The 2025 Heart to Hands Award presented by Philips and RDH magazine

Caitlin Donohue-Vega’s love for her career is rooted in a deep caring for her patients and a passion to educate, mentor, and inspire. This is perhaps most evident in her choice to live and work in a rural, underserved community. By bringing quality care to areas where resources are limited, Caitlin not only meets the critical needs in these communities, but also inspires a culture of oral health awareness.

For Caitlin, the dental hygiene profession is more than just a career. She says, “It’s always felt like home to me. A place where I feel supported and where my passion for education and oral health come together to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve my community as a registered dental hygienist.”

Caitlin’s decision to become a hygienist was influenced by several people and experiences in her life. She credits her hygienist of 33 years for being a role model, along with the support from her family dentist and an orthodontist, with whom she worked in high school. She says, “Every experience made me more certain that this was where I was meant to be, and the overwhelming support I had along the way from the dental community developed a deeper appreciation for the critical roles they had in shaping me into the dental hygienist that I am today.”

Caitlin thrives on the flexibility and diverse opportunities that a career in dental hygiene provides. Beyond the operatory, she shares her enthusiasm for dental hygiene with the next generation of professionals by educating and mentoring high school students who are curious about dental careers. She provides hands-on experiences and shadowing opportunities, offering them a glimpse into the rewards of a profession in dentistry. Her relentless drive to address dental workforce shortages and encourage others to join her is making a lasting impact. Seeing these students grow in confidence and interest in dental careers strengthens Caitlin’s resolve to build a brighter future for the dental field.

Connecting with others

By helping others live healthy and rewarding lives, Caitlin finds her own life enriched. She makes meaningful connections by addressing challenges with compassion and purpose. When she sees positive patient outcomes and witnesses her patients’ happiness, she feels rewarded for her dedication and hard work.

Caitlin also loves connecting with children in her community by developing fun and interactive oral health lessons to make learning exciting. Some of her favorite moments are when she sees children’s faces light up when they understand the importance of oral health and then take pride in their ability to help care for their smiles.

Memorable patient interaction

One of Caitlin’s most memorable patient experiences involved a 16-year-old patient suffering from a vaping-related dental emergency. Recognizing a lack of educational resources for this growing problem, Caitlin took action. She spent an entire summer researching the dangers of vaping and developed a youth vaping prevention program called “The Smile of a Lifetime Starts Now.”

Since its launch in 2019, this program has educated nearly 3,000 students across five Maryland counties, spanning grades 4 through 12. Caitlin’s proactive approach has made a significant impact, garnering support and funding from local health departments. Her program not only addresses an urgent public health concern, but it also exemplifies her commitment to preventive care and advocacy for healthier communities.

Community outreach

While she works part-time as a clinical dental hygienist in a periodontal specialty practice, Caitlin’s remaining time is dedicated to community outreach and education with the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (ESAHEC). In addition to the youth vaping prevention program, she has developed several other impactful programs, including “The Tooth Fairy’s Helper,” designed for children aged birth to seven and their families, and “Dental Careers Exploration,” a hands-on program for high school students to increase interest in dental careers.

Caitlin also hosts continuing education events for dental professionals. She stays inspired by balancing her personal growth with professional impact, and she finds joy in every opportunity to learn and share her knowledge, foster growth, and contribute to the future of dentistry.

Caitlin exemplifies the values of compassion, innovation, and dedication that define excellence in dental hygiene. Her work not only enhances patient outcomes but also strengthens her community and inspires the next generation of dental professionals.

Christine Sanaphay, RDH

Bringing care at home and abroad

Christine Sanaphay’s motto is “Love what you do.” Her dental hygiene career and volunteer activities have given her many opportunities to do just that.

Christine was born in Phoenix and grew up in Peoria, Arizona. English was her second language, which she learned quickly in grade school. Her mother was a dental assistant who frequently brought her daughter to work with her, where Christine started to work at the age of 12. She first wanted to be a dentist but became pregnant during her first year in college. Being a young mom motivated her to finish school sooner, so she became a dental hygienist rather than a dentist, working as a receptionist in a dental office during her education.

Personalized, compassionate care

Helping patients overcome dental anxiety so they feel relaxed and comfortable during their dental visits is a high priority for Christine. One way she does this is by working on patients during IV sedation so they can be more relaxed and comfortable during treatment. Pain control is another priority. She says, “Giving painless injections is very much appreciated by patients, and I always make sure patients are comfortable during their appointments.”

Working as a full-time dental hygienist in a private practice has given Christine the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with patients. One patient stated, “Christine is the most gentle, wonderful, and thorough hygienist I have ever had.” Another patient wrote in a review, “Christine is so sweet, smart, and really goes above and beyond for her clients.” Her goal is for every patient to want to come back so she can help them maintain their oral health with personalized, compassionate care. She says, “When you are passionate about what you do, patients can truly feel it, and it makes you feel more fulfilled. Listening to patients and learning to connect with people will also show how much you care.”

Using technology to transform patients’ health and seeing patients discover the value of dental care brings great satisfaction to Christine. She utilizes the microscope to evaluate bacteria for individualized patient care. She also provides laser-assisted periodontal therapy.

