Emily Wall

Phillips Herts to Hands Self-Nomination Written Submission for Emily Wall, RDH, AA, AS My path to dental hygiene began with a desire to build a life around meaningful work, human connection, and caring for others. After years in retail management and time devoted to raising my children, I returned to college as an adult student. I discovered how much I loved science and biology, but what ultimately drew me to dental hygiene was the opportunity to turn that knowledge into something personal: helping another person understand and improve their health. Today, as a practicing registered dental hygienist, I strive to make my patients feel heard, respected, and involved in their care. I want them to understand what I am seeing, why it matters, and what we can do together. Patient education is one of my favorite parts of this profession because understanding can help replace uncertainty with confidence. I believe effective education begins with listening. A recommendation has limited value if it does not fit someone’s abilities, circumstances, or daily life. I work to understand what makes home care difficult and help patients identify manageable steps forward. Whether I am using a mirror to explain changes in their gums, demonstrating a home-care technique, or discussing periodontal maintenance, my goal is to make oral health information approachable and useful. I want patients to leave with a clearer understanding of their health and a plan they helped create. That passion for education has also led me beyond my own operatory. As a Waterpik Professional Educator, I have had opportunities to share education with dental teams and dental hygiene students. Preparing for these presentations challenges me to keep learning, communicate clearly, and connect scientific information to everyday patient care. It is rewarding to exchange questions and ideas with professionals who share a commitment to helping their patients. Through my Emily4Smiles blog and social media, I also share oral health education, reflections on clinical practice, and my experiences growing within the profession. I hope to make information more accessible while encouraging conversations among patients, colleagues, and those considering a future in dental hygiene. Increasingly, I have come to understand that being a voice for patients also means participating in conversations about the systems that shape their care. This year, I joined fellow hygienists for the California Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Local Lobby Day, meeting with staff from Senator Niello’s district office. I was nervous, but I brought something valuable: the perspective of a hygienist actively caring for patients. That experience showed me that advocacy begins with a willingness to show up, listen, and explain why our daily clinical experiences matter. I am still early in my dental hygiene career, and I have much more to learn. I am proud of the care and intention I bring to my work, and I want to continue developing the knowledge and confidence to contribute more.

Receiving a Philips Heart to Hands Award would be a meaningful affirmation of that commitment. Attending RDH Under One Roof would allow me to learn from colleagues, explore new ideas, and bring that education back to my patients and professional community. For me, the connection between heart and hands is expressed through everyday choices: taking time to explain, listening without judgment, adapting an approach, and speaking up when something matters. Those are the choices I strive to make as I grow into the hygienist, educator, and advocate I hope to become.