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Tara Johnson, RDH, MEd

Associate Professor

Tara Johnson   johntara@isu.edu
Phone: (208) 282-2792
Address: Campus Box 8048
Pocatello, ID 83209-8048
Office: Dental Arts 120
PhD, 2007 Idaho State University
MEd., 1992 Idaho State University
B.S., 1981 Idaho State University

Tara Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene.  Professor Johnson's research interests are oral cancer, pharmaacology, and dental hygiene care for special needs. She has given presentations on these topics at professional meetings and has related publications in progress. Her was appointed by Idaho's Governor Kempthorne to the State Board of Dentistry. She also is a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, Idaho Dental Hygienists' Association, Portneuf Valley Dental Hygiene Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, American Association of Dental Examiners, and Western Society of Periodontology. She has served as President of the Portneuf Valley Dental Hygiene Society and an Executive Board Member of the Idaho Dental Hygienists' Association. A listing of selected research projects and presentations follows.

Selected Presentations and Publications
2002 OSHA training for the dental hygiene students and faculty
2000 "Pilot Study of Dental Hygienists' Comfort and Confidence Levels and Care Planning for Patients with Disabilities," Journal of Dental Education, 64(12) December 2000.
1998 "Assessment of Comfort Level and Treatment Planning Skills of Dental Hygienists in Treating Patients With Special Needs," 14th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, Florence, Italy.
1996 "Assessment of Client Satisfaction With Services Provided by the Idaho State University Dental Hygiene Clinic," Abstract, Journal of Dental Hygiene, 70 (5), September-October 1996.
1996 "Assessment of Client Satisfaction With Services Provided by the Idaho State University Dental Hygiene Clinic," Idaho State University Poster Session, Pocatello, Idaho.
1996 "Assessing Client Satisfaction With Dental Hygiene Services," ADHA Annual Session Poster Presentation, Phoenix, Arizona.
1996 "A Patient Survey of Satisfaction With Dental Hygiene Services," ADHA Annual Session Poster Presentation.
1996 "Medical Emergencies/Health History Faculty Inservice," Idaho State University, Department of Dental Hygiene, Pocatello, Idaho.
1995 Clinical Instructor, "Administration of Local Anesthesia for Dental Hygiene Practitioners," Idaho State University Continuing Education, Pocatello, Idaho.
1992 "Survey of United States Dental Hygiene Programs for Curricular Content and Teaching Methods of Infectious Diseases," Partial fulfillment of Master's Thesis, Idaho State University.
Professional Activity
1999-Present Member, American Association of Dental Examiners
1999-Present Committee Member, Western Regional Examining Board Exam Review Committee
1998-Present Committee Member, Homeless Veterans Standown
1998-Present Committee Member, Idaho Oral Health Alliance
1997-2000 Idaho Dental Hygienists' Association Executive Board Member
1997 President, Portneuf Valley Dental Hygiene Society
1994 Chairperson, Idaho Dental Hygienists' Association Annual Session, Pocatello, Idaho
1992-Present Member, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
1983-1989 Member, Western Society of Periodontology
1981- Present Member, American Dental Hygienists' Association and Idaho State Dental Hygienists' Association
Other Creative Activities
Updating the Health History Syllabus to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Working with the director of Head Start to develop a slide/lecture outline on medical emergencies
Service
Member, Idaho State Board of Dentistry
Member, WREB Dental Hygiene Examining Committee
Member, Idaho Oral Health Alliance
Co-Coordinator, Children's Dental Health Fair
Volunteer, Teddy Bear Clinic
Co-Coordinator, Head Start Program for Oral Health Prevention
Volunteer, Home oral health care for two homebound individuals
Co-chair of the Kasiska College of Health Professions Research Day