FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2017 (ATLANTA) —  The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), a community of clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers, and industry representatives who advocate for the Safest Dental Visit™, has announced Christina Thomas as the new executive director effective July 1, 2017. Therese Long, current executive director, will move into the role of emeritus director.

“Building on the foundation that Therese Long has provided, Christina Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge on association management, membership, strategic alliances, and more to the organization,” said Mike Smurr, OSAP Chairman of the Board. “She has worked closely with Therese this past year to understand the strategic vision and intricacies of the organization while also providing a new perspective on the future of OSAP,” added Kathy Eklund RDH, MHP, OSAP’s Chair-Elect.

Christina Thomas has over 10 years of extensive experience working in the association and membership field, building relationships, securing partnerships, and strategically leading organizations to success. Since joining OSAP in 2016 in a senior management capacity, Thomas has enhanced corporate member partnerships, provided oversight to policy development, introduced new marketing initiatives, and expanded the reach of the association. Her previous experience with health, business, travel, and real estate associations has helped her develop a forward-thinking, flexible and strong foundation in association management and membership. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned a Master of Science in Management and is a Certified Association Executive.

“I am excited to be taking on this new role,” says Thomas. “Over the past year, I’ve gained a great appreciation for the critical role OSAP plays in dental safety. I am eager to work with our members and partners to advance OSAP’s mission as we continue to support the Safest Dental Visit™,” she added.

This is a strategic step in the advancement of OSAP’s mission and vision and represents continued growth in world-class infection control education, membership, and partnerships to optimize compliance and safety. OSAP is also supported by the expertise of Meeting Expectations Inc., including association management, event management, creative services, and marketing.

About OSAP

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is the only dental membership association solely focused on infection prevention and patient safety education. Our members include individual clinicians, group practices, educators, researchers, consultants, trainers, compliance directors, policymakers, and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. OSAP focuses on strategies to improve compliance with safe practices and on building a strong network of recognized infection control experts. OSAP offers an extensive online collection of resources, publications, FAQs, checklists, and toolkits that help dental professionals deliver the Safest Dental Visit for their patients. Plus, online and live courses help advance the level of knowledge and skill for every member of the dental team. For additional information, visit osap.org.

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