Meet the Grad: Leigh Ann Bennett

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I am anxious to continue providing care and education to many familiar faces!<span> </span></p>\r\n<p><span><img style=\"width: 386.3636363636364px; height:500px;\" src=\"/media/2291/dental-hygiene-2024-grad-leigh-bennett-1.jpg?width=386.3636363636364&height=500\" alt=\"Leigh Ann Bennett\" data-udi=\"umb://media/5d48b80d12904a728f60aeaa6e9948da\" /></span></p>\r\n<h2><span>What made you want to earn your dental hygiene degree?</span></h2>\r\n<p><span> I chose dental hygiene because I love being able to help bring others to a healthier disease-free state as well as helping boost their confidence! </span></p>\r\n<h2><span>What will you miss most about WVU?<br /></span><span></span></h2>\r\n<p><span>What I will miss most about WVU are the friendships I have made during my 4 years as a student. 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Extensive hands-on curriculum ensures our students are confident and prepared to meet the public's oral healthcare needs.","tuitionLink":[],"widgets":"{\"fieldsets\":[]}","programSummary":"Our four-year curriculum leads to a B.S. in dental hygiene. The program is based in the liberal arts, but it is also a thoroughly professional program. Hygiene is a program of excellence at WVU.","applyNowButton":"[{\"name\":\"Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene\",\"udi\":\"umb://document/9192403f0a5a426b95e1a1192ca6a8df\"}]","mainContent":"<h2>Our Philosophy</h2>\r\n<p>Continual change in the social, economic, and educational structure of our society has led to an acute awareness of personal health needs. Foremost among these changes are a better informed and educated public, improved technology, and increased life expectancy. While the health professions acknowledge these general social changes, they must also be cognizant of the increased challenges of an increased scientific knowledge base and the issues related to managed care. The dental hygiene profession must continue to recognize its obligation to meet the dental health needs of a global society, and specifically those of West Virginians. The dental hygiene baccalaureate degree programs provide students with the conceptual framework and learning environment for intellectual growth and professional practice. In order to insure the continuation of this philosophy, the dental hygiene curriculum must be systematically reviewed and enhanced.</p>\r\n<h2>Why choose WVU Dental Hygiene?</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>First and only four-year integrated Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene.</li>\r\n<li>Team-oriented programming within the dental school</li>\r\n<li>Emphasis on working interprofessionally with other health care providers</li>\r\n<li>Small classes</li>\r\n<li>Low faculty-to-student ratio in classes, labs and clinic</li>\r\n<li>Students spend six semesters providing direct patient care</li>\r\n<li>Patient care performed in on-campus student clinic</li>\r\n<li>Eight weeks of patient care performed off campus (externship) in rural care area.</li>\r\n<li>Every student completes a two-year undergraduate research project.</li>\r\n<li>Graduates are immediately employable. 74% of students were employed prior to graduation and 87% of graduates for the last decade found employment within two months after graduation</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>As a licensed health professional and oral health educator, the dental hygienist has an important role in the overall health and welfare of the public. 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I chose dental hygiene because I love being able to help bring others to a healthier disease-free state as well as helping boost their confidence!

Hometown

Buckhannon, WV

Next move

After graduation, I will be returning home to work as a clinician at a private practice office. I am anxious to continue providing care and education to many familiar faces!

What made you want to earn your dental hygiene degree?

I chose dental hygiene because I love being able to help bring others to a healthier disease-free state as well as helping boost their confidence!

What will you miss most about WVU?

What I will miss most about WVU are the friendships I have made during my 4 years as a student. Although I know they are always just a call or text away, I will no longer be seeing their faces everyday.