Featured Colorado hygienists: Edie Gibson, MS, RDH, and Dona Schulz, MBA, BS, RDH

I have a mission and passion to effect change in the world, one program at a time, one person at a time! My entire career in dentistry, which spans more than three decades, has been driven by my mission. I believe in the simple concept of ubuntu, an Nguni Bantu term sometimes translated as “I am, therefore we are; we are, therefore I am,” or as “humanity.”

I was the first dental hygienist in Gunnison County, Colorado, to open an independent practice, called About Face Dental Hygiene Spa, in 2004. My private practice was designed to offer comprehensive excellence in dental hygiene in a calm, spalike setting. It created an opening for the fearful dental client to seek treatment without judgment. Paying it forward, I mentored numerous other hygienists seeking to effect change by opening their own private practices.

In 2009, spinal surgery ended my full-time clinical career and changed the course of my life. I set out to empower others through my public speaking and found my new calling! I returned to university and earned my bachelor of science in dental hygiene in 2011, and my master of science in psychology and addictions in 2014.

In the midst of all this change, I found myself married to an alcoholic. My husband is now 13 years sober, and we continue to help others struggling to climb out of the pit of addiction. My volunteer work with recovering addicts was recognized and honored in 2013 with the RDH/Sunstar Award of Distinction.

I am a volunteer with Tough Enough to Wear Pink (Gunnison, Colorado), raising money to help women battling breast cancer, and an advocate for the Refuge, a sanctuary for girls rescued from sex trafficking. I am a full-time speaker, best-selling author, and key opinion leader for several prestigious companies. I share my life with my husband, Chris, daughter, Makaila, and several four-legged kids!

Dona Schulz, MBA, BS, RDH

Born and raised in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, I knew since I was 12 years old that I wanted a career in dentistry. I also knew that I aspired to learn different unique aspects of dentistry and share my knowledge with others. Not only did I fulfill that dream, but I am fortunate to expand this profession into capacities I never thought possible.

Over my professional journey of more than 30 years, I worked in nearly every facet of the dental practice, with the exception of becoming a doctor, and full time as a hygienist from 1998 until 2011. I learned that every single role within the practice is equally important. I also learned that the ultimate patient experience is one of the most critically important aspects of patient care. This includes focusing on the needs of each patient according to his or her desires and individual risk factors.

I continued my mission as a clinical consultant to elevate the clinical standard of care for a dental service organization (DSO) in Denver, Colorado. That company brought me to Denver, where I transitioned as their director of clinical hygiene. I later worked as the senior consultant of Step Next Consultants, another DSO, as a national director of dental hygiene. I expanded further as an adjunct clinical hygiene instructor, pharmaceutical sales specialist, and key opinion leader for various dental companies. Today I am proud to work as the lead clinical coach and technology trainer for Benco Dental.

As a dental hygienist, clinical coach, and technology trainer, I blend my roles and work with dental teams to adopt leading-edge dental technology, CAD/CAM, digital dentistry, and diode laser implementation. This recipe of variety ultimately yields a beautiful medley of patient comfort, convenience, and commitment, while elevating interoffice synergy.