Honorary Fellowship
Ms. Lori Barnhart
“ It is an extreme privilege to be receiving Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Dentists. I am grateful for the recognition I have received for my dedication to the field of dentistry and dental assisting as well as my devotion to bringing smiles to those in my state who experience difficulty accessing dental care. I surrounded myself with people in dentistry who fueled and supported everything I ever wanted to accomplish; the employer that always said go for it, the dental society that is approachable and saw my vision, and the assisting societies that developed me into a leader. I am appreciative to be recognized for the qualities the ACD values and that are important to me as well. To love what you do for a living and to use it for the betterment of society is a true gift and I am honored to receive this award.” - Lori Barnhart
ation (MDAA) since 1987, she has served continuously on the board since 1989, three times as President, as Finance Chair, as Education Chair, as Scholarship Chair, and many years as Legislative Chair. She also coordinates the MDAA website. At the Dental Assistants Association component level, Lori has been president eight times, organizes all CE programs, functions as Treasurer, and in many other important roles. In essence, when having conversations about every level of the Dental Assisting Association in Michigan, Lori’s name is always part of that conversation. After her graduation from Mott Community College in 1988, in addition to more than 60 credit hours of education at the University of Michigan Flint, Lori has been an involved representative of the profession of Dentistry. She has been a Fellow of the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) since 2009 and has been the recipient for numerous awards for her service to dentistry. In addition, she currently serves on the board of the Michigan Dental Association Foundation. During her dental assisting career, she has served on 2 terms as ADAA Trustee, 2 terms as Secretary, on numerous ADAA councils and committees, and has attended 28 national conventions. As a continuous member of the Michigan Dental Assistants Associ-
Journal of the American College of Dentists
the Mott Community College Dental Programs Advisory Board in Flint. All these efforts will help to ensure an adequate workforce of trained and licensed dental assistants in Michigan. Lori is a fireball of volunteerism. She always steps up to the plate for something that will serve patients and the profession of Dentistry.
As part of the MDA Foundation Board, she has been Supply Lead for the Mission of Mercy (MOM) events since 2013. In addition, Lori had been an active participant in the MOM events in Indiana and Iowa. She currently is serving a four-year term on the MI State Board of Dentistry and just completed 2-year term on the MDA Education Committee. Lori has been instrumental in helping to provide dental assistants with meaningful continuing education programs all around the state of Michigan in addition, she takes the opportunity to promote pathways for OJT dental assistants to obtain RDA licensure through these courses and her work on the MDAA/MDA Dental Assisting Task Force. She also serves on
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