college of lake county

College of Lake County (CLC) has three full-time staff: Sue Nierstheimer, Kim Aichele, and Mary Jacobs; with Ms. Nierstheimer and Ms. Aichele serving as department co-chairs. The ADA certified dental hygiene program at CLC is preparing students to develop their abilities to effectively present preventive oral health care services to the community.

MH: What aspects of your program are you most proud of?

Sue Nierstheimer: I am most proud of the philosophy of our program: to create a learning environment of experience, knowledge, and approachability. Our faculty practices this philosophy and it has created an atmosphere of collaborative learning with our students. I am proud of the opportunity we have to serve the population of our community, which is one in need of dental care. I am also proud of the supportive relationship we have with the administration at CLC.

Kim Aichele: I am proud of the many roles we take on as faculty and our ability to serve a diverse group of students. At a community college we deal with a large population of non-traditional students. Many are single parents, some are going through a divorce, or others may have a family member that is dealing with substance abuse. We work with these students on both a personal and professional level and I am proud to be able to help them reach their goals.

Mary Jacobs: I am proud of the clinical experience our students receive. Being located in an area where periodontal health is compromised, our students are exposed to developing treatment plans and providing treatment and education to a wide variety of patients.

MH: What are CLC students like?

SN: Our school is in the Chicago area and we see a great deal of diversity. This diversity is not only cultural, but also age, gender, learning styles, background, family responsibilities, future goals, etc. This adds to the richness of our classroom and clinic educational experiences.

MH: Describe some major challenges facing dental hygienists in the next 5 to 10 years?

SN: One of the greatest challenges facing new hygienists is the disparity of need versus the availability of dental care in underserved areas. As healthcare professionals, hygienists have a strong affinity for the underserved. Our challenge is to find ways to serve them and stay within our legal boundaries.

KA: At some point in the future it may be mandatory for a hygienist to have a four year degree so dental hygiene students needs to prepare themselves for this possibility. Planning for the future will be an ongoing challenge for all hygienists.

MJ: Preceptorship will always be a challenging issue and we stress the importance of staying current on this issue.

MH: How does the program prepare your students for these challenges?

SN: First, the program has a strong Community Dental Health program. Students have two courses in Community, which involve both lectures and active participation in the community at different organizations. Disparity of need is a strong focus and we strive to make the students aware of these challenges. The fact that our clinic is in an area of need helps the students see first hand the reality of underserved areas and the rewards of helping them. Second, the college promotes the achievement of advanced degrees beyond the Associate of Applied Science degree. We also mentor the students through the decision making process of choosing advanced degree institutions.

MJ: Regarding preceptorship, we invite speakers from all levels of professional organizations to inform our students about its importance in greater detail. Students are given the opportunity to write to legislators and activate their voice. It is our hope that students will continue this as they progress through their career.

MH: What opportunities are on the horizon for new dental hygienists?

SN: The realization of the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) is an exciting opportunity on the horizon. It will hopefully meet the needs of the access to care issues and allow hygienists to further enrich their talents and abilities. We are making every effort to educate students on the issues of the disparity of need versus availability of dental care and we keep our students current on the development process of the ADHP. Another great opportunity is dental hygiene education itself. The need for more quality educators has been established, and with the trend of dental hygienists getting advanced degrees this career path opens up to more people. Also, with the fast-paced research taking place we will see many new advancements in theory and technology, leading to opportunities for hygienists to learn and utilize these new concepts.

MH: What are important areas of dental hygiene education our readers should be aware of?

SN: The main message I’d like to share is that we, as educators, have the students for a short time. Once they graduate, the new dental hygienists look to their peers for guidance. Once a new hygienist leaves us, it is up to the established community of hygienists to mentor their passion and be their role models. In order to do this, hygienists need to stay connected with each other and their professional organization and utilize the vast array of continuing education offerings. Dental hygiene is changing and advancing in response to the needs of the population and we must be ready to meet these needs.

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