Busy Building, Promoting & Representing IFDH

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
Steve Jobs

Can you believe it’s almost April? Where has the time gone?! In no time we’ll be headed to Milan for ISDH 2026! As we near the end of this term, I’m reminded of how much we’ve accomplished, the hard work we’ve done, and the changes we’ve championed. But we’re not finished yet! And you’ll see why in this edition of eNews.

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February Board Meeting in Chicago

The IFDH Board met for its yearly in-person meeting in February. It was so wonderful to see each other in person - not on a computer screen, but actual live discussions! As you know, so much can be achieved when we’re working together face-to-face….and we certainly did accomplish much.

Along with the two-day Board meeting, we were also able to visit the ADHA headquarters. Their senior staff and President Lancette VanGuilder hosted us for a fun evening of sharing ideas and learning more about how we can move our profession - #Upward. Thank you to ADHA CEO Jennifer Hill and all her staff who made us feel so welcome!

After the Board meeting, Peter & I attended the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting, one of the largest annual meetings in the US. With a big international presence and attendees, it was nice to interact with our many corporate supporters. They are all excited for ISDH 2026 in Milan!

And…. exciting news – look for a brand new IFDH exhibit booth to be unveiled at our International Symposium! We did some “window shopping” in Chicago and developed an idea to match our mission and goals. I think you will love it! #Upward!

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Representing IFDH at WHO Webinar

It was a great privilege and honor to represent the IFDH at the recent WHO webinar on its newly released guideline, WHO Guideline on Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care for Preventing and Managing Dental Caries. I participated in a panel discussion to highlight how the IFDH and our member countries can help implement the guideline.

It’s exciting that prevention is paramount in achieving its goals! In fact, the wording states “This WHO guideline is grounded in the guiding principles of preventive strategies, promoting minimally invasive interventions, fostering open communication between patients and oral health care professionals, and the precautionary principle.”

Dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral therapists and oral health therapists are at the forefront of promoting this care, and we are ready, willing and able to do so. You can access the guideline here Thank you, Dr Benoit Varenne and Gabriela Sardon Panta of the WHO for including us in this important work.

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NEW: IFDH President Podcasts

Stay tuned for the new IFDH Presidential Podcasts! Plans are well underway for a series of 6 podcasts during 2026. The first 3 will be hosted by me and the final 3 will be hosted by incoming President Fouzieh Eliassy. The first 3 topics I will cover include:

• Fluoride – Is It Relevant Anymore?
• Why We Should Still Focus on Perio-Systemic Links
• The Future of Online Resources & AI

Thank you to Colgate for their support of this new initiative!

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White Papers for 2026-28

Our next series of White Papers for 2026-2028 is planned and started. Here are the excellent topics and authors:

1. Dental Anxiety by Linda Douglas
2. Community Outreach in Oral Health Education by Frances Robinson
3. Workforce Competency in the Future by Lancette VanGuilder
4. Hormonal Influence on the Oral Cavity by Juliette Reeves
5. Oral Health in a Crisis by Sharon Friedman Yaniv
6. Collaborative Practice/Multi-Disciplinary Care by Roisin McGrath

The White Paper series has been very well received and used by many as resources. All are available on the IFDH website. We are very appreciative to Haleon for their support of this important work!

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NEW: Advocacy Advisory Committee

It’s now official – the IFDH Advocacy Advisory Committee has been formed and finalized. In the coming weeks a “meet & greet” online meeting will be planned so the committee can solidify its next steps. They will be ready to start their work in the Fall. A big THANK YOU to our initial committee members:

• Rachael England (UK)
• Matt Crespin (USA)
• Corrie Jongbloed-Zoet (The Netherlands)
• Yvonne Nyblom (Sweden)
• Leon Bassi (UK)

This committee will work closely with the IFDH Board and staff to identify ways to advocate for our member countries and to promote oral health worldwide.

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NEW: Fellowship Program to be Unveiled

To be introduced at our International Symposium in Milan, this recognition program will highlight the achievements of individual dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral therapists and oral health therapists. You work hard for your patients; you’ve worked hard to accomplish so much – you deserve to be honored. An application process will be developed for those who wish to apply. Details will be unveiled in Milan.

