Dental Health Program Earns Recognition from ADHA

Pacific University’s School of Dental Health Science has been awarded the 100 Percent Faculty Recognition Award by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

The award is given to dental hygiene programs where all full and part-time faculty are members of ADHA. The award will be given at the ADHA’s annual session in June in Boston.

“It is critical that dental hygiene faculty be members of and actively involved in ADHA, because they serve as role models for their students,” said Lisa Rowley, DHS director.

She noted that there are only two entry-level baccalaureate degree dental hygiene programs in Oregon and 54 nationwide.

Pacific’s program, which enrolls 32 students each year, focuses on preparing dental hygienists to provide patient-centered care to diverse populations in a variety of settings, she added.
The program’s model uses what is known as a  “2+2 curriculum.”

“This means that students take approximately two years of prerequisite coursework prior to entering the program, then complete two years of dental hygiene coursework.”

Students in the last two years take their courses at Pacific’s campus in Hillsboro.

“Our program emphasizes evidence-based practice, interprofessional healthcare and access to dental care for underserved patient populations,” Rowley said.