RDH Clinical Recognition Program honors 4 hygienists making a powerful impact in patient care and community health

The RDH Clinical Recognition Program recognizes dental hygiene clinicians who go the extra mile in their jobs, changing their patients’ lives, influencing their patients’ health, and making a daily difference. This year we recognize Aleah Diemand, Renee Johnson, Mandy McGill, and Lindsey Vizcay for the commitment they make every day to improve their patients’ oral and systemic health. 

Aleah Diemand, BSDH, RDH

Aleah Diemand believes that clinical excellence is more than technical skill; it’s a commitment to equity, evidence-based care, and the transformative power of preventive dentistry. She stays current through regular continuing education, both attending and organizing courses to provide care that reflects the latest science along with compassion and cultural competence. 

As the regulation and practice chair for the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association, Aleah dedicates several hours each week to legislative outreach, coalition-building, and collaboration with over 30 organizations. She coordinates with legislators, public health organizations, and educational coalitions to promote sustainable workforce solutions and oral health equity. 

Aleah has led efforts to promote legislation to improve access to care, reimburse preventive services, and expand the scope of dental hygiene practice. She coordinated two statewide lobby days to advocate for five bills directly shaped by the needs and priorities of Massachusetts dental hygienists. She has connected stakeholders across the state, including legislators, health advocates, and rural health organizations, to ensure that oral health is a priority in health-care conversations.

Aleah regularly volunteers at Mission of Mercy events, providing free dental care to underserved patients and helping expand access to those who need it most. She also practices clinically, treating patients four days a week. She says, “This dual commitment to hands-on care and high-level advocacy is the achievement I am most proud of. It represents the kind of provider I strive to be, which is one who bridges policy and practice to build a better, more inclusive dental care system.”

Renee Johnson, BSDH, LDH, CL, RF, FADHA, CDP, CDIPC, CH-ONC

For 30 years, Renee Johnson worked in the same dental practice, contributing to patients’ oral and systemic health through comprehensive assessments, risk determination, and co-treatment planning, while embracing new technologies and using motivational interviewing to empower patients. 

For the past 13 years, Renee has worked in a public health clinic in the local hospital, training dental, dental hygiene, and dental therapy students. 

Renee has increased oral health awareness through outreach, education, advocacy, and volunteer efforts in her community. She has provided classroom education in local schools, helped develop fluoride varnish programs, and presented alongside medical professionals at community centers for new immigrants. She has also taught oral health in ESL classrooms.

In 2014 Renee helped launch the “First Tooth, First Dental Visit” program, which educated new mothers and medical teams across 17 counties. She has served on advisory boards for Head Start and the Early Childhood Dental Network and has contributed to grant writing.  

Renee has served as a Give Kids A Smile coordinator for 13 years and has volunteered at Mission of Mercy events. She has also presented at health fairs and high school career fairs to promote oral health and careers in the dental profession.  

Renee has served twice as the MnDHA president and on the Advocacy Council and as an ADHA delegate representing Minnesota. While president, she supported legislation that advanced collaborative dental hygiene practice by increasing the scope of practice and reducing the supervision requirement for collaborative dental hygiene practice (CDHP), thus significantly improving access to care. 

Mandy McGill, RDHP

As a dental hygiene practitioner in British Columbia, Mandy McGill has worked in diverse clinical settings—from military bases to rural public health clinics. Her work in public health has increased access to care in underserved communities, integrating education and prevention into nontraditional settings.

As an advocate for oral health integration within broader health and social systems, Mandy works alongside community organizations, public health partners, and literacy networks to embed oral health into prenatal classes, parenting programs, and family resource centers.

Mandy volunteers through writing, consulting, and speaking engagements. Her volunteer work has earned global recognition, including first place in the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) Social Responsibility Program. This honor led to presentations at the 2022 IFDH Symposium and the 2023 IFDH Global Oral Health Summit.

Internationally, Mandy designs and manages educational outreach programs for the World Health Dental Organization. She founded the World Health Outreach Association, a nonprofit dedicated to improving oral health and well-being through education, advocacy, and sustainable community-based initiatives. She also launched The Smile Journey, a mentorship program for students and professionals passionate about health equity and global learning.

Mandy has pioneered school-based and maternal-child oral health programs in rural Africa. One success has been replacing harmful practices such as infant oral mutilation with positive behaviors through culturally sensitive education. These programs focus on community-led education and creating engaging educational tools for local providers. She says, “By working together, we can pave the way for healthier communities worldwide.”

Lindsey Vizcay, BSDH, RDH, RDHAP

As a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, Lindsey Vizcay is committed to breaking barriers by providing high-quality preventive and therapeutic hygiene services to underserved populations. She founded Home Sweet Hygiene, a portable hygiene practice, to reach patients with access-to-care issues, including children in Head Start, special needs patients, and homebound elderly patients. Her portable school-based program allows Lindsey to bring prophies, screenings, sealants, and fluoride treatments directly to students—at no cost to their families. 

Lindsey works with regional centers and other organizations to provide care to special needs patients, implementing desensitization techniques to help patients acclimate to dental visits, reducing fear and increasing cooperation. She uses intraoral cameras and teledentistry to improve communication with families, helping them navigate treatment options.

Lindsey partners with libraries, schools, and nonprofits to provide free oral screenings, fluoride treatments, and dental education to families in need. Her school-based program brings preventive care directly to students, ensuring that financial or logistical barriers do not prevent them from receiving treatment.

Through social media and public speaking engagements, Lindsey has presented oral health topics to parents, caregivers, and educators, emphasizing the connection between oral and systemic health. She also mentors aspiring dental hygienists, encouraging them to pursue careers that prioritize patient-centered, community-focused care.

For Lindsey, success is measured not only by completed appointments, but by helping patients feel comfortable, respected, and valued. She states, “When we treat the whole person—not just the teeth—we build trust and create positive dental experiences that last a lifetime.”

Editor's note: This article appeared in the November/December 2025 print edition of RDH magazine. Dental hygienists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.