NSDHS/Harper
Student
Connection
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NSDHS Student Relations Chairperson
Jacqueline Frede, RDH, BA
The first Harper College ADHA Student Chapter Meeting of the Spring semester was held on Monday, January 23rd. This meeting provided a very special opportunity for NSDHS as the Society was kindly invited to attend as the evening’s featured speaker. NSDHS President Deb Owens, NSDHS Immediate Past President Kathy Barnum, NSDHS Vice President Lisa Schmidt, Public Relations and Advertising Chairperson Angela Kozak, and Student Relations Chairperson Jacqueline Frede were all present to meet the Harper College Dental Hygiene Students and Faculty. Presented and discussed during the meeting was NSDHS, its position as the Component Chapter for Harper College as well as within the hierarchy of the IDHA and ADHA, and the individual and professional benefits of joining these Associations post-graduation.
Not only was this a wonderful opportunity for the NSDHS Board to provide additional information and answer questions regarding the organization, but it also offered the Board a glimpse into dental hygiene student life at Harper College. Within the Dental Hygiene Department at Harper College, the NSDHS Board Members had the opportunity to witness the Harper College Dental Hygiene Mentor/Mentee program in action. This program is a truly wonderful teaching and learning experience for both classes as, upon entry into the Dental Hygiene program each first-level Mentee student is paired with a second-level Mentor student for support and peer-learning throughout the program. From the beginning of their tenure as Harper College Dental Hygiene Students, new first-level students are encouraged to participate in open communication with their second-level peers to ask questions, gain insight through their peers’ experiences, and from such discussions, gain a strong sense of personal expectation as they navigate through this amazing Dental Hygiene program. This particular evening, members of both classes could be seen gathered in pairs or small groups near the phone banks reviewing patient charts, confirming appointments, and discussing appropriate patient follow-up protocol.
Refreshed from a well-deserved winter holiday and just a week into the Spring 2012 semester, the Harper College Dental Hygiene Students are focused on continued instruction and achievement in the coming months. The first-level Class of 2013 is eagerly anticipating the more practical learning opportunities to come from increased direct patient care sessions in their clinic courses. Throughout this semester, these students will provide dental hygiene care to a variety of patients in addition to demonstrating learned competencies including patient evaluation, instrumentation techniques, patient self-care instruction, and other aspects of patient comprehensive care. This semester, the Class of 2013 will also be introduced to the theory and techniques of radiology. This includes the opportunity to gain proficiency in taking both bite-wing and full mouth radiographs using both film and digital sensor image capture.
With only one semester left as Harper College Dental Hygiene Students, the Class of 2012 is not only gearing up for new learning, but also making plans for comprehensive material review as National Board Exams will be taken by some students as early as March. The organization of this class is impeccable as study groups are already forming and National Board review classes have been attended. Reaching out into the community as dental hygiene students is a large portion of this semester’s learning for the Class of 2012. Through the compassionate leadership of Mrs. Angie Mannina, the class is quickly learning that such outreach opportunities not only benefit those in need, but also provide a strong sense of fulfillment to those conducting the outreach. Throughout the semester, the students will put their learning and communication skills to the test through small group and one-on-one outreach and teaching opportunities.
The North Suburban Dental Hygienists’ Society wishes all of the Harper College Dental Hygiene Students and Faculty safe winter travels to and from campus and a semester filled with learning and success!
Jacqueline Frede
Student Relations Chairperson
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