Long Island Dental Hygienists Association

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 HygienistsÌ 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 ÏpeersÓ some of who were my professors at school, telling me the struggle had just begun. Of course I have come to learn ÏstruggleÓ might have been too harsh a word and perhaps ÏchallengingÓ 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 BachelorÌs 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 itÌs 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 ÏchallengingÓ 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 ÏnumbersÓ. They ask why they should work for us when we donÌt 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. ÏMembership in your professional association strengthens the united voice of the profession and most importantly, supports you as an individualÓ.

I look forward to serving you in the capacity of President for LIDHA. Thank you for this opportunity.

Warm regards,
Donna

LIDHAinfo@gmail.com