Member Highlight

Dr. Susan Swanson - Dental Educator, North Dakota State College of Science

 (pictured left to right: Phyllis Martina, RDH - Hu-Friedy Sales, Dr. Susan Swanson, and Jean Connor, RDH - Past President of the ADHA)

Recently, Dr. Swanson attended the ADEA Directors meeting in Coeur d'Alene, ID and came across some good luck when participating in the Hu-Friedy "Penny Toss" game at our annual reception. After spirited competition, Susan walked away with a prize of a $500 donation in her name to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formally know as the Y-ME organization). The prize struck a special cord with her after she herself faced a close call with breast cancer. Here is her story and a bit about her life as a dental hygiene professional.

How long have you been a dental educator?

I am starting my 24th year as a dental educator at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. I have been the program director for both the dental hygiene and dental assisting programs since 1994. Unlike many program directors I am a dentist not a dental hygienist, I have the pleasure of working with many fine dental hygienists, and a dental assistant as well as the students in our programs.

Do you still practice clinically? If so what is your favorite aspect about your career as a dental hygienist? If not, what do you miss most about practicing?

I have a full-time committment as an educator here at the college and therefore don't practice in a traditional dental practice. The NDSCS Dental Hygiene Faculty provide oversight to the student treatment of over 3,000 patients a year, so although we don't practice in the traditional manner we still think we practice clinically just in a different manner. As part of the patient care we must have a supervising dentist on site and that is my role. I love allied dental education and I really can't think of anything I miss about being in dental practice.

Tell us about your favorite professional experience?

Of course working with the students is the most rewarding part of education. I know everyone who is an educator must share that passion. It is all about helping students learn in the classroom, laboratory and clinic. In a two year college you often provide instruction in many different areas and therefore have the opportunity to see students progress throughout the curriculum. I would have to say that is the most rewarding part of what I do is seeing students progress from little or no knowledge to applying the information and acquiring a skill that they can use throughout their professional career.

	What does being an oral health advocate mean to you?
	Its about helping others, not just patients, to see the significance and importance of oral health. Its about sharing values when it comes to oral health . As an educator we help students see that when they graduate they will have the foundation to become future oral health advocates and will have the opportunity to make a real differnce when it comes to both oral and overall health.

	Scariest and Funniest thing in private practice?
	An elderly patients gold inlay went down the sink, the quick thinking assistant stopped the water and retrieved it from the elbow below the sink. With a little cleaning(asepsis wasn't quite so big back then) and a fresh mix of cement it was back in the mouth in no time!!

Anything else you would like to share/advice with the members of Friends of Hu-Friedy.

What a great forward thinking company and what strong supporters of education. To be a quality company I think you have to be about change, adaptation and meeting the needs of customers, Hu-Friedy does that well. I guess you could say they are on the "cutting edge"---sorry!! In addition, Hu-Friedy is about making the world a better place, thank for your participation in the Breast Cancer network of Strength.