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Sandy Beynnon, RDH selected as VDHA 2011/2012 Hygienist of the year!

Nomination Letter:

Monday, June 20, 2011

 

Dear Executive Board Members of the Vermont Dental Hygienists’ Association (VDHA),

 

I would like to nominate my friend and colleague, Sandy Beynnon, to receive the 2011 VDHA Dental Hygienist of the year award.  I’ve wanted to nominate Sandy for the past few years, but I had to wait until she had reached the 10 year mark for eligibility.

Sandy has been an enthusiastic member of the Vermont Dental Hygienists’ Association since she graduated in 2001.  Sandy’s belief in the importance of belonging to your professional organization led her to become membership director for the VDHA, a position she has held for the past many years.  Sandy never misses an opportunity to make a plug for membership, and it’s hearing her talk about not only the tangible, but also the intangible benefits of membership (networking opportunities, opportunities to develop leadership skills, and opportunities to make friendships), that has most likely swayed many hygienists to become (or continue) membership in the VDHA.  I believe that Sandy is a big part of the reason we are such a strong and unified group today.

My work with Sandy has not been limited to our mutual involvement in the VDHA.  Sandy became the first Head Start Tooth Tutor Dental Hygienist in 2005.  Since then, she has devoted much of her time to working with families and children with low incomes, who are most at risk for dental disease.  Sandy’s caseload includes approximately 200 children each year, about half of which do not have a dental home.  Sandy works tirelessly to support families in accessing oral health care for their children.  She visits Head Start classrooms, visits families in their homes, and makes hundreds of phone calls to ensure that these children access oral health care.

Sandy has been instrumental in promoting Motivational Interviewing, a client centered communication style used to elicit positive behavior change used in Head Start, within our Tooth Tutor community.  She has also been involved in the development and presentation of a continuing education course about seeing babies and young children in dental offices throughout the state.

Through the years, Sandy has evolved from respected colleague to trusted friend. We’ve worked at many a health fair, and attended many meetings together, and it was Sandy who hosted my VDHA baby shower 4 years ago.  While I’m admittedly not volunteering at as many health fairs or going to as many meetings as I used to, Sandy is still my running buddy, confidante, and mothering mentor. I have never met a more passionate advocate for children’s dental health or for membership in our professional organization.  I am excited that I can finally nominate my friend Sandy to be recognized as the 2011 Vermont Dental Hygienist of the year.  Thank you for considering my request.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Robin Miller, RDH, BA

Past President of the Vermont Dental Hygienists’ Association (03-04)

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