Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Lieberknecht | 180504-N-AO823-130 PENSACOLA, Fla. (May 4, 2018) – Students from the 2018...... read more read more
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) – Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) recently graduated the newest class of Navy registered dental hygienists May 4.
The group of six Hospital Corpsman were officially pinned as dental hygienists, culminating their two-year term in the Naval Dental Hygienist Program (NDHP), a specialized course which coordinates with local colleges to qualify Navy Corpsman in both the Navy and civilian sector.
“This is the only enlisted NEC program for corpsman that sends them to an institution of higher learning,” said Hospital Corpsman Chief Renee Byam, NDHP Manager. “This group faced a lot of obstacles, and I am proud of them for their effort to adapt and overcome.”
Some obstacles during the course turned out to be opportunities in disguise.
“Patients we worked on during the course would come in varying levels of difficulty,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Toshi Rozzell. “Working on a dental issue that was more challenging provided a wider opportunity to learn.”
The recently graduated students are the first group to both start and finish the program under NMOTC. Previously, NDHP was facilitated by Naval Hospital Pensacola and is now assumed by NMOTC in order to foster a closer relationship to the command overall responsible for the program, Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command (NMETLC).
“I think bringing NDHP under the NMOTC and NMETLC family has made it easier for each command to be advocates for Sailors going through the program,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Samuel Guill, NDHP Leading Petty Officer.
Sailors in the NDHP participate in courses alongside civilians during their time in the program. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Rodd Monzon earned the highest grade and was named valedictorian of the 2018 graduating class comprised of 28 students.
“It was certainly a big surprise and a pretty awesome feeling,” said Monzon. “I was just doing my everyday thing and was not expecting to receive the highest grades.”
As these Sailors move on to their next commands, they will be bring their newly earned skill set with them.
“It feels amazing,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jessica Wendlandt. “I’m going to a ship for my next duty station, and it will be exciting to put the last two years into practice.”
For those eligible and interested in applying for NDHP, submissions are due no later than Sept. 30 to Hospital Corpsman Chief Renee Byam at renee.l.byam.mil@mail.mil
NMOTC is part of a health care network of Navy medical professionals around the world who provide high-quality health care to more than 1 million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ships, in the air, under the sea, and on the battlefield.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2018 07:45 |
| Story ID: | 277028 |
| Location: | PENSACOLA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 2,119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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