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Committee Spotlight – Awards Committee

The IFDH Awards Committee was newly formed during the 2024-2026 term. Thanks to our corporate partners & sponsors, IFDH has developed many different awards, and this committee was developed to be an impartial judging group. They are responsible for determining the winners of the Impact, Innovation, and Sunstar World Dental Hygienist Awards.

Committee members this term have included:

• Committee Chair Tayyaba Fiaz (Canada).
• Enrica Scagnetto (Italy)
• Ellen Bol (The Netherlands)
• Elaine Johnson (South Africa)
• Wanda Fedora (Canada)
• Wendy Stewart (Canada)
• President Elect Fouzieh Eliassy is the Board Liaison,

Tayyaba has been an excellent Chair and states, “Chairing the IFDH Awards Committee has been a truly rewarding experience. Together, we developed a thoughtful, fair, and transparent evaluation process that meaningfully recognizes excellence across our global dental hygiene community. I am especially proud of the strong collaboration, professionalism, and shared dedication within the committee, which has not only enhanced this year’s program but also created a solid and lasting foundation for future awards.” Many thanks to Tayyaba & the entire committee.

Onward and #UPWARD!!!!!

Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, FADHA
IFDH President, 2024-2026

A Great Year & More to Come!

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”-
Socrates

A new year is upon us….what will it bring? It’s always exciting to begin another chapter, and it's fortunate that, with each January, we can reset. It’s a change in focus that enables us to solidify what’s important and to prioritize. At IFDH, we are excited for this coming year. Our priorities guide us, and our focus is strong. There is so much to look forward to and there are so many wonderful things ahead!

For our delegates to the IFDH, you are leaders who have an impact on the future of the professions you represent. So, let’s keep going, difference makers – we’re just getting started!

Click to hear Jill’s holiday and 2026 message

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Visit to the AIDI Congress in Bologna, Italy

Of course, one of the reasons we are excited for this coming year is our highly anticipated International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Milan! I had the opportunity to spend time with our Italian hosts, the Associazione Igieniesti Dentali Italiani (AIDI) at their recent annual congress in Bologna. This was the 35th celebration of their annual meeting, and if it’s any indication of what to expect in Milan, it will be an outstanding event.

I was honored to address the attendees and share information about how the IFDH and AIDI work together for our professions….and I was treated like a queen. While I couldn’t fully understand all the wonderful speakers and programs because they were in Italian, the theme of “Exploring the Tongue” was not only novel but important. From systemic health, to microbiota, to language, nutrition, cancer diagnosis and more, the tongue is an organ of significance. As AIDI President Maria Teresa Agneti stated, “The tongue is truly a highly complex organ that plays a central role in our daily lives, in our social and interpersonal relationships: more or less severe deficits in its functions can significantly impact a person's quality of life. It is, therefore, a formidable tool that summarizes the balance and disharmonies of each individual.” Bravo a tutti for an amazing and successful Congress!

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IFDH Symposium Deadlines Approaching

If you or someone you know is interested in presenting at the IFDH International Symposium in Milan, be sure to submit your Abstract by January 7! Also, the Early Bird Registration rate closes on March 30. Don’t miss out on this incredible event!

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Milestone in Oral Health!

At its High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) this past fall, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) developed a Political Declaration that recognized the impact of oral diseases for the first time. In December, the Declaration was approved by the UN Member States. Finally, we have a global call to action that addresses the shared risk factors among oral and other NCDs! The 2025 UN Political Declaration (HLM4) solidified commitments, establishing new targets for NCDs, mental health, and crucially, calling for essential oral healthcare services as part of universal health care (UHC) by 2030. Some key themes of the Declaration include:

• Integration - Embedding oral health within NCD strategies, primary care, and UHC benefit packages.
• Shared Risk Factors - Targeting common causes like high sugar intake, tobacco, and alcohol use.
• Prevention Focus - Moving from curative to preventive care, promoting oral health in schools, workplaces, and families.
• Global Strategy & Action Plan - Mandating the WHO to develop strategies with measurable 2030 targets for tackling oral diseases.
• National Action - Calls for countries to implement policies, strengthen workforces, improve surveillance, and research.

