Abigail Martinez, BSDH, RDH; Lisa Huitron, BSDH, RDH

Abigail Martinez, BSDH, RDH, left, and Lisa Huitron, BSDH, RDH, first met as classmates in the West LA College dental hygiene program, graduating together in December 2024. Both feel pulled toward the big picture of health care access and equity, and they’re using their training to make an impact, whether it's one patient at a time or through broad systemic improvements. Their stories show that dental hygiene isn't just about cleaning teeth; it's a springboard to meaningful work that keeps evolving.