Sunstar in partnership with the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), has announced the 2026 winners of the 7th World Dental Hygienist Awards.
Presented by the Sunstar Foundation and supported by GUM, Sunstar’s global oral health brand, the awards recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements by dental hygienists worldwide.
The winners of the 7th World Dental Hygienist Awards winners are:
Public Health: Shelley Brown, MEd, BSDH, RDH, FADHA, United States, dental educator and co-owner of Hygiene EdgeUCATORS and adjunct faculty at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene
Full Time Clinician: Stefania Morittu, Italy, Studio Dentistico Morritu
New RDH: Janet Williams Oshun, Ireland, RDH and graduate of Trinity College Dublin, works across private practice, specialist orthodontics, implant-focused care and hospital settings
Research: Andrea Butera, Italy, Unit of Dental Hygiene, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
Academia: Dr. Elmer E. González, MBA, PhD, RDH, CDA, United States, New Mexico State University/Doña Ana Community College
Entrepreneur: Whitney DiFoggio, MA, RDH, United States, founder of TeethTalk.com and the creator of ‘Teeth Talk Girl’
Mayumi Kaneda, Director of the Sunstar Foundation, commented: “The World Dental Hygienist Awards showcase the vital role dental hygienists play in advancing preventive care, research and patient education worldwide. This year’s winners reflect the diversity, innovation and clinical excellence that are shaping the future of oral health. We’re proud to recognize their impact on the profession and the public. Congratulations to all the winners and I look forward to meeting them at the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene in Milan.”
Jill Rethman, President of IFDH Awards Committee, added: “The World Dental Hygienist Awards are a prestigious and meaningful recognition of our colleagues who have achieved professional distinction. The IFDH is honored to be part of this award and event since its inception.
“Each recipient inspires, motivates, and encourages us to achieve excellence in our chosen area of dental hygiene, including academia, being an entrepreneur or clinician, working in public health or research, or just starting out as a new RDH. These outstanding individuals represent the very best of us in spirit and dedication and we salute them. As Margaret Mead once said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ Congratulations to all the winners!”
Winner selection comprised two equally weighted components. Fifty percent was based on an evaluation by an international panel of independent dental hygienists — Tayyaba Fiaz (Panel Chair, and Director, Quebec CDHA), Wanda Fedora (Immediate Past President, IFDH), Ellen Bol (President, European Dental Hygienist Federation (EDHF), Fouzieh Eliassy (President Elect, IFDH; President Elect, Swedish Dental Hygienist Association), Enrica Scagnetto (Sapienza University of Rome) and Wendy Stewart (Former President, Canadian Dental Hygienists Association) – with the remaining 50% determined by the number of ‘likes’ received by the winners’ one-minute videos published on the GUM Pro Hub YouTube channel.
The winners will receive their awards at the World Dental Hygienist Award Ceremony on 10 July 2026, at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Milan. Each winner will be presented with a trophy originally designed by the renowned Italian architect Mario Bellini, a cash prize of USD 1,500, and a fully funded trip and registration to the symposium.
In addition to the World Dental Hygienists Awards, the Sunstar Foundation supports the World Perio Research Awards and the Perio Link Award, as well as research and innovation grants that raise awareness of the importance of oral care and champion the work of oral care professionals.
Dental hygienists can find more information about the World Dental Hygienist awards here.
