25 Years of Being a CDHA Member: More Than a Membership

Twenty-five years.

When I think about what it means to be a member of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association for 25 years, I realize it has never been solely about a membership, a renewal, or simply belonging to a professional association.

For me, it has been about being part of something bigger.

It has been a constant connection to my profession, to the people, the research, the conversations, the learning, and the evolution of dental hygiene in Canada.

And honestly, I cannot imagine my career without it.

My relationship with CDHA has been there through so many chapters of my career. Some were clinical. Some were professional. Some were completely unexpected. 

One of the moments that still makes me incredibly proud was having my very first article published in Oh Canada in the Winter 2019 issue: “Xylitol and Its Direct Positive Impact on Oral Health.”

This was the very first time seeing my name in a professional publication that I had read and learned from for years was a milestone for me. It was more than having an article published. It felt like crossing an invisible line from simply consuming information within my profession to contributing to the conversation and the learning. 

That experience stayed with me.

And that is one of the things I appreciate most about CDHA. It has created space for dental hygienists to learn from one another, share experiences, contribute knowledge, and see the profession through perspectives beyond our own.

Over the years, I have taken advantage of learning in so many different ways.

I have attended in-person education when I could, participated in virtual learning when life really made this a broad option for learning, and continued to seek out opportunities to keep growing. I have leaned on the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene to dive into peer reviewed research on relevant topics.

And I have loved reading Oh Canada and hearing from my peers.

There is something powerful about seeing the work, experiences, ideas, and voices of dental hygienists represented in our own professional publication. Those stories remind me that our profession is made up of people who are continually questioning, learning, advocating, creating, and moving dental hygiene forward.

Some of my CDHA experiences have been much simpler, but perhaps just as meaningful.

During National Dental Hygienists Week, I have taken oral health education into my local community, including setting up an oral health table at our local library with my kids.

Those moments remind me that being a dental hygienist isn't confined to the operatory, or supporting and coaching dental teams. Its also about helping Canadians understand the role and importance of the dental hygiene profession.

Our profession has a role in education, prevention, advocacy, community health, and public awareness. Sometimes that looks like reading the latest research. Sometimes it looks like presenting to fellow dental professionals. And sometimes it looks like sitting at a library table with your children, talking to families about oral health.

CDHA has also given me resources that I have been able to take directly into practice myself and with the practices I support. 

I have used and shared their fact sheets and educational resources broadly because they make evidence-based information accessible and practical. One of my personal favourites is “Fluoride Treatments: Your Questions Answered.”

It is exactly the kind of resource I appreciate: credible, practical, easy to understand, and useful chair-side.

As dental hygienists, we are constantly translating research and professional knowledge into conversations with real people sitting in front of us. Having trustworthy resources to support those conversations is invaluable.

When I look back over 25 years, what stands out is not one particular conference, journal article, resource, or membership renewal.

It is the accumulation of all of it.

The learning.

The research.

The professional conversations.

The opportunities to contribute.

The resources that have helped me educate patients and support collegues. 

The voices of my peers.

The moments that reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place.

And that is why being a CDHA member is a non-negotiable for me.

Professional membership is sometimes viewed simply as another expense of being in the profession. I see it differently.

If we want a strong profession, we have to participate in it. 

We have to support the organizations that advocate for us, create educational opportunities, disseminate evidence, connect our profession, and provide a collective voice for dental hygienists across Canada.

For me, CDHA has been that connection for 25 years.

It has been part of my growth as a clinician, educator, writer, leader, and advocate.

And perhaps most importantly, it has continued to remind me that I am part of a profession that is constantly evolving, and that I have a role in that evolution.

So, 25 years later, I am still proud to say:

I am a CDHA member.

Not simply because I have been one for 25 years.

But because I believe in what it means to belong to, contribute to, and support our profession.

Thank you to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association for all you do for our incredible profession and for the many ways you have supported mine.

Here’s to the next chapter.

I genuinely cannot imagine doing this without you.