Interview with Donna Aker Dehn

Abstract

Mrs. Donna Aker Dehn begins her interview by briefly describing where she was born and raised and her early education. She then describes her move to the University of Minnesota, teaching in the Dental Hygiene program, and what the Dental School was like in the 1950s and 1960s. Mrs. Dehn continues her interview with a discussion of the following topics: manpower shortages in dentistry and dental hygiene; continuing education programs; changes in professional skills and responsibilities among dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists; gender issues in dentistry; curriculum changes and the class tracking system; and the creation of a bachelor’s degree program in dental hygiene. She then reflects on larger topics related to dental hygiene and the University’s program, including: changes in the state law regarding dental hygiene; her time in private practice; grants she pursued for the program; relations between Dental Hygiene and the Chemistry Department; retrenchment; her work with the legislature; Helen Tuckner’s leadership style; fears that arose with water fluoridation; the emergence of team dentistry; work with the School of Public Health; Dr. Oliver’s tenure as dean; her work in initiating the Minnesota Dental Hygiene Educators Association; human relations programs in dentistry; and student behavior in the dental school. She concludes by discussing relations within the Academic Health Center and with the basic sciences.