FINDING YOUR DREAM JOB: HOW ONE DENTAL HYGIENIST PURSUED A ROLE IN A HOSPITAL

摘要

Opportunities for dental hygienists to work outside a private dental setting are evolving. Increasingly, dental hygienists across the country are rinding additional venues for oral health care delivery. One such venue is within hospitals. Hospitals, as increasingly complicated medical delivery settings, have been looking at novel workforces to address patient needs. Katharine Martinez, RDH, BS, MPH, is a member of that novel workforce and currently serves in the role of oral health educator at Phoenix Children's Hospital, a new position that evolved as part of a partnership with Phoenix Children's Hospital and Delta Dental of Arizona. After graduating from The University of New Mexico in 2011 with her bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, Martinez started her first job working with children and adults at a corporate dental office. "After undertaking clinical hygiene the first year upon graduation, I knew I wanted to expand outside the clinical practice setting," she said. "Every day I went into clinical practice, I had this calling, knowing that I was destined to help more people and make a bigger impact in dental hygiene. I recognized in order to fulfill my calling, I needed to continue my education."