For Excellence in Dental Hygiene Advocacy – 2 awards of $500 each

A maximum of two (2) cash awards, valued at $500 each, will be given annually to recognize outstanding advocacy efforts locally or provincially. Examples of advocacy initiatives outside of curriculum requirements include lobbying MPPs, participating in oral health outreach, Gift From The Heart or Sharing Smiles. Candidates must be student members enrolled in the final year of an accredited dental hygiene program in Ontario. Each educational institution is allowed one nomination. Nominations must be submitted to the faculty in time for a collective decision to be made on the appropriate candidate to support. Click here for more information and click here for awards criteria. 

2025 student award winner:

Racha Murtada, student at the Canadian National Institute of Health in Ottawa, is the newest recipient of the ODHA Student Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene Advocacy.

In the photo (from left to right): Nanette Feil-Megill, Program Director; Racha Murtada; and Shairose Gillani, Course Facilitator.

2024 student award winners:

Karen Munera Osorio (Fanshawe College) and Amber Carter (Canadian National Institute of Health) were honoured with the ODHA 2024 Student Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene Advocacy. 

Karen Munera Osorio (centre) Also pictured: Lara Timler, Academic Coordinator, Dental Hygiene Program, Fanshawe College (left), Rozina Bhimji, ODHA President (right).                       

                                             

                                 

                                                

 

 

Amber Carter (right). Also pictured: Amy Currie, ODHA Director, Region D (left).

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Carter, Canadian National Institute of Health
Amber is passionate about addressing inequity in access to health care and wrote an advocacy letter to the office of the Prime Minister which outlines the difficulty in access to oral health care faced by Indigenous populations in remote northern communities. 

Karen Munera Osorio, Fanshawe College
This past year, Karen has been involved with Special Olympics, volunteering to coach volleyball and a Special Smiles event in Toronto, participating in oral health promotion and oral screening as a trained volunteer with Special Olympics Ontario. She shares her enthusiasm and excitement with her fellow classmates, encouraging greater participation and volunteerism amongst her class.

Congratulations to Amber and Karen! Your awards are well-deserved and you are inspiring examples of advocacy in action.