Mt. Hood Community College Adjunct Instructor Virginia Mattfeld Receives Dental Hygiene Award

Mt. Hood Community College proudly recognizes one of its esteemed adjunct instructors, Virginia Mattfeld, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), for being honored with the 2023 “Today’s RDH” Honor Award. Mattfeld's dedication to oral health and community outreach has made a profound impact in the Portland metropolitan area.

As a team member of the nonprofit All Smiles Community Oral Health (ASCOH), Mattfeld has worked to enhance the dental well-being of countless students. She conducted 842 dental screenings during the 2022-2023 school year alone. Even amidst the challenges of the pandemic, Mattfeld showcased her commitment by using teledentistry to continue providing needed oral health education to children and their caregivers.

“Virginia's dedication to her profession and her innovative approach in adapting to changing circumstances have always been commendable. She leads by example for our dental hygiene students and we are proud to have her on our team," Mt. Hood Community College President Dr. Lisa Skari said.

Beyond her contributions at ASCOH and MHCC, Mattfeld's independent practice, Healthy Smiles NW, underscores her commitment to expanding access to preventive oral health care. Her outreach extends to collaborating with Moda Health and the Portland Trail Blazers organization, emphasizing the importance of oral health education in fun and engaging ways.

"Virginia's compassionate approach, shaped by her background and personal experiences, has been instrumental in her dedication to community service,” ASCOH Executive Director Robin Moody said in an article for Today’s RDH.

Mattfeld continues to advocate for dental care opportunities for children with autism spectrum disorder as well as volunteer to bring awareness to the high number of missing and murdered Native American women. She has also participated in several international dental mission trips as a volunteer.