American Dental Hygienists’ Association Mourns the Loss of CEO Ann Battrell

Ann Battrell, MSDH, and CEO of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has passed away. Battrell served the ADHA for many years, acting as president from 1996 through 1997 before becoming manager of education in 2000. Later, she would fill the role of CEO in 2016, where she focused on education and access to care until her passing on June 7, 2023.

The current ADHA President Dawn Ann Dean, RDH, MSDH, has remarked on Battrell’s profound impact in a press release from the group.

“Ann was a champion for the association and dental hygiene, always pushing to raise the important issues, promoting our accomplishments and bringing our profession’s voice to the table,” Dean says in the press release. “Our lives and the dental hygiene community are better thanks to Ann–an extraordinary leader, inspiring mentor, and friend. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her passion and dedication to public service.”

Being recognized by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research/NIH for her contributions to the 2021 publication “Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges,” Battrell was dedicated to expanding education and access to oral health care for diverse patient populations, according to Dean. This was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ann and the entire ADHA staff worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, to ensure that the dental hygiene community had the relevant information, accessible resources, and practical guidance to find ways to deliver essential care across the country,” Dean says. “Ann appeared wherever she could, on webcasts, podcasts, interviews, and social media to ensure the research and the guidance specific to dental hygiene could reach as many as possible.”

Battrell will be honored at the Opening General Sesssion of the ADHA 2023 Annual Conference on July 7, 2023. This conference will take place at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.