World Dental Hygienist Awards: 2026 Winners

The Sunstar Foundation together with IFDH recognized six outstanding dental hygienists who have made significant contributions to the dental and dental hygiene communities and their profession.

We are proud to present these award winners and wishes them congratulations and continued success in their endeavors.

The winning projects were presented at the IFDH International Symposium on Dental Hygiene 2026 in Milan, Italy.

"We were proud to present these award winners and extended our congratulations while wishing them continued success in their endeavors."

Watch the ceremony.
Photo Gallery.

Click on each box below for more information on each speaker and topic.

Shelley Brown Category: Public Health

United States
Registered Dental Hygienist, Founder of Homebound Smiles and Co-owner of Hygiene EdgeUCATORS

Andrea Butera Category: Research

Italy
Director of Educational Activities for the Dental Hygiene Degree Program and Research Fellow at the University of Pavia

Whitney DiFoggio Category: Entrepreneur

United States
Registered Dental Hygienist, Health Communication Specialist and Founder of TeethTalk.com

Stefania Morittu Category: Full-Time Clinician

Italy
Dental Hygienist, Educator and Creator of Oral Health Guides and Children's Books on Dentistry

Janet Williams Oshun Category: New RDH

Ireland
Registered Dental Hygienist and Trinity College Dublin Graduate

Elmer González Category: Academia

United States
Professor and Department Chair at New Mexico State University Doña Ana Community College

Award Winners

See 2024 Awardees

See 2019 Awardees

See 2016 Awardees