History
Dental and Dental Hygiene Faculty and Administrators in 1967 in front of the trailer housing the Dental College of Georgia and the Dental Hygiene Program (from left, Drs. Ken Morse and Hugh Averill, Julia Galbaugh, Drs. Tom Zwemer, Judson Hickey, Louis Boucher, and Richard Topazian, Ray Lackman, and Drs. Bill Wege and Tom Dirksen)
1967
The bachelor's program in dental hygiene was initiated at Augusta University (then Medical College of Georgia) in conjunction with the establishment of the Dental College of Georgia with Julia J. Galbaugh as Program Director, Development of this program stimulated the plan to establish an allied health sciences school on the campus. It also led to the establishment of six associate degree dental hygiene programs within the university system and the abolition of dental hygiene preceptor training in Georgia.
1972
Dr. Billy Pollard was appointed Chair.
1975
The unit's name changed to the Department of Associated Dental Sciences to reflect the addition of three new programs: associate degrees in dental hygiene and dental laboratory technology, and a master of health education.
1988
Dr. Pollard retired after serving as Department Chair for 16 years. Gail Winkley was appointed Acting Chair.
1990
The Department of Associated Dental Sciences established an external degree program in dental hygiene in Rome, Ga., to help address the statewide shortage of dental hygienists.
The dental laboratory technology program relocated to a new facility at Augusta Technical Institute.
1991
Gail Winkley was named permanent Department Chair.
1997
Jessie O. Brown, the first full-time faculty hired in the Department of Associated Dental Sciences, retired after 30 years of service. The Jessie O. Brown Scholarship Award was later established in her honor.
1998
The program converted to a baccalaureate degree and the associate degree program was discontinued.
2000
Dr. Marie Collins was appointed Department Chair in September following the retirement of Gail Winkley.
2002
The department was renamed the Department of Dental Hygiene.
2004
Dental Hygiene faculty began clinical practice in the Dental Practice Group through a clinical services affiliation agreement with the Dental Foundation, Inc.
2006
Dental Hygiene faculty became the first members of the newly formed Allied Health Sciences Practice Group, Inc.
The department hosted its 10th Annual Dental Hygiene Alumni Day program, a four-hour continuing education program with 83 participants.
2007
The department hosted its 25th Annual Dental Hygiene Symposium in Savannah, Ga., a 13-hour continuing education program that attracted 405 participants.
2012
Dr. Marie Collins left to become Dean of Health Sciences in Florida South Western State College. Ana Thompson became interim Chair.
2014
Ana Thompson is appointed Department Chair.
2017
The Department of Dental Hygiene celebrated its 50th anniversary. In addition, the department hosted its 35th Annual Dental Hygiene Symposium in Savannah, Ga.
2018
In August, several departments within the College of Allied Health Sciences were consolidated in order to create two new departments. The Dental Hygiene Department was disbanded and the Dental Hygiene Program was consolidated under the new Department of Undergraduate Health Professions. Ms. Ana Thompson was subsequently named Chair of the Department of Undergraduate Health Professions. Ms. Erin Boyleston was named Program Director for the Dental Hygiene Program.
2020
The program received Augusta University's Program Teaching Excellence Award for collective faculty efforts to improve teaching and student learning.
2024
The program hosted its 40th Annual Dental Hygiene Symposium in Augusta, GA.
2025
The program transitioned to the Dental College of Georgia (DCG), the state’s only dental school. This strategic realignment brought the department’s faculty, staff and undergraduate students under the umbrella of DCG, where their clinical training already took place.