IFDH Officers
Listed below are the titles, names and emails of the elected officers of IFDH.
Board of Directors (Elected Officers):
Click on board member to read biography
Jill Rethman, RDH, BA
President
Jill Rethman is a graduate of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She is a Past President of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and is the Editor in Chief of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Jill is an international speaker who has presented continuing education programs for more than 20 years. Topics include periodontal updates and prevention strategies for caries and periodontal diseases. Jill is passionate about helping individuals achieve oral and overall health, and strongly believes in forging lasting relationships with others who share the same goals. She looks forward to serving IFDH and working with its global partners.
Fouzieh Eliassy RDH, BA
President Elect
Fouzieh graduated at Jönköping University year 2000, and has worked in the public sector for 22 years. Her skills in leadership are well established and has held leadership positions on local, regional and national level. She currently holds the position head of clinic for 4 dental clinics in a large oral health care organization.Fouzieh is the president of the Swedish Dental Hygienist Association. She is also engaged in the European Dental Hygienists Federation, EDHF. The engagement for the dental hygienist’s position in the oral health care team is evident. Her own leadership ambitions have also led her to engage and strive to support colleagues that have similar ambitions.Fouzieh and her husband Jamal have three children. In their free time they enjoy traveling, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Sharon Friedman Yaniv RDH, MHA
Vice President
With nearly three decades of experience in dental hygiene, Sharon is
committed to advancing the field through leadership, advocacy, and
innovation. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Faculty of
Dentistry and an MA in Health and Business Administration from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. Sharon's clinical experience spans both private and
public settings.
As Past President and CEO of the Israeli Dental Hygiene Association (IDHA) and a current member of the Advisory Committee on Dental Hygiene at the Ministry of Health, she has led enhancements in national professional development. She was the Chief editor of the IDHA Journal for over a decade. International roles include serving as Secretary and now Vice President of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), and over a decade as a delegate to the IFDH and the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF). Active at global conferences, seminars, and universities, Sharon shares her expertise in dental health promotion, public health, and social responsibility initiatives, including volunteering to advance dental health in women’s shelters and refugee communities.
As Past President and CEO of the Israeli Dental Hygiene Association (IDHA) and a current member of the Advisory Committee on Dental Hygiene at the Ministry of Health, she has led enhancements in national professional development. She was the Chief editor of the IDHA Journal for over a decade. International roles include serving as Secretary and now Vice President of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), and over a decade as a delegate to the IFDH and the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF). Active at global conferences, seminars, and universities, Sharon shares her expertise in dental health promotion, public health, and social responsibility initiatives, including volunteering to advance dental health in women’s shelters and refugee communities.
Miranda Steeples MSc, Grad Dip DH & DTh, AssocFCGDent
Treasurer
Miranda has worked in dentistry for many years, both as a dental nurse, and now as a dental hygienist and dental therapist. She qualified from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2009 and works in general practice in the South-East of England. In her spare time, Miranda completed an MSc at the University of Kent, and enjoys volunteering for Mini Molars Cambodia providing dental care to children.
She is the Council Representative for dental hygiene and therapy for the College of General Dentistry; a member of the coordinating committee, Alliance for a Cavity Free Future UK Chapter; Honorary Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation and is the President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, 2022-2024.
She is the Council Representative for dental hygiene and therapy for the College of General Dentistry; a member of the coordinating committee, Alliance for a Cavity Free Future UK Chapter; Honorary Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation and is the President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, 2022-2024.
Carmen Lanoway RDH, BSc, PG Cert
Secretary
Carmen graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1988 and started getting involved with the local professional association. She served as Secretary, Vice-President, President Elect and President from the years of 1989-1993. Her first ISDH was 1992 in The Hague, where she then decided to move to Germany to work. She became involved in the German Dental Hygiene association and became the delegate for Germany serving from 2016 to current. During this time, she also completed her Bachelor and is currently working on her Master’s program in Oral Health Promotion.
Past Presidents
1986-1989 Wilma Motley (USA)*
1989-1992 Pat Johnson (Canada)
1992-1995 Ruth Nowjack Raymer (USA)
1995-1998 Inger-Lise Bryhni (Norway)
1998-2001 Til van der Sanden-Stoelinga (The Netherlands)
2001-2004 Kerstin Öhrn (Sweden)
2004-2007 Sue Aldenhoven (Australia)
2007-2010 Marjolijn Hovius (The Netherlands)
2010-2013 Maria Perno Goldie (USA)
2013-2016 JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, PhD (USA)
2016-2019 Robyn Watson, RDH, MPA (New Zealand)
2019-2022 Corrie Jongbloed–Zoet, RDH (The Netherlands)
2022-2024 Wanda Fedora, RDH (Canada)
* deceased