Ferris State University alumna and professor emeritus Linda Meeuwenberg has received
the 2012 Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction for her efforts in Michigan and Florida
to improve the oral health of uninsured people.
Meeuwenberg, who earned an associate degree in Dental Hygiene in 1968 and a bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Teacher Education in 1978, will be honored during the RDH Under One Roof event Thursday, Aug. 2 in Las Vegas. As one of eight recipients, Meeuwenberg will appear on the September cover of RDH, the national magazine for dental hygiene professionals.
Meeuwenberg, who grew up in Fruitport, Mich., also earned a master’s in Guidance and Counseling from Central Michigan University in 1982 and a master’s in Communication from Michigan State University in 1990. She began teaching at Ferris in 1997 and retired as professor emeritus in 2006.
“My greatest passion is my volunteer work in both Florida and Michigan providing oral health programs for seniors, under-privileged children, children of incarcerated parents, and serving with the Hispanic Health Initiative in Central Florida to bring oral health screening and education to the uninsured in three counties of Central Florida,” said Meeuwenberg, who also served 25 years with West Michigan Migrant Health Services.
Meeuwenberg, who now lives in Cape Canaveral, Fla., is founder of Professional Development Association, Inc. (www.lindapda.com), which provides seminars for the dental industry, and also serves as a coach for Balancing Life’s Issues, a New York-based organization that provides training for employee assistance programs.
She also is an author of professional articles and children’s books, and is featured in “Stepping Stones to Success” with Deepak Chopra and Jack Canfield. She is working on “3D Dentists – The Future of Dentistry is Now,” an interactive iPad book.
She also serves in an advisory capacity to several companies in the dental industry, including OralB/Crest, Crown Seating, Surgitel, Young Dental and Hu-Friedy.