These resolutions mark a major shift, affirming that oral health is fundamental to overall health. The 2025 Declaration is seen as a catalyst for translating these commitments into tangible policy and program changes worldwide. As the WHO has stated, “there is no health without oral health.” We strongly agree, and look forward to the role dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral therapists and oral health therapists will play in achieving health for all!

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Partner Updates

ACFF - President Elect Fouzieh Eliassy recently attended the annual virtual meeting of the Alliance for a Cavity Free Future (ACFF), where she shared the latest news and information from the IFDH. The ACFF believes that every child born after 2030 should stay cavity-free during their lifetime and is working hard to achieve that goal. IFDH strongly supports that mission! With 29 chapters on 6 continents, they are committed to achieving success. You can find out more on their website.

IADR – I recently had the opportunity to speak with the Executive Director of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR). The IFDH is an Institutional member of this global organization that promotes quality research and education in oral health. Can you think of ways the IFDH may want to more strongly partner with them? If so, let me know. Their 104th General Session takes place March 25-28 in San Diego, CA, and they welcome all members of the oral healthcare team to join them. More info.

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Did You Attend Our Global Oral Health Summit?

We hope you were able to participate in this fantastic virtual event! The speakers and topics were amazing and the interaction among attendees was excellent. Here’s an overview. If you missed this one, be sure to attend the next one in November 2026. The date will be finalized in the coming months so stay tuned. Thank you to our sponsors, Haleon, Dentsply Sirona, Colgate Palmolive, and Crest+Oral-B.

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Committee Spotlight:

In this edition of the eNews, I’d like to highlight the Membership Committee and the Research Grant Committee.

Membership Committee – The Membership Committee, along with IFDH staff, reviews applications from countries that wish to become members of the Federation. In addition, the committee reviews individual applications to ensure they qualify for membership. In the 2024-2026 term we asked the committee to target new country members and to potentially reach out to dental therapist organizations. Members include Alice Ravnsbeck (Denmark), Elisabeth Gregersen (Denmark), Anne Mail Nilssen (Norway), and Tylen Burt (Australia). Special thanks to Jessica Pennay (Australia) who also served on the committee until recently. The Board Liaison is Miranda Steeples. Co-Chair Rhiannon Jones states: “It has been a privilege to serve as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee alongside Kelli Swanson Jaecks. As President of the British Society for Dental Hygiene and Therapy, I anticipated that my time would be limited, so sharing this responsibility with someone experienced was invaluable. Representing a country that includes dental therapists, I felt it was important to bring that perspective and practical insight to the committee as we worked toward accepting membership applications from dental therapists and oral health therapists internationally. I look forward to our continued partnership.”
Co-Chair Kelli Jaecks states: “It has been my honor and privilege to serve as Co-chair to the membership committee, alongside Rhiannon Jones, (UK) these last couple of years. This committee has continued the work for IFDH on the issues surrounding dental therapists and the inclusive move to support and serve DTs as full members of the Federation. We continue to define and refine benefits of IFDH membership, while providing context and strategic considerations to the board. The members of this committee have been exemplary in providing needed insights and contributions!”

Research Grant Committee – The Research Grant Committee’s charge is to judge and award research grant submissions. Each year, the committee reviews all submissions and determines the monetary awards. The awards are dependent on corporate sponsorship to determine the amount used to recognize the research projects. We thank Dentsply Sirona for its long-time support of this program. Committee members are Ulrika Lindmark (Sweden), Hadas Avraham Goldberg (Israel), and Doris Voortmans (Belgium). Fouzieh Eliassy serves as the Board Liaison. Committee Chair Catherine Waldron has led the committee over the past two terms and states: “I am so grateful to all the reviewers who have undertaken the work alongside their busy personal and work schedules, with great diligence and willingness. The research grants will be announced early in the new year. We are delighted with the number of submissions this year, more than three times as many as submitted in 2023. This makes the competition for a grant all the fiercer. The range of research topics varied and included lab-based research, the use of longitudinal data, the assessment of patient perspectives, the dental hygienist’s wellbeing, as well as a range of novel oral health interventions. The reviewers have been busy reviewing the submissions, with each submission being reviewed independently by two reviewers, and finally the top ranked submissions are reviewed by all five reviewers independently. It is an honour to be part of this process and to see the wonderful research being undertaken by dental hygienists internationally.”

