Fernando Medina

Heart to Hands Award – Nomination Statement

Nominee: Fernando Medina, RDH

For me, dental hygiene has always been about more than clinical care. It is about people, compassion, education, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

As a registered dental hygienist with over three years of experience, I have developed a deep appreciation for the impact we can have beyond the dental chair. Every patient has a different story, different circumstances, and different barriers to accessing care. I believe it is our responsibility as dental professionals to meet patients where they are, treat them with dignity, and empower them with the knowledge and resources they need to improve their oral health.

My passion for community outreach has inspired me to become more involved in providing education and care to underserved populations. I have a special interest in reaching rural and low-income communities throughout New Mexico, where access to preventive dental services can be limited. I want to be part of changing that reality.

My long-term vision is to create opportunities to bring preventive dental hygiene services directly to communities that need them most, whether through community-based clinics, outreach programs, or mobile dental services. I want to help make oral healthcare more accessible while building trust and relationships with the people we serve.

I believe being a dental hygienist is not simply about the procedures we perform. It is about the encouragement we give a nervous patient, the education we provide to a family, the confidence we help restore, and the compassion we show to someone who may have felt overlooked by the healthcare system.

The Heart to Hands Award represents what I believe dental hygiene should stand for: using our knowledge, skills, and hearts to serve others. I am grateful to be part of a profession that allows me to combine healthcare with service, education, and community involvement.