Making the most of grassroots dental hygiene
Toni Meyerkord was recognized in 2023 with the Philips Heart to Hands award, and she appreciated the recognition for being an everyday hygienist making a difference in people’s lives. The award encouraged and motivated her to keep going and move her successful career forward.
She and I chat about the important role of dental hygienists, and how we can keep our enthusiasm levels running high. Toni said she’s fortunate that she’s never experienced burnout during her long career. But how? Her passion for dental hygiene runs deep, and she shares that with all those she comes in contact with. She and I have that “sparkle” in common.
Hear what else we want to share with you, and how we can all spread the energy for our profession with each other. We'd love to hear from you about any of your concerns. Toni and I'll hop on another podcast to address some of your questions as clinical hygienists who want to make a difference.
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About the podcast
RDH Magazine Podcast is the community of voices you love from RDH magazine, brought to your podcast feed every week. You can expect to gain education and have the RDH magazine community in your ears to complement the content you enjoy online and in print each month.
About the Author
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH
Chief Editor, RDH magazine
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, has over four decades of continual career development and experience in dentistry. As the chief editor of RDH magazine, she strives to remain a proactive personality in the continual advancement of the profession. She has been defined as a motivated trendsetter and dependable colleague and is inspired by her true passion of helping others to achieve their personal goals.
Toni Meyerkord, MA BS, RDH, FADHA
Toni Meyerkord, MA, BS, RDH, FADHA, is Senior Manager of Academic and Industry Relations for Aspen Dental, where she bridges academia and industry to strengthen the future dental hygiene workforce. With three decades of experience in clinical practice and leadership, she advocates for diversity, mentorship, and equitable access to care. A recipient of the 2023 Phillips Heart to Hands Award and active member of ADHA and BrownGirl RDH, Toni continues to serve high-risk, low-income women through oral health education and community outreach.