Hygienists educate clients on a variety of topics. One area of health care, however, is an area that both medical and dental professionals are just beginning to understand - women's health. Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS, president of Seminars for Women's Health, is trying to change that.
Maria is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s and has been living, working, and completing her education in the Bay Area ever since. Currently, Maria spends her time presenting seminars both nationally and internationally, writing for various dental hygiene publications, and doing consulting work. This very busy woman even has time to practice clinical dental hygiene in periodontal and general practices a few times each month!
In 1981, Maria became the president of the Northern California Dental Hygienists' Association. Prior to that, she did not have any public speaking experience. An association's president, however, is provided a variety of opportunities to speak, and, in 1985, she became a member of Procter and Gamble's speakers' bureau, where she gave educational seminars to students and practicing hygienists. During this time, Maria also earned her master's in health science, focusing on women's health issues.
Always active in dental hygiene professional organizations, Maria served as president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association in 1997-98. She is also a member of the International Association for Dental Research Oral Health Research Group, American Dental Education Association, and is an ADHA delegate to the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH). Maria has presented programs on women's health and wellness, oral care for the cancer patient, oral cancer, and immunology and periodontal disease. She has even appeared on network television and radio interviews to discuss the periodontal-systemic disease link.
When asked what is the most important message she likes to convey to her audiences, Maria responds, "Oral health is an important part of general health, and that sex does make a difference! All of our clients, male or female, are humans with unique needs and we need to treat them with compassion and dignity. Also, professionalism should be an integral part of our being. That is why we should join ADHA. The organization is each and every one of us! We need each other if our profession is to survive and thrive."
As a professional member of the National Speaker's Association, Maria loves sharing information with her audiences that she has learned through reviewing mounds of literature. There is so much new and fascinating information available every day; Maria wants everyone to know about it. However, with all of her seminars and consulting, what she likes the least is being away from her husband George (she got married last February) and her Irish Setter, Clancy. Besides her programs in the United States, she also has presented in Italy, New Zealand, and Australia. In fact, Maria was one of five keynote speakers at the IFDH Conference in Australia.
Being of Italian heritage, Maria likes Italian and Mediterranean food. One of her favorite restaurants is Café Tiramisu in San Francisco. She also enjoys reading and one of the books she has read recently was "LA Justice" by Christopher Darden (a prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial) and Dick Lochte. One of her favorite books is the political thriller, "Transfer of Power" by Vince Flynn. Maria also enjoys romantic and thriller movies and country western music!
Maria would love to meet either Maya Angelou or Oprah Winfrey because she says both women are very inspirational. Compassionate, loyal, and hard working, Maria sees herself as being a physician if she were not a hygienist!
Now that we have gotten to know Maria Perno Goldie a bit more than just from the podium, her next few continuing education seminars are listed in the box on the first page of this article.
Thank you, Maria, for enhancing both the personal and professional lives of dental hygienists. Being a predominately female profession, we have a stake in learning all we can about our bodies and imparting that information on to our clients and their families.
Maria Perno Goldie's presentations in late 2002 include:
- Sept. 28, Salt Lake City, for the Utah Dental Hygienists' Association
- Oct. 4, Mystic, Conn., for Professional Learning Services
- Oct. 19, at the New Jersey Dental Hygienists' Association
- Nov. 10, Long Island, N.Y., for Elbee Dental Supply
Ann-Marie C. DePalma, RDH, BS is a practicing hygienist in a periodontal-implant practice. She is a graduate of the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists, is active in the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists' Association, and is a Fellow of the Association of Dental Implant Auxilliaries and Practice Management. Ann-Marie has written articles and presents programs on dental implants, TMD, and developmental delays and can be reached at [email protected].
