https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4DXvDVLExg

“Walk those rich lines, defy the odds, push the envelope — because you never know who you’re inspiring,” said Katti Webb Simpson, IPDH, of Foxcroft, Maine, during her acceptance of the Lucy Hobbs Project Clinical Expertise Award in 2014.

She speaks from experience. In 2008, the Pine Tree State became the second in the country to pass a law permitting dental hygienists to practice independently of supervising dentists so long as they meet criteria. Webb Simpson is doing her part to offer access to care by treating Medicaid patients out of our her 19th-century farmhouse in central Maine.

So continue the inspirational stories of Lucy Hobbs Award honorees from past years. Beginning now, through the January 16, 2015 deadline, Benco Dental encourages nominations of women who are setting new benchmarks in the dental profession. Contest entrants are directed to the 2015 Lucy Hobbs Project® Awards Nomination Form here.

The Lucy Hobbs Project® Annual Celebration Honoring Exemplary Women in the Dental Community, slated to take place at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, June 4 – 5, 2015, will honor the winners.

Incisal Edge summer edition profiles the 2014 Lucy Hobbs Project Award recipients.

Incisal Edge summer edition profiles the 2014 Lucy Hobbs Project Award recipients.

The annual event, named for the woman who, in 1866, became the first American female to earn a degree in dentistry, will recognize and award industry professionals whose achievements mirror those established by Lucy Hobbs.

From operatory to laboratory, a new generation of women is changing dentistry. The Lucy Hobbs Project®, powered by Benco Dental, aims to recognize these revolutionaries with awards that celebrate their distinctive talents. Six categories for consideration include:

  • Woman to Watch: An up-and-coming leader who utilizes her position to create positive change in the industry.
  • Industry Icon: A trailblazer who is consistently recognized and admired for her work in the dental industry.
  • Mentor: An advisor who recognizes the importance of supporting, educating and encouraging others.
  • Innovator: A groundbreaker who demonstrates a willingness to implement new technologies and business processes without fear of potential failure
  • Humanitarian: An altruist who works tirelessly for a charity or cause that benefits the well-being of others.
  • Clinical Expert: A skillful practitioner who embraces advancements and adeptly integrates them into patient care.

Individuals and organizations may submit nominations. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominate someone who inspires you or enter today using the 2015 Lucy Hobbs Project® Awards Nomination Form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHP2015

Powered by Benco Dental, the largest privately-owned dental distribution company in the United States, The Lucy Hobbs Project® empowers women in dentistry to drive change and deliver success through networking, innovation and giving back. Named after Hobbs, this project aims to bring women together from all facets of the dental industry – dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, receptionists, sales representatives and others. The project is free to join and offers networking opportunities, education programs and charitable events.

Among the 2014 Lucy Hobbs Award honorees are women whose unwavering professional dedication merits accolades: Joan Austin (1931-2013); Karen Gear, DDS; Mary Hartigan, DDS; Maria Maranga, DDS; Terryl A. Propper, DDS, MS; Katti Webb Simpson, IPDH; and Kaaren G. Vargas, DDS, PhD.

To learn more and sign up for The Lucy Hobbs Project, visit The Lucy Hobbs Project® website.