05/31/2026
Dear MDHA Members,
I am writing to share that, effective June 1, I will be stepping down from my position as President of the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association. At that time, Tanushka Muscato will transition from President-Elect to President and assume leadership of the Association. Heather Kohlhepp, our current Vice President, will move into the President-Elect position and begin her training and preparation to serve as a future President of MDHA.
Serving as your President for the past year and a half has been both an honor and a privilege. What began as a leadership role quickly became so much more. I have had the opportunity to connect with incredible colleagues, advocate for our profession, and witness firsthand the passion, resilience, and dedication that make our dental hygiene community so special.
This decision was not an easy one, and I had hoped to complete my full term. However, due to personal reasons, I have made the difficult choice to step down before completing my second year as President. While I am saddened to leave the role earlier than planned, I know this is the right decision for me at this time.
I want to sincerely thank each of you for your trust, support, and encouragement throughout my time in this role. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated accomplishments, and continued to strengthen our organization. Whether you volunteered, attended events, served on committees, or supported MDHA in any way, your dedication has helped move our profession forward.
I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and I have full confidence in both Tanushka's and Heather's leadership. I have no doubt that Tanushka will be a fantastic President. She has been an outstanding President-Elect, consistently stepping up whenever asked and successfully completing every task and responsibility entrusted to her. Her dedication to MDHA, professionalism, and commitment to our members have been evident throughout her time in leadership, and I know the Association will be in excellent hands under her guidance. Likewise, I am excited to see Heather begin her journey as President-Elect and prepare for her future leadership role within MDHA.
Despite the many challenges and legislative attacks our profession continues to face, I firmly believe that Maryland dental hygienists will prevail. We are a resilient, passionate, and dedicated group of professionals, and I have no doubt that our collective voice will continue to make a difference. While I may be stepping away from this leadership role, I will continue to support our profession and this association in any way I can.
As we move forward, I encourage each of you to have conversations with your colleagues about the importance of professional involvement and to actively encourage membership in MDHA. A strong association is fundamental to protecting our profession and effectively responding to legislation that impacts the practice of dental hygiene. Every member strengthens our voice, our advocacy efforts, and our ability to shape the future of our profession.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve this organization and our profession. It has truly been a pleasure, and I will always be grateful for the relationships, experiences, and memories I have gained along the way.
If you have any questions regarding this transition, please feel free to reach out to the MDHA Executive Board at [email protected].
With heartfelt gratitude,
Luana Figueiredo
President, Maryland Dental Hygienists' Association