Since oral health is the gateway to overall health, Christine knows that by helping patients with her expertise, she is also enabling patients with various systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease to improve their overall health.

Spreading the love through volunteering

Christine finds joy and fulfillment through her volunteer work with underprivileged children, both at home and abroad. She has participated in the Arizona Coyotes and TeamSmile programs and will do so once again in September 2025. The mission of TeamSmile is to provide children in need with life-changing dental experiences through the power of sports. These programs have provided dental care to hundreds of underserved children in Tempe, Arizona, while making it a fun experience for the children. Christine has also volunteered with Special Smiles for the Special Olympics fall games in Peoria, Arizona.

As part of the Arizona Dental Missions team, Christine has also helped children overseas. She traveled to the Philippines in 2011, where she administered local anesthesia to children who needed extractions of nonrestorable teeth. In 2016 and 2018, she partnered with the Arizona Dental Missions team and Agape International Missions (AIM) to provide dental cleanings for children in Cambodia and to those who have been affected by human trafficking and child sexual slavery.

Prioritizing health

Since the hygiene profession can take its toll on the body physically, Christine makes sure to prioritize her own health. She says, “In order for me to continue to do what I love, I try to make it a priority to stay fit.” Hiking in Sedona, Arizona, is one of her favorite ways to maintain physical fitness. Christine has a full home gym and also attends various classes at a gym.

By giving of herself, Christine finds her own happiness. She says, “When you are passionate about what you do, patients can truly feel it, and it makes you feel more fulfilled. Listening to patients and learning to connect with people will also show how much you care.”

Sally Wiedeman, MBA, EPDH

Bringing care to the Native American community

Sally Wiedeman began her career as a veterinary assistant. She was trained to do cleanings on dogs and cats and was fascinated with calculus removal. That led her to dental assisting school, where she graduated in 2009. The hygienist and dentist encouraged her to apply to dental hygiene school. After two years of working full-time and taking prerequisites, Sally was accepted into the Pacific University Dental Health Science program. This was her first opportunity to provide services to underserved populations, where she fell in love with giving back to the community.

Sally’s public health journey as an expanded practice dental hygienist began in 2016 when the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) first opened its dental clinic in Portland, Oregon. As the sole dental hygienist for over a year, she played a pivotal role in developing the clinic’s hygiene protocols, which remain in use today. She utilized her EPDH license to provide screenings and fluoride varnish to Native American children at a local preschool. She also collaborated with a dentist to create a dental emergency triage handout and training for the medical team, and she participated in the Baby Teeth Matter initiative to combat early childhood caries.

In 2018, Sally designed and implemented a groundbreaking dental outreach program, integrating dental services into the organization’s adult and youth treatment facilities for substance use. The program also served child development centers, a monthly diabetes group, and various community events. Utilizing portable equipment and the help of an amazing dental assistant and dentist, Sally and her coworkers provided comprehensive dental care to patients in inpatient treatment facilities within federally qualified health centers (FQHC). Services included oral assessments, fluoride varnish applications, comprehensive exams (using asynchronous teledentistry in collaboration with a dentist), prophies, fillings, extractions, and oral health education. This became one of the first FQHCs to offer on-site dental, medical, and behavioral health services. In 2021, Sally left NARA and continued her career in public health by managing the setup of a new community health dental clinic in her hometown on the Oregon coast. In 2023, she returned to the NARA dental clinic, where she continues to grow the dental outreach program.

Meet patients where they are

Providing on-site dental care to youth and adults who are in recovery for substance abuse presents a unique opportunity to break down barriers by meeting patients where they are. Sally says, “Seeing patients smile, laugh, and be brought to tears because for the first time in a very long time they are not in pain is heartwarming. They are excited to smile, more confident, and are motivated to continue with their dental care outside of treatment.”

Sally describes one memorable interaction with a 38-year-old patient. “I first saw the patient a year and half ago when he entered our inpatient treatment facility. He hadn't had dental treatment in 20 years. He had removed his own ortho brackets. Every tooth had bonding stuck to the facial. He had multiple restorative needs and severe periodontal disease. While in treatment, he completed all four quadrants of SRP and half of his restorative needs. After graduating from inpatient, he moved in with family and started going to daily meetings at our outpatient facility. I see him every three months for his routine periodontal maintenance. He has completed all his restorative needs and has remained sober going on two years. He has such a big personality that he brings joy to everyone in the office. I always know my day will end on a good note when he is on my schedule.”

What keeps her inspired

The ability to continue to increase access to care to the underserved keeps Sally inspired in her career. In addition to starting the inpatient treatment facilities within FQHCs, she has integrated dental services into their monthly diabetes clinic hosted by their medical team, as well as a new outpatient facility, child development centers, and other community events.

Congratulations to Caitlin, Christine, and Sally, recipients of the 2025 Heart to Hands Award. Your love for our profession and love for your patients inspires us all. Love: It’s what makes a hygienist a hygienist. 

Editor's note: This article appeared in the April/May 2025 print edition of RDH magazine. Dental hygienists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.