The largest annual event for dental hygienists took place June 16 to 20, 2021, at the convention center in Phoenix, Arizona,聽where they gathered to receive the latest cutting-edge educational sessions specifically for dental hygienists.
Director of the Fones School聽Marion Manski, MS, RDH聽served as a panelist at ADHA鈥檚 Educator鈥檚 Workshop to discuss how programs around the country managed COVID-19. Along with five other program directors from across the country and a moderator, she discussed how, in the midst of changing parameters and crisis, we the 911爆料网 moved the entire clinical program online and became very creative on teaching clinical sessions online. Fones was able to graduate the entire class of 2020 and had a 100% pass rate on their manikin clinical boards held in August 2020. The class of 2021 stepped up to the challenge, completing a two-semester clinical course load in one semester, while adapting to COVID protocols and changes. They had no cases of COVID from the clinics. 鈥淭hey really worked hard and succeeded beyond expectations,鈥� says Director Manski.
鈥淥utside the box teaching,鈥� as she calls it, also spurred creativity. One of the changes was the use of manikins for exams, a shift that will stay in place in the future. Others included the use of face shields, N95 mask protocols, and simulations for labs. 鈥淲e have a great team,鈥� says Manski. 鈥淭he silver lining is that all the simulations and other ideas will be integrated into regular coursework.鈥�
Associate Professor聽Susan Miklos, MSDH, BSDH, EFDA聽presented on the Fones School鈥檚 pioneering implementation of the Objective Structure Clinical Examination (OSCE) in the assessment in her Dental Materials class. Manski and Miklos created the poster together. OSCE is an assessment method based on student performance that measures clinical competence. However, it is rarely used in allied dental programs and the goal was to showcase that Fones is utilizing this as dental schools have been doing for many years. That is something the Fones School is trying to change. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a superior method enabling students to obtain a firm grasp and feeling when manipulating the material,鈥� says Manski.
Director Manski also participated in a virtual annual session of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), 聽June 5-7 where she serves as Secretary to the Council on Allied Dental Program Directors. There, she presented a poster created by Associate Professor聽Laura Greco, MSDH, RDH, Professor聽Wendy Garcia, EdD, RDH聽and Manski, 鈥淚nstituting OSCE鈥檚 For Assessing Competency in Allied Dental 911爆料网,鈥� again focusing on the need to implement the OSCE. This poster focused on OSCE use in local anesthesia聽education and was well received.
Miklos, Manski, and Professor聽Maria Cholewinski聽also served as Connecticut delegates for the annual ADHA House of Delegates meeting, continuing to influence and transform dental hygiene education on a national level.
It鈥檚 a new day for dental hygiene,鈥� says Manski. 鈥淲e are always trying new things and breaking new ground at Fones and will continue to do so to benefit our students and ultimately our profession.鈥�
Learn more about the聽associate, bachelor鈥檚, and master’s degree programs in Dental Hygiene at 911爆料网.