Virginia Western Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program exists “to empower students to become ethical, self-directed primary care providers.” Students in the program lived out that mission even before graduation by uniting at a Rally Day in Virginia’s General Assembly to advocate for their profession and patients.
“Rally Day was an exceptional educational and professional experience for both our students and faculty,” said Joanie Bryant, Registered Dental Hygienist and Virginia Western Dental Hygiene faculty member.
Dental Hygiene students stayed overnight Thursday, Jan. 22, in Richmond at the Commonwealth Hotel to be fully immersed in the legislative environment before Rally Day’s events. Early Friday morning, the group arrived at the Virginia State Capitol, where they joined more than 300 registered dental hygienists and dental hygiene students from across the commonwealth.
After an opening session and orientation, students met in small groups with members of the General Assembly. In those meetings, students advocated for the dental hygiene profession and expressed concerns regarding proposed legislation, specifically Senate Bill 178/House Bill 970 and SB 282/HB 1036. Students discussed the importance of their role in public health, preventive care and patient access to oral healthcare, while practicing professional communication and civic engagement.
Virginia Western student Julia Roadcap met with Sen. Bill Stanley of Franklin County. “He was receptive and engaged, providing me with the opportunity to see firsthand how legislators respond to advocacy,” she said. The group who visited with Stanley included Bryant and Sheri Moore, Virginia Western adjunct faculty member and former President of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association.
“Surrounded by hundreds of dental hygienists, students and advocates, I realized the importance of unity and advocacy within the profession,” Roadcap said. “Rally Day highlighted the importance of staying informed about legislation that affects both the profession and patient care. Participating in this event emphasized that my voice and efforts, however small, can help shape positive outcomes. This experience created an understanding that advocacy is an ongoing responsibility and not a one-time experience.”
After completing their legislative visits, dental hygienists from across the commonwealth were formally introduced in the House of Delegates and the state Senate. This recognition highlighted the collective presence of the profession and reinforced the importance of dental hygiene advocacy at the state level.
The Richmond trip was made possible with support from the Ottaway Endowed Travel Scholarship at the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation. Bryant learned about the scholarship earlier this academic year and applied successfully.
“We are deeply appreciative of the Ottaway Travel Scholarship for making this educational opportunity possible,” said Bryant, who also served as coordinator for Rally Day. “The experience had a lasting impact on our students and significantly enhanced their understanding of advocacy, leadership, and professional responsibility within the field of dental hygiene.”
The group from Virginia Western’s Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Program was composed of students from Virginia Western and Laurel Ridge Community College. In an effort to help overcome the maldistribution of the dental hygiene workforce in underserved areas, Virginia Western delivers the Dental Hygiene Program to Danville Community College and Laurel Ridge via distance learning. Students are admitted to the distance sites biennially. All students enroll in the same classes and have the same clinical experiences, just at a different physical location.
Laurel Ridge student Samantha Perea noted the impact of seeing delegates and aides learn how bills could potentially affect patients. “There is a reason we undergo two years of education and training to ensure that we can provide patients with the highest quality of care while prioritizing their safety,” Perea said.
“This experience has inspired me to continue advocating for the profession as I step into my career,” Perea said. “Whether that means joining the ADHA [American Dental Hygienists’ Association], pursuing a role as an educator, or becoming a clinical instructor at an institution, I want to do my part to make sure our profession stays strong and respected, and that our skills and knowledge are never undervalued, even when there’s a shortage of dental hygienists.”
Virginia Western student Jennifer Espino drew strength from seeing the profession represented. “One moment that stood out to me is seeing how many dental hygienists, students, and dentists came to support Rally Day,” she said. “It showed the importance of standing together as a dental community.
“At one point, we filled the entire room where the meeting was being held. The speakers even mentioned that it was the fullest they had ever seen the room. That was really powerful to witness. It was encouraging to see that we are not alone and that our profession is widely respected and supported,” Espino said.
“Speaking on behalf of my profession was intimidating at first, but it quickly became empowering,” said Laurel Ridge student Skylar Kritzman. “One delegate specifically remarked that he wished more lobbyists could communicate their points as clearly and effectively as I had, which reinforced the importance of preparation and professional communication. Standing among hundreds of dental hygienists and students in white coats made it clear that our collective presence mattered and that our voices were being heard.”
See more scenes from Rally Day below:
