Dental technicians to become licensed dental hygienists

Eight dental technicians broke new ground as they completed training in the first-ever Air Force-sponsored Dental Hygiene Training Scholarship Program.  

"This is a professional milestone for our enlisted members and long overdue capability for the Air Force Dental Service," said Chief Master Sgt. Terry Harford, superintendent, dental policy and operations.  

The Air Force partnered an educational agreement with St. Petersburg College, near MacDill AFB, Fla., and Trident Technical College, near Charleston AFB, S.C. There, technicians attended the two-year associate degree-awarding program. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

"Getting to this point and being accepted in two of the nation’s top dental hygiene training institutions is indicative of the caliber of our enlisted force," said Harford. "These are some of our very best and brightest technicians, who were selected through a very competitive board process."   

The graduates from St. Petersburg College are: Technical Sgt. Mark Diburro, Technical Sgt. Gigi Frost, Technical Sgt. Jeremy Davis, Staff Sgt. Michelle Mendes, Staff Sgt. Caroline Henderson and Staff Sgt. Sheila Strain. The graduates from Trident Technical College are Tech. Sgt. Alycia Miller and Staff Sgt. Noreena Svoboda.

The curriculum for the program included both general education and professional dental hygiene courses.  Personnel were trained as primary health care professionals, oral heath educators and clinicians who, as co-therapists with the dentists, provide preventative, educational and therapeutic services supporting total heath for control of oral disease and the promotion of oral health.   

Graduates from the DHTSP are eligible to sit for the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam, Regional and individual State Board examinations for licensure.  

"All our students passed their Boards with high scores," said Harford. "Four of the students achieved the highest scores in the schools.  

Members will be assigned to various overseas and stateside locations based on Air Force and patient population needs.  

"Having military dental hygienists in our inventory will now be a force multiplier in terms of enhanced patient care and improved worldwide readiness for military personnel, flexibility to assign hygienists anywhere, professional recognition and development, and a great morale booster for our troops," said Harford. "In addition to this ground-breaking event,  our graduates garnered recognition in leadership, academics and clinical performances."  

Pacific IHS team receives award

IHS team members ( Left to Right) Lt. Col. Mylene Huynh, Capt. Kari Stone, Lt. Col. Diep Duong, Col. Randy Reynolds, Capt. Jason Deese and Master Sgt. Dan Elliott posed for a photo after being notified of winning organizational excellence award . Team members not pictured: Maj Lisa Nesselroad, Master Sgt. Hubert Mussehl  and Maj. Solomon Zewdu.

The Air Force's Pacific International Health Specialist Team, Detachment  2, 13 Air Force, received the 2004 Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board Organizational Excellence Award.  The award was  presented at the Federal Executive Board luncheon, at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, in Honolulu, Hawaii, June 8. 

The IHS team consisted of: Master Sgt. Dan Elliott, Master Sgt. Hubert Mussehl, Capt. Kari Stone, Capt. Jason Deese Maj. Lisa Nesselroad, Maj. Solomon Zewdu, Lt. Col. Mylene Huynh and Lt. Col. Diep Duong.   

The Excellence in Federal Government Awards program is sponsored by the Federal Executive Board. It was established to recognize outstanding federal employees for their efforts, leadership, and initiative.  The program encourages innovation and excellence in government, reinforces pride in federal service, and helps call public attention to the broad range of services provided by federal employees.  The program is recognized as an important form of recognition for federal employees in the Honolulu-Pacific area.  In addition to federal employees, the program also recognizes private citizens and organizations that have contributed significantly to the federal mission.  A distinguished panel of prominent local individuals from the private sector rates the nominees for these awards. 

Citation read: "Through innovative leadership and management, medical professionals of Detachment 2, 13AF leveraged over $1.6M and successfully executed 38 military and humanitarian medical initiatives significantly enhancing partnerships and interoperability with 31 Asia-Pacific countries.  Their dedication resulted in healthcare to over 3,000 people, furthered military HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, enhanced disaster management capabilities, facilitated relations with senior medical leaders and received highest praises by U.S. ambassadors, defense attachés and regional Ministers of Health."

AFMS member claims Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award

Senior Master Sgt. Donna Maurial

Senior Master Sgt. Donna Maurial received the Secretary of the Air Force Leadership award during a noon ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base Officers' Club, 27 May, 2005.

The award was presented by acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael L. Dominguez, recognizing Maurial for demonstrating the greatest leadership while attending the Air Force Senior Leadership school.

Sergeant Maurial distinguished herself while attending SNCOA from Aug. 31 to Oct. 14, 2004. She was the most outstanding student of her class and among the 2,405 senior NCOs who attended the academy from March 15, 2004 to Feb. 23, 2005.

"I was very surprised and honored to have received such an award," said Maurial, pharmacy superintendent, Wright-Patterson, AFB. "I owe this accomplishment to the many supervisors, mentors and chiefs I've been honored to work with throughout my career."

Maurial also said she owes a lot of the credit of this accomplishment to her husband and daughters who support her all the way. 

"The most important thing I learned early in my career is that hard work, focus and dedication are the keys to the successes of our military leaders and we can't do it without each other," said Maurial. "I'm proud and humbled to represent the Air Force Medical Service in such a way."