Anacortes, WA – December 2018 – Productive Dentist Academy Hygiene Specialty Coach Kathryn Gilliam, BA, RDH, recently earned recognition as one of AAOSH’s (The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health) 30-member inaugural class of Fellows, earning the designation of “Charter Fellow.”
“I’m so honored to be one of AAOSH’s Charter Fellows,” says Gilliam. “It gives recognition to the fact that I’ve dedicated the last 10 years of my career to mastering the integration of oral health and systemic health.”
In order to qualify as an AAOSH Fellow, Gilliam successfully completed 70 hours of approved C.E. credits, 35 of which were earned at AAOSH Scientific Sessions. Topics included oral pathogens, periodontal health and systemic illness, gut health and nutrition, airway and sleep, cancer, and more.
“The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health Fellowship program is designed to distinguish those of our members who have remained constantly engaged in continuing their oral-systemic education to both patients and colleagues,” says Bobbie Delsasso, Executive Director of AAOSH.
“This year AAOSH joined with two like-minded medical groups, the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD) and the American College for Advancements in Medicine (ACAM) to enable members to collaborate across medical and dental profession,”says Gilliam. “ It takes collaboration in order for us to fully serve our patients, and at this meeting, you can begin to create those intra-professional relationships. I highly recommend the AAOSH Annual Scientific Session to everyone who is interested in learning more about the connection between the mouth and the body, and how to integrate that science into daily practice.”
Having earned her Charter Fellow designation, Gilliam, a self-proclaimed continuing education junkie, is looking to the next level. “My goal is to complete the Master Fellowship which requires an additional 120 continuing education hours,” she says. “After that, I hope to work towards the Diplomat-level Fellowship which requires an additional 170 hours. I love learning and I’m very motivated because the oral-systemic connection is so much better understood now than when I was in school. The courses I’ve been taking enable me make a more significant impact for my own patients and deliver top quality education to other hygienists in my work as a faculty member, speaker, and coach for Productive Dentist Academy.”
In addition to her membership, Gilliam also serves on the AAOSH Marketing Committee alongside PDA Hygiene Speciality Coach, Machell Hudson. Gilliam is also an active volunteer serving as Education Director for Oral Cancer Cause. When asked about her dedication to dentistry and the oral-systemic connection, Gilliam says, “My father was a dentist and was talking about the oral-systemic link in the 60s. I didn’t realize how far ahead of his time he was until I was introduced to the science behind the connection between oral health and whole body health long after I graduated from dental hygiene school. I’m deeply motivated on this topic because I’ve seen first hand that patients are more willing to take care of their oral health when they understand the impact it has on their overall health and prevention of disease. I love watching people get healthy and partnering with them to improve their overall wellness. I know my father would be proud of what I’ve accomplished so far and that, though my work as a PDA Hygiene Coach, I get to help other hygienists take even better care of their patients.”
About Productive Dentist Academy
With a home office in Anacortes, WA and coaches located throughout the country, Productive Dentist Academy has been in operation since 2004. Through dental practice business consulting, continuing education, and full-service marketing, PDA has helped thousands of dentists across the United States build better practices and take better care of their patients. We work with General Dentists and Specialists from scratch-start practices, to mid-career slumps, to retirement options, to expansion and multi-practice owners to custom business development plans, while increasing productivity and decreasing stress. For more information on Productive Dentist Academy, call (360) 709-7765 or visit www.productivedentist.com.
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