06/04/2026
President's Message | May 2026
As we move into another year for the Iowa Dental Hygienists’ Association, I first want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who continues to support, engage with, and believe in this organization and the profession of dental hygiene in Iowa.
I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving another term as President of IDHA. I remain appreciative of the trust and support from those who continue dedicating their time, energy, and efforts to this organization and to the profession of dental hygiene in Iowa. I look forward to continuing the work ahead alongside our board, volunteers, members, educators, students, and supporters as we continue moving the association forward together.
The past several years have not been without challenges, both within organized dentistry and across healthcare as a whole. Like many professional associations nationwide, IDHA continues navigating declining membership, limited volunteer capacity, and an increasingly demanding legislative and professional landscape. Despite this, our board, committee members, volunteers, educators, students, and supporters have continued working hard behind the scenes to keep this association moving forward the best we can.
That commitment deserves recognition.
IDHA continues to advocate for the profession at the state level, monitor legislative activity affecting dental hygiene, support continuing education opportunities, engage with students and educators, and maintain important partnerships that help ensure dental hygienists in Iowa continue to have representation and a voice. While much of this work is not always visible, it requires significant dedication from individuals who deeply care about the future of our profession.
At the same time, I believe it remains important that we continue being honest and transparent about where we are as an organization. While those conversations may not always feel overly positive or easy to address, transparency is necessary in order to move forward thoughtfully, continue adapting, and ensure members understand both the challenges and opportunities facing the future of IDHA.
As we all are aware, many of the same individuals have continued stepping into leadership roles repeatedly to help sustain IDHA operations and initiatives. While we are incredibly grateful for their continued service, long-term sustainability depends on new involvement, new perspectives, and members who are willing to take that next step forward.
Leadership within IDHA does not require having all the answers or years of prior experience. Every leader within this organization started somewhere. Sometimes leadership simply begins with showing up, asking questions, volunteering for a committee, attending a meeting, or being willing to learn alongside others.
As we look ahead, we also recognize that this upcoming term will likely continue shaping the future direction of the association and preparing for future transitions in leadership. My hope is that more members begin to see themselves as part of that future. IDHA can only continue if individuals are willing to invest not only in their careers, but also in the profession as a whole.
This past year, one of the accomplishments I am most proud of was securing continued legislative representation for IDHA through our lobbyist partnership for the next five years. This was a significant achievement for our association and an important step in ensuring Iowa dental hygienists continue to have a consistent and informed voice during ongoing legislative and professional conversations that impact our profession. However, advocacy alone is not enough. The strength of any association ultimately comes from its members.
Whether you are a long-standing member, a student, a first-time attendee, or someone considering becoming more involved, your presence matters more than you may realize.
I encourage each of you to reflect on how you can continue supporting the profession moving forward, whether through membership, mentorship, participation, leadership, or simply encouraging conversations within your workplaces and communities about the importance of organized dental hygiene.
Thank you again to everyone who continues to support, participate in, and advocate for the profession alongside IDHA. These are not always simple challenges to navigate, but they are important ones. I remain appreciative of those who continue dedicating their time, efforts, and voices toward supporting not only this association, but also the future of dental hygiene within the state of Iowa.
With appreciation,
Ashley Whiteing, BSDH, RDH
President, Iowa Dental Hygienists’ Association
