A Letter From our President… Eileen Clark

“Let’s move our collective voice forward in 2023”

Greetings, as your new President of NCDHA, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead our professional association over the next year through engaged leadership and a collaborative approach.  I look forward to developing the tools and space necessary to touch base with our fellow hygienists and students and to re-establish our role as public advocate and collaborator for the profession of dental hygiene in North Carolina.   Let’s engage our peers through social media and other creative activities and work with our partners in the North Carolina Dental Society and the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative to address work-force concerns and promote a healthy work environment acknowledging that a positive culture affirms the value and dignity of each team member, which in turn, benefits the individual, the practice and the patients and communities we serve.

I would like to challenge each of us, general members as well as members of the Executive Committee to be intentional with our desire to keep this ship sailing, despite the challenges of declining membership and the continued impact of COVID.   Let’s come together to chart its course with a willingness to actively participate in the necessary committee work over the next year, while embracing the strategic guidance and support from our management team and enjoying some fun and fellowship along the way!  I think we can unlock opportunities for transformation and growth, and I look forward to fostering the process.

In closing, I have one request…..the next time you have the opportunity to actively recruit a fellow hygienist to join the association, communicate the value of our collective voice. We are stronger when we stand together. NCDHA will take a stance on key issues and represent dental hygiene’s best interest as dentistry continues to navigate staff shortages and work to generate solutions to ongoing workplace challenges….Some things, my friends and colleagues, are just priceless!

I look forward to working with both our members and non-members to move our collective voice forward into 2023. If you want to learn more about our professional association, please ask!