Susan Ann Gorman M.Ed., RDH

Dear Members of the Heart to Hands Award Selection Committee:

I am honored to submit my application for the Heart to Hands Award. Throughout my career, I have been committed to improving oral health outcomes for underserved populations, advancing dental hygiene education, and developing sustainable community-based programs that improve access to care for children and families.

I earned my Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from West Liberty State College and my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Over the past forty-three years, I have dedicated my career to clinical dental hygiene, dental hygiene education, public health, and community outreach.

From 2005 to 2013, I served as a Dental Hygiene Program Director and clinical/didactic faculty member at two dental hygiene programs. During that time, I was instrumental in developing and writing the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) documentation required for accreditation and reaccreditation. My work helped ensure that both programs met the highest educational standards and prepared future generations of dental hygienists for successful careers.

Since 2013, I have served as the Clinical Programs Coordinator/RDH for the Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Naples, Florida. In this role, I have directed and expanded community-based outreach initiatives that now provide preventive and restorative dental services to more than 7,000 children annually throughout Collier County and neighboring rural communities.

Since 2013, I have overseen the annual oral health surveillance program for third-grade students throughout Collier County, helping to assess community oral health needs and guide the development of targeted prevention initiatives. Each year, our team screens more than 2,000 children to obtain a snapshot of the county's oral health needs. Historically, these screenings have revealed that approximately 39-41% of children evaluated have untreated dental decay. The data collected through this initiative has not only documented a significant public health concern but has also served as the foundation for developing targeted programs designed to reduce oral health disparities within our community.

In response to the high rates of untreated disease identified through our surveillance efforts, I implemented a school-based dental sealant program in 2014 that now serves first- and second-grade students in nine elementary schools throughout Collier County. This program provides preventive services to children who may not otherwise have access to care and helps protect them from future dental disease.

I have also expanded services to preschool-aged children through partnerships with twenty-two Head Start programs. These programs provide oral health screenings, fluoride varnish applications, dental sealants, and oral health education for children and families during the formative years when prevention is most impactful.

Recognizing the need for earlier intervention, I developed and implemented the Grin Guardian Program in 2023. This initiative provides biannual oral health screenings and fluoride varnish applications to kindergarten and preschool students in fourteen elementary schools throughout the Collier County School District. The program was designed to identify children at risk for dental disease and provide preventive services before problems become more extensive and costly to treat.

Another significant milestone in my career has been the development and expansion of a dental clinic established at the NCF Pediatric Health Center in Immokalee. Through the generous support and vision of the Naples Children Foundation (NCF), a free pediatric dental clinic was established in 2023 to improve access to oral healthcare for children and families who often face financial, transportation, and other barriers to receiving care. The clinic provides comprehensive dental services regardless of a family's ability to pay and serves as an essential resource for one of Southwest Florida's most underserved rural communities.

The 3,600-square-foot pediatric dental facility was created through a collaborative effort involving the Naples Children Foundation, healthcare providers, and community partners. Since opening, the center has provided preventive oral health services through a dental hygiene-based care model. Through ongoing evaluation of patient outcomes, I observed a substantial level of untreated dental disease and unmet restorative treatment needs among our patient population. As a result, I worked to expand the scope of services available at the center, and in 2026 restorative dental services were added. This expansion has allowed children to receive comprehensive care within their community, improving continuity of treatment and reducing barriers to accessing dental services.

The center also operates within an interdisciplinary healthcare model that promotes collaboration among dental providers, medical professionals, social service agencies, and community organizations. This coordinated approach allows us to better address the complex needs of the families we serve and reinforces the connection between oral health and overall health.

Throughout my career, I have remained actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Florida Dental Hygienists’ Association, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, National Network for Oral Health Access, Florida Public Health Association, American Association of Community Dental Programs, and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention.

My passion has always been serving children and families who face barriers to accessing healthcare. Through education, program development, community partnerships, preventive initiatives, and the expansion of restorative services, I have dedicated my career to creating sustainable solutions that improve oral health outcomes and reduce disparities. The greatest reward of my work has been knowing that the programs I have developed and led have positively impacted thousands of children and families who might otherwise have gone without care. I am honored to submit this application and reflect on the opportunities I have had to improve oral health within the communities I serve. The relationships built, lives touched, and lasting impact made through these efforts have been the most meaningful and rewarding aspects of my professional journey. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Gorman M.Ed., RDH Clinical Programs Coordinator III Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences University of Florida College of Dentistry