Chicago–July 12, 2011–Pamela Quinones, RDH, BS, of Rockville, Md., was installed as the 2011-2012 president of the Chicago-based American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) on June 21, 2011, at the association’s 88th Annual Session held in Nashville, Tenn.
"I am honored to be able to serve as president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association during such a critical juncture for oral health in America," said Quinones. "Right now there is a changing landscape for all oral health care professionals, and dental hygienists will play a key role in shaping the future of the industry and our profession. To be able to help oversee these transformations is a unique and exciting opportunity."
Quinones has served in numerous positions within ADHA including president-elect, vice president, as a delegate, a five-year term as district III trustee, and as a member of the Committee on Procedure, HyPac, the Executive Committee and numerous council advisor positions. She has served as president for the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association (MDHA), a constituent of ADHA, as well as president and vice president of her local component.
Quinones has practiced clinical dental hygiene for more than 30 years and owns a dental hygiene placement service, Hygiene Associates Inc. Hygiene Associates provides full service placement with both permanent placement and a temporary referral service.
For several years Quinones worked with the Montgomery Volunteer Dental Clinic and served as its president from 2002-2004. The clinic served people within reach of the federal poverty level who had no access to dental care. Housed in an old school in Colesville that belonged to the county, the program was funded by private grants.
Quinones earned her bachelor of science in dental hygiene degree from West Liberty State College in West Liberty, W.Va. She is also a co-founder and charter member of the Washington Metropolitan Dental Hygiene Council.
Her dedication to the profession of dental hygiene and to the excellence of patient care has earned her a number of awards and recognitions, including the ADHA Distinguished Service Award, the MDHA Symbol of Excellence, and recognition by the Who’s Who of Women Executives.
ADHA ANNOUNCES 2011-2012 LEADERSHIP CONTINUED
Quinones succeeds Caryn Solie, RDH, of Sparks Nev., as president. Solie remains an ADHA officer as immediate past president, as well as the 2010-2011 chair of ADHA Institute for Oral Health.
Additional ADHA officers installed at the annual session include: Susan Savage, RDH, BSDH, of Ellensburg, Wash., president-elect; Denise E. Bowers, RDH, MSEd, of Lima, Ohio, vice president; and Louann M. Goodnough, RDH, BSDH of Apple Valley, Minn., treasurer. Remaining in her position as speaker of the house is Carol Jo "CJ" Inman, RDH, BS, PRP of Ashland, Ore.
The newly installed district trustees for 2011-2012 are as follows: Joan Kenney Fitzgerald, RDH, BS, of Manchester, N.H., District I (Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt.); Kimberly Hickman-Bowen, RDH, BSDH, MA, of Middletown, Del., District III (Del., District of Columbia., Md., Va., W.Va.); Beth Nicely, RDH, of Owensboro, Ky., District V (Ind., Ky., Mich., Ohio); and Suzanne R. Luken, RDH, of Summerset, S.D., District VII (Minn., N.D., S.D., Wis.).
Re-elected district trustees for 2011-2012 are as follows: Sandra L. Tesch, RDH, MSHP, of Austin, Texas, District IX (N.M., Okla., Texas); Sharon Zastrow, RDH, of Scottsdale, Ariz., District XI (Ariz., Calif.).
District trustees continuing their term for 2011-2012 are as follows: Megan Brightbill, RDH, BS, of Harrisburg, Penn., District II (Conn., N.J., N.Y., Pa.); Norine Ryan Dowd, RDH, BHSc, of Lake Placid, Fla., District IV (Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.); Victoria E. Richards, RDH, BS, of Nashville, Tenn., District VI (Ala., Ark., La., Miss., Tenn.); Carole F. Danielson, RDH, MPH, of Worth, Ill., District VIII (Ill., Iowa, Kan., Mo., Neb.); Tonette Hollingsworth, RDH, of Butte, Mont., District X (Colo. Mont., Utah, Wyo.); and Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH, BSDH, MA, of Salem, Ore., District XII (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nev., Ore., Wash.).
ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 150,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit http://www.adha.org.
