Six outstanding Registered Dental Hygienists to be awarded among peers and colleagues
Crest® Oral-B® is proud to recognize the
recipients of the brands’ second annual Pros in the Profession®
awards program. The award acknowledges deserving Registered Dental
Hygienists (RDHs) whose excellence in education, volunteerism and
treatment enhance the public’s oral health with the ultimate goal of
improving overall health.
“Dental hygienists have one of the most hands-on jobs in the healthcare
profession. They are essential members of the oral healthcare team, with
a unique ability to motivate and educate diverse patient populations
about oral health and oral disease prevention,” said Wendy Bebey, RDH,
BS, P&G Dental Hygienist Relations Manager. “Crest Oral-B salutes this
year’s winners who have used their knowledge, skills and passion to
improve oral care both locally and abroad.”
This is the second year of the Pros in the Profession program, which
recognizes RDHs who go above and beyond the call of duty every day to
advance oral health. The six winners will be recognized at a special
ceremony on July 31st at RDH Under One Roof 2012, in
Las Vegas. RDH Under One Roof is an annual continuing education
dental conference that attracts some of the most recognized dental
hygienists in the field.
About the 2012 Pros in the Profession Winners
The award-winners for year two of the program are Donna Caminiti, RDH;
Julie Wells Kroeker, RDH; Kareen Wilson, RDH; Kasha Lower, RDH; Olga
Torres, RDH; and Hayley Wood-Klauer, RDH.
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Donna Caminiti, of Springfield, IL, was selected for her
dedication to improving many of her patients’ lives through her “I
Quit Tobacco Wall of Fame” and other in-office initiatives. Donna
started a smoking-cessation program that teaches patients about the
effects of smoking on overall health and oral health. She motivates
patients to quit smoking and honors their success by posting their
photos on a bulletin board in her office.
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Julie Wells Kroeker, of McAllen, TX, was selected for her
commitment to the oral health of her patients and those with special
needs. She hosts a series of oral health presentations at local
elementary schools and role plays with high school-age special
education students to help them feel good about visiting the dentist.
In her practice, Julie has also mastered the Spanish language in order
to communicate with her largely Hispanic patient demographic.
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Kareen Wilson, of Bloomfield, CT, was selected for her work in
starting Bethesda Medical Mission, a nonprofit organization that
offers free health services to less fortunate people around the world.
In 2004, Kareen joined mission trips to the Dominican Republic and
Peru and witnessed a drastic need for better oral health care in these
countries. After that experience, she realized her true calling and
continues to educate patients back home about the connection between
oral health and overall health.
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Kasha Lower, of New Port Richey, FL, was selected for her
community service as an active volunteer for the Great American
Teach-In, a program that teaches students in local schools about the
importance of oral health. She also contributes her time to the Smile
Faith Foundation, an organization that combines life-coach counseling
with dental care to help patients with severe dental problems restore
their smiles, regain their confidence and venture into new career
opportunities.
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Olga Torres, of Clewiston, FL, was selected for her extensive
work with pediatric patients, which has ultimately led her to become a
widely recognized role model for many kids and adolescents throughout
her community. Olga uses her bilingual skills to communicate with
Hispanic patients, as well as the migrant parents and guardians of her
pediatric patients, many of whom face language barriers. When she is
not at work or studying part-time for her Bachelor’s Degree, Olga
often volunteers her time giving in-depth presentations to parents and
their children on how to maintain their oral health.
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Hayley Wood-Klauer, of South Bend, IN, was selected for her
commitment to the profession in both the clinical and academic
settings. Just three years after graduating dental hygiene school,
Hayley splits her time working in private practice while serving as a
full-time clinical instructor in the dental hygiene program at Indiana
University South Bend. On top of her busy work schedule, Hayley is
pursuing a Master’s Degree to enhance her capabilities and takes every
opportunity she gets to give back to her community through
volunteerism.
Ongoing Partnership with First-Year Winner
Crest Oral-B continues to support the community work of Pros in the
Profession year-one winners. The program also recently awarded Ann
Benson Ross, RDH, BS, of Phoenix, AZ, the first-ever Pros in the
Profession grant for “Advancing Oral Health in the Community.” Ann is
utilizing the $5,000 grant to improve oral health services for nursing
home residents. The oral health needs of this population are not being
adequately met, compared with other forms of care, due in part to a lack
of financial resources, lack of proper training and difficulty in
self-care. The financial support will help Ann and her fellow staff
close the gap by improving dental care access to nursing home residents
in the community.
To learn more about the Pros in the Profession program and winners,
please visit www.prosintheprofession.com.
For information about Crest Oral-B products and resources, visit www.crest.com
and www.oralb.com,
and dental professionals may visit www.dentalcare.com.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves approximately 4.4 billion people around the world with its
brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®,
Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®,
Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®,
Gain®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®,
Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®,
Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®,
Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®,
Febreze®, Ambi Pur®, SK-II®, and Vicks®.
The P&G community includes operations in about 80 countries worldwide.
Please visit http://www.pg.com
for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About Crest
A trusted leader in oral health, Crest was the first oral care brand to
secure the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a clinically proven fluoride
toothpaste. Since first introducing fluoride toothpaste 54 years ago, it
is estimated that Crest has helped prevent more than half a billion
cavities in the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Crest is
owned and distributed by Procter & Gamble.
About Oral-B
Oral-B is the worldwide leader in the over $5 billion brushing market.
Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, the brand includes manual and
power toothbrushes for children and adults, oral irrigators and
interdental products, such as dental floss. Oral-B manual toothbrushes
are used by more dentists than any other brand in the U.S. and many
international markets.
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