Dental Hygienist Who Dedicated 30 Years to Oral Health Service... Professor Kim Ji-young of Gyeongnam Information College Wins Academic Grand Prize

A dental hygienist who has dedicated nearly 30 years to improving the oral health of underserved communities and 23 years to training future professionals has been recognized for her contributions to academic advancement and the development of the association.

Gyeongnam Information College (President Kim Tae-sang) announced on August 11 that Professor Ji-young Kim, Department of Dental Hygiene and Director of the Dental Science Industry Research Center, received the Academic Grand Prize at the 48th Comprehensive Academic Conference commemorating the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association.

The Korean Dental Hygienists Association selects members annually who have contributed to the academic advancement of dental hygienists and the development of the association, awarding them the Academic Grand Prize.

Professor Ji-young Kim, Department of Dental Hygiene, Kyungnam College of Information & Technology.

Professor Kim has been recognized for her efforts to advance the association and promote the rights and interests of dental hygienists, serving in various roles including President of the 16th Busan Metropolitan Branch of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, Public Relations Director of the Korean Dental Hygiene Professors Council, and Chair of the Convergence Dental Hygiene Committee of the Korean Society of Dental Hygiene. Since January of this year, she has also been serving as Chair of the General Assembly of the Busan Metropolitan Branch of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association.

Since joining the Department of Dental Hygiene at Gyeongnam Information College as a professor in 2003, Professor Kim has devoted 23 years to training future dental hygienists. She has published numerous papers in SCI journals and has been actively engaged in research related to dental digital convergence technology and patent applications, continuously contributing to the advancement of dental hygiene studies.

Currently, as Director of the university's Dental Science Industry Research Center (DSIRC), Professor Kim is working to establish a collaborative system among industry, academia, and research sectors, and is leading efforts to build the “Dento-Busan” comprehensive dental industry support platform. She is also involved in programs to train oral health home-care educators and in at-home oral care initiatives, contributing to the local dental industry and improving oral health for citizens in the region.

Her dedication to community volunteer service has continued for over 30 years. Starting in 1996 with providing dental treatment for disabled individuals in Yeonsan-dong, Professor Kim has extended her oral health volunteer services to underserved groups at organizations such as Parangsae Children's Home, Cheonseong Rehabilitation Center, Pentecostal Village of Peace, and Bethesda Center.

She has also operated visiting oral health education programs for seniors and people with disabilities living at home in Sasang-gu and Yeonjae-gu, and has volunteered with professional tooth brushing services at senior welfare centers. In recognition of these efforts, she has received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare and two certificates of merit from the Busan Mayor.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award and would like to express my gratitude to everyone,” Professor Kim said, emphasizing, “I will continue to do my best for the advancement of dental hygiene studies and the growth of the association.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.