Oh Named Winner at the ADHA Sirona Graduate Student Clinicians Dental Hygiene Research Program
Yuri Oh, RDH, MSDH, was selected as the third place winner in the graduate student research awards at the 95th Annual American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The ADHA/Dentsply Sirona Graduate Student Clinicians Dental Hygiene Research Program, sponsored by Dentsply Sirona, recognizes graduate-level dental hygiene students for original research in their field of study.
Oh’s presentation, “Trends and Determinants of Water Drinking Practices: A Mixed-Methods Study,” was the product of her master’s thesis project, which examined trends and determinants of water-drinking practices among children.
Her project also sought to understand Latino community members’ experiences regarding drinking water choices and their views on strategies to promote fluoridated community-water consumption.
Her thesis committee chair was Kimon Divaris, DDS, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; other committee members included Jane Weintraub, DDS, MPH, and Lattice Sams, MS, both of the Department of Dental Ecology.
“Her research is both informative and timely,” said Divaris. “Yuri used both quantitative methods to examine trends and patterns at the population level, as well as qualitative inquiry to understand NC families’ preferences and lived experiences. Put together, these insights create a powerful momentum for targeted interventions aimed at maximizing the benefits of community water fluoridation.”
Oh follows the success of previous School of Dentistry dental hygiene graduate student, Brandie Carter, who received this award at the 94th Annual Conference in 2017. The ADHA/Denstply Sirona Graduate Student Clinicians Dental Hygiene Research Program participants are chosen by their program director, and receive professional recognition and complimentary registration to the ADHA’s annual conference, air travel, lodging and pier diem for the conference.
The first place winner receives a $1,000 cash prize and travel expenses to attend the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) meeting. During the AADR meeting, the winning student will present their winning research presentation on a non-competitive basis along with the international winners.
Oh earned her bachelor’s in dental hygiene from the UNC-CH School of Dentistry in 2013, and her master’s in dental hygiene education in 2018. She has clinical experience working in general and pediatric/orthodontic practice, and has begun her new appointment as a full-time assistant professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston, Massachusetts, this year.