Energy….Focus….Action!
Welcome to 2026 and a new year of moving #Upward!

Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, FADHA
IFDH President, 2024-2026

We Are All Difference Makers!

Difference Maker

“A dedicated person who can make a big impact even with just a small action or a few words. Someone who improves the lives of others. One who rallies or encourages others to propel themselves #upward and bring about change”.

When you read the definition of a difference maker, does it ring true? Does it sound like anyone you know? It sounds like every one of you! Each day you make a difference in the lives of the patients you see, or through the work you do. We are clinicians, researchers, educators, public health practitioners, entrepreneurs, administrators, and corporate representatives.

For our delegates to the IFDH, you are leaders who have an impact on the future of the professions you represent. So, let’s keep going, difference makers – we’re just getting started!

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Thank you for a Successful Virtual IFDH HoD Business Meeting!

Our second-ever virtual meeting of the House of Delegates was a great success, thanks to all delegates who attended. The meeting provided everyone with updates of all that’s happening at IFDH and gave everyone the opportunity to learn more about our programs.

Welcome once again to our new delegates! We are thrilled to have you as part of the IFDH. Reach out anytime if you have questions, ideas, or suggestions. And if there are any committees you would like to join, let me know. For any delegates who were unable to join us, or if you’d like to re-visit the meeting, you can access the meeting on our website in the HoD Resources section.

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IFDH Participates in Roundtable

I recently traveled to New York for an exciting event on September 24th. I participated in a roundtable discussion with high-level global oral health experts, policy makers, and public and private sector leaders on advancing oral health. The discussion, sponsored by Colgate, was held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly meeting and spotlighted the importance of health education, behavior change, and cross-sector collaboration. Prevention was a big focus, as all participants realized how essential it is to health promotion. My hope is this conversation will continue, with actionable goals.

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Congratulations to Bright Smiles, Bright Futures!

The Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) program, fully funded by Colgate-Palmolive, has achieved an incredible milestone - they have reached 2 billion children and their families across the globe! Since 1991, the program has connected with underserved communities to provide oral health education, free dental screenings, and referrals to practitioners when needed. Thank you for making the world and the future brighter, one smile at a time.

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A Visit to the West Coast, USA

I was fortunate to attend the ADHA Annual Conference in Long Beach, California! Not only did I see many friends, but I also represented the IFDH in many ways. I was introduced at the General Session, participated in a Hygiene Rising podcast from the exhibit floor, attended the ADHA Fellows reception & President’s Party, and was invited to a meeting of peer organizations. This was a wonderful gathering where we shared common goals and discussed ways to collaborate. Pictured in the photo along with me are representatives from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the Association for Dental Safety (ADS), the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA), as well as officers & staff of the ADHA. Working together, we can do great things!

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IFDH Programs & Happenings

Global Report

Delegates heard about this new program during our virtual HoD meeting. Its purpose is to review the preventive practices that currently exist globally, based on a survey of the IFDH 34 member countries. It’s exciting that ALL OUR MEMBER COUNTRIES will be directly involved in creating this important report!!

The survey results will be developed into a professionally designed document that describes each country’s preventive practices along with common themes. In addition, the IFDH will develop recommendations to enhance preventive oral care and the role of the dental hygienist, dental therapist, oral therapist and oral health therapist in providing such services. We are in the initial phases of developing the survey. Thanks to Colgate for partnering with us!

More White Papers Published

During our HoD meeting we provided an update on the status of our White Paper series. Having published four papers to date and with two more to be published by the end of the year, we are truly creating timely, evidence-based resources for all our members. Be sure to read them. Thank you to Haleon for their support!

A New Advocacy Committee

We also informed delegates about the formation of this new committee during our virtual HoD meeting. The role of the Advocacy Committee will be to keep aware of regulation & policy issues for the IFDH, with the goal of helping to shape policies and practices in a way that benefits dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral therapists and oral health therapists. The Board is finalizing the goals and charge for the committee.

