2004 Dental Assistants Recognition Week: delivering excellence throughout the World

Dental Assistant, The, July-August, 2004

Ideas old and new are on display as Dental Assistants Recognition Week ends its competition for another year.

As always we are grateful to those who took the time to tell us what they did--and we're sure there are many more out there who did things but were too busy to let us know. But we appreciate any efforts added to those of the ADAA and the ADA and our Canadian counterparts to help build well-deserved recognition for dental assisting professionals everywhere.

DENTAL ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATIONS

FIRST PLACE

CAPE ATLANTIC DENTAL ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION GREEN CREEK, NJ

Presented by Kathleen Storz, CDA

This local association had bronzed gold DARW logo pins made up and their leadership including Kathleen Storz, CDA, Sandy Pickens, CDA, RDA, Patricia Hoffman, CDA, RDA, Brenda Amenhauser, RDA, Amie Fairman, CDA, delivered pins to 150 private practices in Cape May and Atlantic Counties ... along with information on the local component and ADAA membership applications. The students of Cape May Technical School Dental Assisting Program and Delaware Valley Academy of Medical and Dental Assistants also were presented with pins. All told: approximately four hundred assistants and students received pins and learned about DARW and ADAA.

SECOND PLACE

THE MIDLAND EMPIRE DENTAL ASSISTANTS SOCIETY ST. JOSEPH, MO

Presented by Patsy Klein, CDA, COMSA, CDPMA

Midland Empire contributed generously to a food drive in their community during DARW and made sure that information about dental assisting and the ADAA was included. They also hosted a booth at an alumni meeting and distributed buttons, ADAA literature and goodwill. Also, during the observation a luncheon was hosted by local dentist Dr. Patricia Boise honoring DARW and dental assistants and photography from this event was the basis of later publicity in the local press.

ALSO NOTED

GENESEE (MI) DISTRICT DENTAL ASSISTANTS SOCIETY MILLINGTON, MI

Presented by Deborah Jaruzel, CDA, RDA

Never at a loss for creative ideas, this local was the recipient of two GDDAS banners designed by their president, Carol Stamm, at a dinner honoring DARW and dental assistants. Each attendee received a monogrammed tote bag, and flowers were presented to Society officers in recognition of their efforts. All this and education too. A program offering two C.E. credits was also part of the event.

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL ASSISTING SOCIETY FALLS, PA

Presented by Colette Jesikiewicz

Several individuals made contributions of effort and talent that added up to successful observation of DARW. First, Diane Kelchner, CDA, EFDA, wrote an article introducing the dental assistant to the general public and was rewarded with publication in the Hazleton, Pa., newspaper. Mary Ann Kapral and Linda Tier used the Crest program and spoke to Head Start students in two counties. Lisa Mission, EFDA, took the Toothprints Program on the road to both parents and children and the Luzerne County Dental Society. Bonnie Bell, CDA, EFDA, wrote to dental assistants informing them of EFDA changes in Pa., and Colette Jesikiewicz began work with the Luzerne County coroner's office and state police crime lab to educate the public in the important role dentistry plays in forensics.

SOUTH CAROLINA DENTAL ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION Presented by Lois Bell, CDA

Not only did the Association request and receive a DARW proclamation from S.C. Governor Mark Stanford but their leadership met with Governor Stanford and discussed the important contributions to the public's health made by dental assistants. In addition to various activities around the state that month, one highlight was the Columbia DAS that prepared and sold gift baskets to local dentists for presentation to their staffs.

WASHTENAW DISTRICT (MI) DENTAL ASSISTING SOCIETY DEXTER, MI

Presented by Gwen Graham-Feldkamp

A Hawaiian luau was deemed appropriate to brighten a Michigan winter and so inflatable palm trees, flowers, grass skirts and non-Hawaiian "molars confetti" were abundantly presented along with a folder, pens, notebooks and calendars for all recipients. Also, beach bags with dental samples and leis for all. Paraffin hot wax treatments for hands were offered too and door prizes punctuated the day. In addition, two educational presentations were made by Oral-B and Premier Dental.

DENTAL OFFICES

FIRST PLACE

BETSY CROSSWELL, DMD, & CORINA ATANASE, DMD MIDDLETON, CT

Presented by Patti Deegan

During DARW, each day a sign of appreciation was given or shown such as a picture collage of the practice's assistants in the reception area or flowers or special snacks. A luncheon for the staff was held at a local Mexican restaurant. The doctors of the practice were invited to speak at the Middlesex Dental Society monthly education day on March 10th and in addition to introducing the practice's assistants, they were lauded for their knowledge and commitment to patients and staff. Reaching out to the community during DARW, the office made contributions to Eddy House, a local women's shelter, Rocky Hill Veterans Home and WIC (Women-Infants-Children) Center.