News Releases

September 24, 2010
For Immediate Release
For additional information: 
Barbara Kerr, APR
Executive Director of
Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 360-992-2921

Email: bkerr@clark.edu
      

Smile and Say "Fortyyyyyyyy"

Clark College’s Dental Hygiene program celebrates its 40th anniversary 
by hosting an alumni reunion on Sat. Oct. 2 -- a full day of education and celebration


VANCOUVER, Wash. – It’s a program that has literally brought smiles to thousands of individuals across Southwest Washington. Clark College’s nationally-respected dental hygiene program is celebrating its 40th anniversary by hosting a day-long alumni reunion celebration on Saturday, October 2. 

The event will be held in the Gaiser Student Center on Clark’s main campus.  Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  Driving directions and parking maps are available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Donna Wittmayer, Director of Dental Hygiene, said, “More than 800 students have graduated from our program. It’s exciting to know that several hundred live and work in our region. We would love to welcome them all back to Clark for our 40th anniversary celebration.”

The day’s events

Following breakfast from 7:30-8:45 a.m., guests will hear from respected guest speakers during continuing education sessions in the morning and afternoon.  Guest speakers will include Dr. Steven Beadnell, DMD; Dr. Greg Boice, DMD; Dr. Robert Croft, DDS, MS; Dr. Munib Derhalli, DMD; and Dr. Brett Ueeck.  Topics will include orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontal therapy and oral pathology.

From noon to 2 p.m., guests will enjoy a boxed lunch and tours of Clark‘s dental hygiene clinic and classrooms.

An evening reception will be held from 5-10 p.m.

Registration for the full conference is $170 per person. Cost to attend the reception only is $50 per person. Cost of an additional guest for the reception is $30 per person.

For more information, send an e-mail message to dhreunion@gmail.com or contact 1999 dental hygiene alum Kristi Taylor at 360 607-5448.  To register, call the Clark College Foundation at (360) 992-2301.

Additional information is available on the Dental Hygiene Facebook page.

About the Clark College Dental Hygiene Program

Clark’s dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The curriculum is seven quarters and includes those expanded duties allowed by Washington State Law, including clinical experience in the Clark dental hygiene clinic under the supervision of licensed dentists and licensed dental hygienists.

Since Clark’s first dental hygiene graduating class in 1970, every student from Clark College has successfully passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) on their first attempt. 

Clark College President Robert K. Knight said, “Clark College is the only long-standing program in the United States that can attest to this 100% pass rate for the NBDHE.   That's an amazing accomplishment -- one that brings pride to our dental hygiene program, our college and our community." 

The NBDHE is administered by The Joint Commission on National Dental Examination of the American Dental Association.  The examination is taken by all dental hygiene students from more than 300 programs throughout the United States.  It is an all-day written, comprehensive (350-question) examination based on the entire curriculum taught in dental hygiene programs. Completion and passing of the NBDHE is required for licensure by each state.

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