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Welcome Back Hygienists!
My name is Jennifer Suminski, and I am very proud to return as your president for the 2014-2015 year. Our executive board
has had some dynamic meetings over the summer and I believe this will truly be another fabulous year!
For those of you who are new to Macomb, I want to offer a warm welcome to a very strong and connected component within the
Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association. A little about me, I graduated from Ferris State University in 2007 with my
Associate degree, then earned my Bachelor degree with Ferris’ online completion program, and currently earning my Masters
degree in Dental Hygiene online at the University of Michigan. I also hold a CPhT certification as a Nationally Certified
Pharmacy Technician. I have been a pharmacy technician for 14 years and have worked in retail, hospital, and most currently
at Health Alliance Plan. In my spare time I like to travel and spend time with friends and family.
I have been active with MDDHS since graduation in 2007, and held officer positions since 2008 continuously, attended three
MDHA House of Delegate meetings as a Delegate and an Alternate, and on the Communications Committee for MDHA as well. Currently,
I serve as Michigan’s Alternate ADHA Delegate, Trustee Pro-Tem for the Upper Peninsula, a member of the Legislative
Council and Public Health Council, and MDHA Webmaster. I also created Macomb’s current website which we are very happy
to be able to provide to our members.
This year we are planning to do some very exciting things! We as members of a profession in health care want to reach out
and support organizations and causes encompassing more than just oral health. Currently we are looking into participating
in upcoming walks, runs, or any kind of event that we as a group could donate our time to supporting; the American Cancer
Society, American Diabetes Association, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation are just to name a few. If anyone has any foundations
or causes they would like to suggest we partake in, please see one of the officers of MDDHS.
Our annual Heartfelt Project will be celebrating its 20th year this coming year, where Macomb reaches out to the children
of Macomb County and provide free prophies and referrals. Due to the low turnout this year we are looking into other options
to help the residents of Macomb County, and looking into more ways we can promote our Heartfelt Project. More to come soon!
Our Facebook page is growing, and with that we want to have the opportunity to interact with you online! Be on the lookout
for our administrators of the page to post stories, questions, and dental news to keep you entertained and informed! If you
haven’t already, check out our page and give us a like!
I am very excited with our lineup of lectures we are offering this year. As you can see we have expanded the number of meetings
back to four meetings to two all day meetings as we originally had prior to 2013. We are starting to integrate more lectures
offering information on topics involving the whole body as we now know that there is a strong correlation between oral health
and general overall health of the human body. We have a speaker coming to present from the American Headache Institute for
our Welcome Meeting, and other topics this year will include genetic testing, public health and hygiene alternative career
paths, nutrition, and motivational interviewing.
The MDHA House of Delegate meeting this year will be held in Troy from October 17th through 19th as we celebrate the 91st
anniversary of the MDHA. Those of you who have never attended or haven’t attended in a while should consider going this
year since it is being held so close to Macomb County. It is truly an inspiring weekend and a great way to network with dental
hygienists all over Michigan! We should be proud to be a part of this great profession and we can display this by being active
in our professional organization to make sure we secure many more generations of dental hygienists to come.
I look forward to seeing you at our many events planned and making more of your acquaintances.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Suminski, CPhT, RDH, BS
MDDHS President
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