Sunstar and the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), have celebrated the winners of the 7th annual World Dental Hygienist Awards at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH) in Milan, Italy.
Presented by the Sunstar Foundation and the IFDH and supported by GUM, Sunstar’s global oral health brand, the awards recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions from dental hygienists across the globe.
Mayumi Kaneda, Director of the Sunstar Foundation, and Jill Rethman, President of the IFDH, welcomed the winners to the World Dental Hygienist Awards ceremony.
Each winner received a fully funded trip to ISDH Milan and was presented by Mayumi Kaneda with a trophy designed by the renowned Italian architect Mario Bellini and a cash prize of USD 1,500.
The 2026 Sunstar World Dental Hygienist Awards winners: (to download images of the individual winners, click here)
Pictured left to right: Martijn Verhulst (host and Medical Affairs Lead, Sunstar), Janet Williams Oshun, Whitney Difoggio, Dr Elmer E. González, Jill Rethman (President IFDH), Mayumi Kaneda (Director of the Sunstar Foundation), Shelley Brown, Stefania Morittu, Andrea Buttera
Mayumi Kaneda, Director of the Sunstar Foundation, said: “It was fantastic to meet the winners at the ceremony and celebrate their achievements in person. We are so proud of their impact and important contributions to elevating the oral health profession.”
Jill Rethman, President of the IFDH, added: “The Sunstar World Dental Hygienist Awards are always a special part of the program at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene. It’s wonderful to honor our colleagues who have achieved so much and worked so hard to improve the lives of people everywhere. They inspire us to always do our best, no matter where we practice our profession!”
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.
