Number crunching
1 RDH published results of a survey that asked hygienists how they felt about independent practice in the January 1987 issue, and Professional Communications Inc. published salary information in several issues during 1987. If you’re counting, 63 percent said they would want to practice independently if it became legal in their states, and a full-time hygienist in California with four to six years of experience made $18.18 an hour in 1987.
Colorado high
2 RDH profiled Jo Ann Grant, a pioneer independent practitioner, in the May 1987 issue. Grant based her practice in Fort Collins, Colo.
Who dat?
3 The magazine’s current editor, Mark Hartley, started as a proofreader in 1985. But he wrote his first three articles for RDH during 1987-88. The one at right appeared in the July 1988 issue.
Looking good
4 An early feature on a new side of the business - cosmetic dentistry - appeared in September 1987.
Crystal ball
5 In November 1988, Linda Miles, one of the profession’s top speakers, offered some predictions about what the year 2000 would be like. Six years ago, most of you gave up independent practice due to the headaches of running an office; dodged the “havoc” caused by infectious diseases; and earned up to $20 an hour. Oh well, at least computers are replacing paper records.
Changing of the guard
6 Sandra Pemberton, who was the magazine’s first editor for most of the early years, bid farewell in the March 1988 issue. How’s this for irony? Lynne Slim wrote the adjacent letter to the editor (questioning an advertiser in the magazine). Slim is currently RDH’s periodontics columnist. She replaced longtime columnist Trisha O’Hehir, who wrote several features during 1987-88.
