On November 18, 2019, eleven Colorado-licensed RDHs met to celebrate the the dental hygiene profession and promote the 20th anniversary of RDH Under One Roof. At this year's RDH Under One Roof conference, you will have the opportunity to learn, network, and have fun while viewing the Rocky Mountains. Be sure to mark your calendars for July 16–18, 2020 and visit rdhunderoneroof.com for more information on this year's conference.
Rocky Mountain RDHs
Kari Brennan, RDH, graduated in 2006 from the dental hygiene program at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado, with an associate of applied science degree. Kari worked in private practice for five years, then in community health for another five years before opening her own dental hygiene practice, White River Dental Hygiene, in 2015. Kari is married to Neil Brennan, and they have two cute kids, Hattie and Milo.
Becky Comstedt, BS, RDH, graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2006 with an associate of science in dental hygiene. She completed her bachelor’s in allied health in 2009. She has been working as a dental hygienist in the Boulder area since 2006. She has three awesome daughters and a supportive husband. Becky has been the Boulder Component trustee since 2017 and was recently sworn in as the Colorado Dental Hygiene Association president.
Susan Cotten, BS, RDH, OMT, is a passionate speaker, consultant, and subject-matter expert on human papillomavirus (HPV), and the oral and oropharyngeal cancer exam. She is owner of Oral Cancer Consulting. Susan developed the Cotten Method, a comprehensive office system specific to oral cancer, assisting dental providers in early detection while reducing risk for liability. Susan is a 2018 recipient of the Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction and the CDHA Outstanding Contribution Award.
Jennifer Geiselhofer, RDH, has been a hygienist for 22 years and is an independent direct access hygienist and owner of Dental at Your Door. She is also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Deserving Dental (deservingdental.org). Jennifer works inside 28 of Denver’s homeless shelters for men, women, children, runaway youth, and facilities for corrections, substance abuse, battered women, teen mothers, and work release programs, providing portable preventive dental care.
Edie Gibson, MS, RDH, has a mission to affect change, one program at a time, one person at a time, by believing in the humanity of others. She brings over three decades of real-world experience in dentistry to the podium to inspire her audiences to see things differently. Edie also owned About Face Dental Hygiene Spa, the first private dental hygiene practice in Gunnison County. Edie continues to mentor and inspire other hygienists.
Lani McBeth, BS, has 33 years of clinical experience. Since she began her career, she has had a passion for the oral-systemic link. In 2019, Lani started her business, OWL: The Oral Wellness Link, to help consumers understand the link between systemic and oral health. She is using her love of learning to help fellow professionals grow as a clinical educator for Young Innovations. She is a subject matter expert in the area of artificial intelligence and where it is taking us.
Diane Osso, MS, RDH, has been the dental hygiene program director at Concorde Career College in Aurora, Colorado, for five and a half years. Concorde is an accelerated dental hygiene program with graduation in 18 months. Diane’s passion has always been for teaching, which eventually lead to this next level as a director. She feels it is her responsibility to hire and mentor ambitious faculty so that future Colorado dental hygienists are ethical, compassionate, and skilled professionals.
Cindy Purdy, BS, RDH, has multiple decades of clinical dental hygiene, which has fueled her passion for workplace wellness and patient equity of care. She currently practices in a hybrid traditional/virtual dental practice. Cindy holds an ergonomic certification from Colorado State University. In 2013, she earned her Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist credential, with emphasis on improving the health and performance of dental professionals by creating safe, in-office workstations.
Angie Rhoades, RDH, set her career path early on in high school, when she started working part-time in a dental office. She attended dental hygiene school at Northern Arizona University. For the last nine years, she has been self-employed and is the sole owner and operator of SmileLogic in Broomfield, Colorado. She loves the business aspect of dental hygiene and enjoys mentoring others who wish to explore independent practice.
Jackie L. Sanders, MBA, RDH, began her dental career in Durango, Colorado, and graduated from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, in 1996. She has over four decades of evolving dental experience and professional growth. As the chief editor of RDH magazine, she strives to remain a proactive personality in the continual growth of the profession. She has been defined as a motivated trendsetter and dependable colleague and is inspired by her true passion of helping others to achieve their personal goals.
Dona Schulz, MBA, RDH, has more than three decades of expanded dental practice experience, providing clinical coaching on periodontal wellness, optimizing case acceptance, and adopting leading-edge dental technology. Dona elevates practices to create interoffice synergy, balance, and growth while achieving clinical excellence. Dona is a certified technology trainer, former corporate national dental hygiene director, and adjunct instructor. Dona is a 2009 recipient of the ADHA Hygiene Hero Award and the 2011 Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction.