Fellowship Program Coming Soon

This new IFDH designation will recognize our members who have achieved professional excellence. A similar program exists with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and some of the concepts will be similar. You work so hard and make a difference – we want to recognize that! Details coming soon.

Social Responsibility Project Applications

Applications are now open! This year’s theme is “A Healthy Smile for Life – Oral Health for Better Aging.” If you have a project you’ve developed that focuses on the elderly and improving their health and well-being, you are eligible to enter. Thank you to DENTSPLY Sirona for their ongoing sponsorship! Click for more information and to watch the video.

World Dental Hygienist Awards

This program is underway and soon the Awards Committee will begin the judging process. Thank you to the Sunstar Foundation for joining forces with IFDH to present the World Dental Hygienist Awards since 2007. The awards honor those who have positively impacted patients, the community, and the public through their dedicated work and achievement. Click for more information.

Research Grants

The purpose of this program is to promote experience in the research process and dissemination of findings contributing to the dental hygiene body of knowledge. This grant program provides small grants for students enrolled in dental hygiene graduate programs conducting thesis research (Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD levels). If you are a student researcher and qualify under the above criteria, applications are now open and will close on October 15. Thank you, DENTSPLY Sirona for supporting this important program!

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Committee Spotlight:

Education & Global Oral Health Summit Committees

In this edition of the eNews I’d like to highlight the Education & Global Oral Health Summit Committees. Both hard-working committees have had a huge impact this term!

Education Committee – This committee plays a key role in elevating our profession by developing programs to increase our knowledge and strengthen our role in healthcare. This year, the Education Committee has been tasked with examining ways to develop an IFDH Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program will recognize individual IFDH members who have achieved professional excellence in their careers. The details are being developed so stay tuned for this exciting new program and how to become an IFDH Fellow!

The Education Committee is co-chaired by Loes Velthoven-Verlinden (The Netherlands) and Francine Trudeau (Canada). Additional members include Cheryl Dey (Australia), Anri Bernardo (South Africa), Sviatlana Anishchuk (Ireland), Hanan Tahir (UAE), and Tammy Filipiak (USA). IFDH Secretary Carmen Lanoway serves as the Board Liaison. Francine says, "Serving on the Education Committee has been an inspiring and rewarding opportunity to promote professional development and contribute to advancing the dental hygiene profession through education, while collaborating with dedicated colleagues who share the same passion of growth and innovation!"

Global Oral Health Summit Committee – Each year, the IFDH holds a virtual Global Oral Health Summit to address important issues in oral health. The charge of the committee is to develop a theme and determine speakers for the Summit, to plan the event, and to potentially take part in presenting. Past themes have included sustainability in oral healthcare, advocacy, and the changing and evolving role of the dental hygienist.

This year’s Summit takes place on Saturday, November 8, and the theme is “One World, One Smile: Elevating Oral Health by All, For All.” BTW – it’s FREE! Click for more info and to register.

With speakers representing the World Health Organization, the European Forum for Primary Care, and more, it promises to be an exciting and excellent event. The committee, chaired by Gitana Rederiene (Lithuania) says “The role of Chair of the IFHD Global Oral Health Committee is a fulfilling one, providing an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and establish connections with professionals worldwide. It also facilitates the promotion of equitable, prevention-focused oral health practices.”

Additional members include Antonella Abbinante (Italy), Eva Lopez de Castro (Spain), Cole Gilbert (South Africa), and Tammy Filipiak (USA). The IFDH President serves as the Board Liaison. And I can state enthusiastically that working with these dedicated and talented colleagues is a true joy. Our Summit on November 8 will be outstanding!

Any delegates who are not part of a committee but would like to join one, reach out to me:
jillr@ifdh.org

KEEP BEING A DIFFERENCE MAKER – KEEP BEING YOU!
#Upward!

Warmest Regards,

Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, FADHA
IFDH President, 2024-2026

UNITED!!

“Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.”

