Happy National Dental Hygienist week! The second week of every April, we celebrate the outstanding, dedicated, and selfless work dental hygienists do — inside and outside of clinical settings — to improve the oral health system.
Here at CareQuest Institute, we’re fortunate to have several RDH colleagues who bring their vast knowledge of dentistry to our work to make the oral health system more accessible, equitable, and integrated. In a word, they are all invaluable. And we wanted to hear, in their words, what brought them to a career in dental hygiene, why they value CareQuest Institute’s work, and what advice they have for others considering a career in oral health.
Caroline McLeod, MS, RDH, Value-Based Solutions Manager
Caroline McLeod, MS, RDH
Why did you initially pursue a career in dental hygiene?
My lifelong desire to support and care for others and a natural fascination with science, combined with an interest in dentistry founded by my grandparents, manifested itself into pursuit of a career in dental hygiene. It felt like a suitable place to explore my interests while complementing my personality and core values.
How do you see your work at CareQuest Institute improving the oral health system?
As a part of the Health Transformation team, I have the pleasure of working directly with stakeholders that play key roles in improving the oral health system. Sharing resources, educating, and developing solutions with clinicians, payors, advocates, and communities are impacting oral health system one step at a time.
What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering a career in dental hygiene?
Dental hygiene is a gratifying profession, grounded in community, with a variety of opportunities to support your interests and career development. I would highly recommend talking with dental hygienists in different roles (e.g., clinical, teaching, research, public health) to understand what we do.
Stephanie Clester, MA, RDH, Clinical Content and Support Specialist
Stephanie Clester, MA, RDH
Why did you initially pursue a career in dental hygiene?
I started my career in the dental field as a dental assistant. Dental hygiene was a natural next step for me — seeing all the restorative treatments made me want to help patients prevent the problems rather than react to them.
How do you see your work at CareQuest Institute improving the oral health system?
The work we are currently doing on the Health Transformation team is amplifying the need for a more equitable oral health system by providing education and advocacy resources to empower dental practices to address systemic barriers to care. Sometimes I do miss the one-on-one relationships I had with my patients when I was in clinical practice, but I enjoy being a part of CareQuest Institute’s bigger picture to reach more patients by transforming the oral health system of the future and to improve oral health for all.
What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering a career in dental hygiene?
Find your passion within the field. If you keep this as a guiding point, you will be a better clinician because you are providing care with a servant’s heart.
Kelly Schroeder, MS, RDH, Program Evaluation Specialist
Kelly Schroeder, MS, RDH
Why did you initially pursue a career in dental hygiene?
Initially, I went to college to study communicative disorders, the undergrad requirement for speech language pathology and audiology. As a first-generation college student, I was not prepared at that time to tackle a master’s program due to limited resources and support. After starting a family, a career in dental hygiene just made sense for me and my family. The degree I already had was a perfect complement to the science and rigor of the dental hygiene degree, and there was a dental hygiene program within 10 miles. Mostly, I wanted to be a dental hygienist because I care about people and helping them to be well.
How do you see your work at CareQuest Institute improving the oral health system?
CareQuest Institute is bringing awareness about the inequities tied to accessing oral health care, the social constructs that create barriers to care. It is about getting evidence-based, quality care to those who don’t have that access. I love that we are doing work that brings awareness about treating the cause of a tooth infection (minimally invasive care) rather than just doing surgery on a tooth (restoration). And I love that our CEO and President Myechia Minter-Jordan is bringing awareness about children who are being put under general anesthesia to have dental caries treated and the risks associated with that practice. In other words, CareQuest Institute is bringing accountability to oral health care.
What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering a career in dental hygiene?
Love clinical dental hygiene for as long as it makes sense for you. Take your knowledge and experience and share it with the masses.
Hannah Cheung, MPH, MS, RDH, Health Sciences Specialist
Why did you initially pursue a career in dental hygiene?
I wanted to be in a profession where I could help people. Dental hygiene allowed me the opportunity to combine my interests in education, prevention, and direct clinical care to improve the oral health condition of individuals.
Hannah Cheung, MPH, MS, RDH
How do you see your work at CareQuest Institute improving the oral health system?
In my role, I am able to be involved in research that highlights existing gaps in the oral health system and offers possible solutions to improving inequitable access to care. I feel more fulfilled as an oral health professional when I am part of these projects that I know are helping to change the current narrative and current oral health system.
What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering a career in dental hygiene?
Find a good mentor, ask questions, and be brave. If you want to grow in or beyond your chairside career, a good mentor will help guide you and advocate for you. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and always ask questions. This is how you will experience the most growth, whether it is within or beyond clinical dental hygiene.