Kathleen Held First Dental Assistant Appointed to Mass Dental Licensing Board
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick appointed Kathleen Held to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) January 21, 2014. The assignment marks the first time a dental assistant has been made a voting member of the Board.
Dental assistants could previously serve as non-voting members, or advisors to BORID. As the push continues to have dental assistants in Massachusetts register with BORID, the Board chose to add a voting position for a dental assistant.
Held is Director, Global Initiatives, Global & Population Health, and Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM).
In a letter to Held, Governor Patrick wrote, “I appreciate your willingness to serve the Commonwealth in this capacity. Your experience and sound judgment will contribute substantially to the Board.”
According to the organization’s website, “BORID is responsible for licensing dentists and dental hygienists for practice in the Commonwealth, establishing rules, regulations, and policies governing the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and dental assisting, and investigating complaints against licensed dental professionals. Board members are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth for up to two 5-year terms, and serve without compensation. They monitor licensees’ practice of dentistry to ensure the public that services are provided in accordance with state statutes, Board regulations and policies, including ethical standards.”
“Congratulations to Ms. Held on not only being appointed to this prestigious Board, but also on being the first dental assistant to serve in this capacity,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “We at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine could not be more proud of her and know her experience will help her make valuable contributions to the Board and organized dentistry in the state of Massachusetts.”
Held is active in the community of international dental volunteers. She joins and helps organize annual missions to Nicaragua and Mexico. She is a former member of LIGA, the Flying Doctors of Mercy and Project Stretch. She served as a board member and Vice President for Project Stretch from 2003–2008. She continues to mentor students going on international elective externships as part of her role at GSDM.
Held earned a bachelor of science from Boston State College and a master of education from the University of Massachusetts.
Held will attend a BORID orientation March 26 and her first meeting April 2.
She joins Associate Professor Dr. Stephen Dulong, who was appointed to BORID in 2012.