Helen Keller

It’s Spring! I always look forward to this time of year with joyful anticipation – what lies ahead and how can we embrace the changes in front of us? I truly believe the answer to thriving during new challenges and opportunities is to unite. We are one, strong voice!

Our Dedicated Board

Your IFDH Board held its first virtual meeting of the year in February and there was much to discuss. I am always amazed by the dedication of my fellow Board members and the insight they provide. We continued our work at our annual in-person meeting that took place in Vienna, May 12-13. It was a fantastic meeting, where much was accomplished, and many great ideas were discussed.

And as you probably saw from all the social media posts, the IFDH was well represented at the EuroPerio Meeting that took place immediately after our Board meeting. It was great to see so many of you there!

Our Partnerships Are Key

We continue to work alongside several different organizations that share our goals and vision:

• President-Elect Fouzieh attended a virtual meeting with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), and other educators in dental education where the discussion focused on advancing the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan. The meeting addressed ways for educators to incorporate curriculum changes to improve oral health through the WHO Action Plan.


• I was asked to review and edit a paper by the above group of educators that will be published in the June issue of the European Journal of Dental Education (EJDE). I was also able to review and edit a short video from them that is planned for distribution and posting on various websites. It’s great that they are including the voice of the dental hygienist in their efforts!


• We released a joint statement written by the IFDH and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) that highlights the importance of competent, skilled, practitioners to provide dental hygiene services. In the United States, there are efforts by organized dentistry organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA) to allow foreign trained dentists and dental students to practice dental hygiene. There are also initiatives in numerous states that would allow dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling on “healthy” patients. These types of actions not only erode our profession but also could endanger patients.


• I had a wonderful email exchange with The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe (PBOHE)! The IFDH is an Associate Member of the organization, and they welcome our input, most notably our ideas on prevention for better oral health. They will be drafting a Joint Call to Action, signed by all members of the Platform and we are happy to remain engaged and involved with their efforts.



• In the planning stages is a joint Position Paper from IFDH and EDHF – stay tuned! While at the EuroPerio meeting, we had a lovely dinner with the EDHF officers. And congratulations to Gitana for her involvement in the joint EFP/EDHF session. A first!!

IFDH White Papers – Excellent Resources!

Thanks to our sponsor Haleon, we are publishing a series of 6 White Papers to be completed by the end of 2025. So far, we have published:

• Oral Health During Pregnancy and the Role of Dental Hygienists
• The Impact of Sustainability - NEW!
• The Cost Effectiveness of Prevention - NEW!

Be sure to log on to the IFDH website and read these excellent papers, written by your colleagues. And stay tuned for the following topics:

• Aging and Oral Care,
• Oral Health for Medically Challenged Patients, and
• Behavioral Change

My Virtual Greetings

The next best thing for me being at your annual meeting in person, is for me to send you virtual good wishes. I truly wish I could visit you all! And while it’s not the same as having the opportunity to visit and interact with you, I can share greetings and encouragement.

In the past few months, I’ve been able to virtually visit Nepal, The Czech Republic, The Slovak Republic and Israel. The outstanding work that you are doing is so inspiring and proof that our professions of dental hygiene, dental therapy, oral therapy and oral health therapy are shining examples of dedication in action! (See the President Visit Request form in the HoD Resources section under IFDH Procedures.)

Committee Highlights:
Award Committee

You’ve heard me say that the IFDH committees are the backbone of our organization. With that in mind, I’d like to highlight the work they are doing in each issue of the eNews. In this issue, I’ll focus on the Awards Committee.

This committee is a new committee, and they have been doing an excellent job of reviewing applicants and choosing awardees for various IFDH awards, such as the Innovation Awards, the Impact Awards, and the Sunstar World Dental Hygienist Awards. Tayyaba Fiaz from Canada chairs the Awards Committee, and her team includes Enrica Scagnetto (Italy), Ellen Bol (The Netherlands), Elaine Johnson (South Africa), Wanda Fedora (Canada), and Wendy Stewart (Canada). President Elect Fouzieh Eliassy serves as the Board Liaison to the committee.

