色花堂app

It鈥檚 not the cover of the Rolling Stone, but having her picture on the cover of the November issue of Modern Hygienist magazine works just fine for Lisa Higbee, an 色花堂app alumna and dental hygienist for dentist D. Michael Sutton in Pocatello.
Earlier this fall, Higbee was chosen as the 2006 BreathRx庐 Hygienist of the Year by Discus Dental and was awarded a $5,000 prize for that honor.

Winning the award and gracing the cover of one of her favorite professional publications has been, in her words, 鈥渁mazing.鈥� Higbee, who graduated from ISU鈥檚 dental hygiene program in 1986, was one of 500 nominees/entries for the award. Judges whittled that number down to 10 finalists. Those finalists were interviewed over the phone, and Higbee made the cut to the final five and was flown to Beverly Hills to be interviewed.

鈥淚 felt confident about my abilities, but after I met the other finalists I wasn鈥檛 sure I鈥檇 win the award,鈥� Higbee said. 鈥淎fter I had my interviews, though, I felt more confident again. It was just a blast and unbelievable when they chose me.  I was so honored to be chosen as one of the five finalists and was further honored that I won.鈥�

Criteria for the contest included patient and colleague evaluations, care plan case studies, as well as a self-written statement that demonstrated the contestant鈥檚 passion and vision for the dental hygiene profession. The contest, which ran from May鈥揂ugust of this year, was created by Discus Dental to honor hygienists who are at the top of their profession.

鈥淚t was a blast down in Beverly Hills,鈥� Higbee said. 鈥淚t was total pampering for three days. I had a personal assistant, drove around in a limo and stayed in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where 鈥楶retty Woman鈥� was filmed.鈥�

A native of Wisconsin, Higbee moved to Idaho and first attended Boise State University before transferring to ISU to enter its dental hygiene program.

鈥淚SU鈥檚 dental hygiene school is well known nationally and it offers a Bachelor of Science degree, not an associate degree offered at many other schools,鈥� Higbee said. 鈥� ISU is above just being a good dental hygiene school; it is exceptional. It鈥檚 a tough program to be accepted into because of its high standards, but you receive an excellent education.鈥�

She noted that ISU now offers an online dental hygiene master鈥檚 program that offers even more opportunity and training to students, broadening their career paths and educational opportunities.

鈥淒ental hygiene has been a wonderful career choice for me,鈥� said Higbee who has been practicing for 20 years.  鈥淚t has been fulfilling and has allowed me a lot of flexibility with my family.鈥�

鈥淭he dental hygiene faculty members are proud of Lisa鈥檚 career and accomplishments,鈥� said Kathleen Hodges, chair and professor of dental hygiene. 鈥淟isa excelled in school, particularly in the areas of communication and patient rapport. This national award is well deserved.鈥�

The dentist Higbee works for in Pocatello, D. Michael Sutton, is no less impressed with her professionalism.

 鈥淚 always look forward to our work鈥揹ay together, and know that our patients absolutely love their visits to our office because of the superior care she provides,鈥� Sutton said. 鈥淟isa鈥檚 rapport with our patients is unparalleled.  When people come for their visits with her, they know they are in for more than your average 鈥榗leaning.鈥� They know they will be treated by someone who is truly interested in them and their lives 鈥� a real friend.鈥�

Higbee, who met her husband, Chad, while cleaning his teeth, has two children: a daughter Shelby, 14, and son Taylor, 12. Chad, who has worked as a Pocatello police officer for the last 13 years, is now a student at ISU studying political science.