Lynne Tatum Little Appointed as ADHA Commissioner to the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations

Lynne Tatum Little, RDH, of Charlotte, N.C., was recently appointed as the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Commissioner to the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations by the ADHA Board of Trustees. She will replace Evelyn Hobbs, RDH, MS, M.Ed., of Arizona.

"I am very excited and honored to have been given this opportunity to serve my profession," said Tatum Little. "I appreciate being allowed to meet this challenge for the next four years."

Tatum Little's main duties during this four-year term will be to work with the 15-member commission to develop and administer the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The examination assists state boards in determining qualifications for dental hygienists who are seeking licensure to practice dental hygiene and they vary in different states. This exam also tests the ability of prospective hygienists to recall and apply basic information regarding biomedical, dental and dental hygiene sciences in problem-solving contexts.

Tatum Little has been a board member of the North Carolina State Board of Dental examiners (NCSDBE) since 1999 and currently serves as dental hygiene exam chair, examination and continuing education committee member and distance learning committee chair. She first became involved with the organization in 1997, serving as a deputy examiner for one year and has held numerous other positions.

Since 1998, Tatum Little has owned LTL Consulting in Charlotte, where she works with professional speakers and dental corporations to develop, present and teach continuing education courses to health care professionals.

In addition, she finds time to volunteer her dental hygiene services at a local dental clinic that serves the homeless and low-income children. She is also a member of both the North Carolina and the Charlotte's Women's Political Caucus, and has served on ADHA's Council on Annual Session/Association Policy & Bylaws from 1993-1997. Tatum Little also served as the North Carolina Dental Hygienists' Association president from 1991-1993.

Previously, she worked as a professional speaker and consultant, clinical instructor and educator, professional relations manager, and from 1998 until 2000, as a clinical dental hygienist in general dentistry practices.