I asked Tayyaba, the Chair, to share a few thoughts about her involvement with the committee: "It has been a truly enriching experience to chair the IFDH Awards Committee. Collaborating with such a dedicated and accomplished group of professionals to honor excellence and innovation in dental hygiene has been both inspiring and deeply fulfilling."

Connected & United!

As you can see, it has been a fruitful and rewarding time for IFDH since our last eNews, with much more to come! As always, reach out to me any time with your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and news. We are connected by our profession, and we are united by our desire to always move #UPWARD!!

Warmest Regards,

Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, FADHA
IFDH President, 2024-2026

IFDH is Moving Fast!

“The secret of making progress is to get started.” Mark Twain

Greetings, IFDH Members!

And…we’re off!! It’s only been 5 months and your IFDH team has hit the ground running. Actually, sprinting is more like it! Let’s go!

Welcome New Members

We are so thrilled to welcome our new members – dental therapists, oral therapists and oral health therapists! Each of us plays an important role in oral healthcare and joining together will ultimately enable us to improve the health of the public. Several of our countries have utilized dental therapists for many years and some have already included joint membership in their strategic planning. If you’re unfamiliar with the duties and scope of practice of our new members, please see the explanation provided by Jessica Pennay in this edition of ENews and on our website. We look forward to working with all!

White Paper Series Progressing

Have you seen the newly published White Paper, “Oral Health During Pregnancy & the Role of Dental Hygienists”? It is truly outstanding. Co-authored by Dr Hyewon Lee & Dr Alice Horowitz, it is filled with practical and useful information about pregnancy and pre-natal oral health and the challenges of integrating dental hygienists into primary healthcare systems.

But the overall take-away from the paper is how dental hygienists ARE highly qualified to work in healthcare settings that treat pregnant women, and how we can make a difference. The future of dental hygiene practice lies in medical/dental hygiene integration, and this is one area where that can occur. Be sure to download the paper from the IFDH website.

Share this excellent resource with others and stay tuned for 5 more White Papers to come over the next year. The topics include:

• Behavioral Change
• Aging & Oral Care
• Oral Health for Medically Challenged Patients
• Impact of Sustainability
• Cost Effectiveness of Prevention

Sending My Virtual Greetings

An expression we often hear is FOMO – Fear of Missing Out. Oh, how I wish I could travel to each of your countries and visit with every one of you! Of course, that’s not possible, but I was able to share virtual greetings with our colleagues in Spain, Italy, the UK, and Russia.

All these dental hygiene organizations held annual congresses over the past few months and I’m sure they were filled with excellent learning, networking and fun. And congratulations to the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association who held their first in-person annual conference since 2019 in beautiful Niagara Falls. If you’d like to request a Presidential visit or virtual greeting, please fill out the attached form. I will do my best to honor your request!

IFDH Invited to the First-ever WHO Global Oral Health Meeting

One of the most exciting events to happen in years was the first-ever WHO Global Oral Health Meeting! It was amazing to interact with representatives from over 110 countries, representing YOU….our members, as well as participating on two panel discussions.

The beautiful city of Bangkok, Thailand, welcomed us with open arms, and the atmosphere was electric. Everyone present sensed that history was being made as the Bangkok Declaration was signed, a document that solidified commitment to the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan. See my article and photos in this newsletter for a full overview of the meeting.

On an Expert Panel with ACFF

The Alliance for a Cavity Free Future (ACFF) is a partner of IFDH in promoting educational initiatives about caries. The organization has set an ambitious goal that every child born in 2030 and thereafter should remain cavity-free during their lifetime. As IFDH President, I participated in their Expert Panel, and in November we held our annual meeting via Zoom. The ACFF has chapters around the world, and if you’re unfamiliar with them you may want to check out their website.

Lots of Hard Work by Our Committees & Board

Our IFDH committees are hard at work with various initiatives and projects. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work, as they are the backbone of all we do. Your Board has held 2 meetings since July and we, too, are working hard to elevate our profession. We hope to have some new, exciting initiatives to share with you soon.

We are focused, strong and definitely moving…#UPWARD!

Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, FADHA
IFDH President, 2024-2026

I welcome any and all comments, ideas and suggestions. Please reach out if you’d like to share! My virtual door is always open. Please email me.