our Association. Ten per cent of Dental Hygienists
across the State of New York are members. We go to Albany in
hope of furthering our profession, our careers, that we worked
so hard for. Senators and Assemblymen look at our “numbers”.
They ask why they should work for us when we don’t work
for ourselves.
As a member, I applaud each and every one of you and your efforts
to support our profession. If you know of anyone who has even
considered becoming a member there has never been a better time!
Our ADHA President said it best. “Membership in your professional
association strengthens the united voice of the profession and
most importantly, supports you as an individual”.
I look forward to serving you in the capacity of President for
LIDHA. Thank you for this opportunity.
Warm regards,
Donna
The
Long Island Dental Hygienists' Association is looking for
members like you to join our board and committees.
Like any association or group it is vital to its future that
its members are active participants. We represent you, and we
want to address your needs, but we cannot do that without YOUR
help!
Advantages of participation:
Feeling of accomplishment
Learning
about governmental affairs
Sense of community
Participation in community projects
IT IS FUN!
The acquisition of life-long friends
It requires minimal time, and the time spent
is always enjoyable.
Committees:
Membership
Advertising
Continuing Education
and many others!
Please contact us at:
LIDHAinfo@gmail.com
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