IFDH President's Report
November 2019
Our New Mission & Vision
Give Us Direction
During the House of Delegates 2019 Business Meeting in Brisbane, Australia, prior to the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene 2019, the members of the Federation adopted a new mission and vision for IFDH.
Mission
The International Federation of Dental Hygienists is an international non-profit association uniting national Dental Hygienists organizations by fostering leadership and collaboration. IFDH is the principal advocate for the dental hygiene profession globally and promotes excellence in oral health, education, research and practice.
Vision
IFDH is dedicated to enhancing the recognition of the dental hygienist as being the key provider of preventive oral health care worldwide, and ensuring that oral health is integrated as a key aspect of overall health.
In this, my first column as IFDH President, I would like to elaborate on the following aspects from above:
- “IFDH fostering leadership and collaboration”,
- “The dental hygienist as key provider of oral health” and
- “Oral health as key aspect of overall health”.
Although many dental hygienists work very effectively in private or public practice, education and/or research, in the upcoming years IFDH will promote the dental hygienist in the role of influencer and coach in promoting oral health. IFDH will investigate the current state of oral health, analyze where it is headed for children, adults and seniors and define the role the dental hygienist can play in improving the populations oral health.
We aim to assess, not just individual needs, but also those of communities, other healthcare providers and educators of a preventive lifestyle. We want to work with community health workers, school teachers, caregivers of the elderly, midwives etc. and reinforce oral health being a key aspect of general health. Highlighting the relationship with other lifestyle related diseases like obesity, diabetes and heartdisease and focus on behavioural change.
IFDH will address the oral health key issues around the world – most of them preventable – and the role dental hygiensts can play in improving oral health by influencing key stakeholders, politicians and opinion leaders.
Advancing Your Leadership Skills & Our Global Role
In order to advance leadership skills of dental hygienists organizations, IFDH will organize an Executive Leadership Forum and Oral Health Summit in February 2021.
The Executive Leadership Forum is a one-day program for your national Dental Hygienist organization’s current board and future leaders. Learn from experts on how to advance your leadership skills through strategic thinking and collaboration, integrated with proven principles of personal and organizational management.
The Global Oral Health Summit is a one-day program featuring influential leaders and stakeholders in oral health, public health and industry. Learn, as they share their experiences, opinions, perspectives, challenges and insights on current and future issues related to oral health education, research, public policy and the global role of the Dental Hygienist profession.
Watch for details coming soon!
IFDH Participates in ACCFF Expert Panel
During the 2019 Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) Expert Panel Meeting (Washington DC, October) the achievements of the Alliance were discussed, as well as the World Cavity-Free Future Day, the ACFF Policy Lab outcomes and what else can be done in relation to caries prevention and management. A clinical case study was presented: ‘Caries classification and management in the context of the CariesCare International (CCI) consensus and a CariesCare Practice Guide: Consensus on Evidence Into Practice. This guide is derived from the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS) and provides a structured update to deliver optimal caries care. During this meeting, as President of IFDH, I presented a new slideshow “Getting to know the IFDH”. This will be available to the HoDs (in the website secure section) for their use to educate their members.
Current & Future IFDH Programs
As a preview for the upcoming years, IFDH presented their programs and partnership opportunities to IFDH corporate partners during ISDH. IFDH will continue the following programs:
- Research Grant Program
- Every Child has a Toothbrush Program
- Social Responsibility Program (NOTE: be sure to see the 17 Action Plans in our Social Responsibility book)
- Education Academy
We are in the early stages of coordinating and selecting the best dental hygiene association Projects in our new Association Resource Centre and are investigating the possibilities for an annual International Oral Health Day.
Welcome to the New IFDH Board of Directors
I would like to thank all of the delegates who attended our activities in Brisbane, participated in the frank business discussions of our federation and who elected our new Board of Directors:
- President: Corrie Jongbloed-Zoet, RDH, Epe, THE NETHERLANDS
- President Elect: Wanda Fedora RDH, Sydney, Nova Scotia, CANADA
- Vice President: Michaela ONeill, Belfast, UK
- Treasurer: Donna Paton, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, IRELAND
- Secretary: Melanie Hayes, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
We are all looking forward to meeting the challenges for 2019 – 2022 and taking IFDH to greater heights.
Thank You Australia!
Finally, we must all thank the Local Organizing Committee of the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia (DHAA) for an extremely well-run International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Brisbane – a global learning and networking experience for dental hygienists attending from 36 countries!
Corrie Jongbloed-Zoet, RDH, Epe
President IFDH
