ANNAPOLIS, MD — May 1, 2013 — The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is helping to groom future infection control leaders through a pilot program with the University of Louisville School of Dentistry (ULSD). OSAP has awarded scholarships to dental student Tyler Jury and dental hygiene student Hollie Brookman to attend OSAP’s annual conference in San Diego, CA June 13-16.
“Identifying, fostering and building a strong community of infection prevention and safety experts is one of OSAP’s strategic goals,” said OSAP Chairman of the Board, Dr. Leslie Grant. “We were excited when OSAP member, the University of Louisville’s infection control coordinator, Patty Bonasso Byrd RDH MS BS, proposed the idea of piloting student scholarships to OSAP’s annual conference,” said Dr. Grant. Ms. Byrd explained, “My Acting Associate Dean for Clinical Education, Dr. Theresa Mayfield, and Dean John Sauk were 100% supportive of the school working with OSAP to develop a test program. The pilot will evaluate the short- and intermediate-term impact of sending students to OSAP’s annual conference,” said Ms. Byrd.
“The team at ULSD is just one example of how OSAP’s members impact the future of dentistry. One person can take the ‘germ’ of an idea, nurture it and spread it throughout many organizations, ultimately leading to advances in the quality of oral healthcare. OSAP is truly an amazing organization that is so open and encouraging of everyone who values patient safety,” said Dr. Grant.
The annual conference will address key issues that dentistry currently is facing regarding infection control and patient safety. In addition, the program fosters connections among attendees to ensure that learning, communication and innovation continue beyond the end of the conference. “Tyler and Hollie will be welcomed to the OSAP community of experts, equipped with great information including late-breaking programs addressing recent infection control issues that have been covered in the press, and will return to the ULSD with enhanced infection prevention and safety knowledge and leadership skills. We will learn from Tyler and Hollie’s experience and hopefully will be able to expand the program to other schools at our conference next year in Minneapolis,” said Dr. Grant.
About OSAP
The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention is the world’s leading membership association exclusively dedicated to preventing disease transmission and ensuring the safe delivery of oral healthcare for all. As a non-profit organization, OSAP helps dental practitioners close the gap between policy and practice. Its members include dental and other healthcare professionals, consultants, researchers and non-governmental organizations, manufacturing and distribution companies, policy makers and academia. For more information, visit www.OSAP.org.
