Pamela Quinones, RDH, of Rockville, MD, was installed in June as the 2011-2012 president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) at the organization's annual meeting in Nashville, TN.
"Right now there is a changing landscape for all oral healthcare professionals, and dental hygienists will play a key role in shaping the future of the industry and our profession,"Quinones said. "To be able to help oversee these transformations is a unique and exciting opportunity."
Quinones succeeds Caryn Solie, RDH, as president. Solie remains as immediate past president and the 2010-2011 chair of the ADHA Institute for Oral Health.
Quinones has served in numerous positions within ADHA, including president-elect, vice president, delegate, district III trustee, and member of the Committee on Procedure, HyPac, the Executive Committee, and council advisor positions. She has also served as president for the Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association, a constituent of ADHA, as well as president and vice president of her local component.
Quinones has practiced clinical dental hygiene for more than 30 years and owns a dental hygiene placement service, Hygiene Associates, that provides full-service placement with permanent placement and a temporary referral service.
For several years, Quinones worked with the Montgomery Volunteer Dental Clinic and served as its president from 2002 to 2004. The clinic served people within reach of the federal poverty level who had no access to dental care. Housed in an old school in Colesville that belonged to the county, the program was funded by private grants.
Additional ADHA officers installed at the annual session include Susan Savage, RDH, president-elect; Denise Bowers, RDH, vice president; and Louann Goodnough, RDH, treasurer. Remaining in her position as speaker of the house is Carol Jo "CJ" Inman, RDH.
