Kathy Karwoski is the owner of Dental Personnel Placement Service in Oak Forest, Illinois. I have talked with her over the phone many times and she agreed to answer questions for this interview.
Why did you start the service?.
I realized the need for a placement service after receiving calls on a daily bases from dental offices I temped at asking if I would work or provide them with numbers of dental professionals that might be able to work. I soon realized I was spending numerous hours on these calls and should consider compensation for providing the names, numbers and availability of other dental professionals. Thus, Dental Personnel Placement Service, Inc. evolved.
In addition to the placement service DPPS began offering seminars to RDH’S. At one time dental seminars for RDH’S cost $20.00 on up, per continuing education unit. Back in the day when continuing education seminars started being offered many RDH’S felt the topics were not conducive or developed with the hygienist in mind. So, DPPS began a nationwide search for companies that would provide speakers with topics associated and directly related to dental hygiene. In 2000 DPPS began offering 6 CEU’S with lunch for $120.00. Today, due to the generous support and sponsorship from companies such as; Philips Oral HealthCare and Crest-Oral B and many other companies that are listed on the website, DPPS has developed into a placement service and provider of continuing education credits licensed by the Department of Professional Education. Since 2000 DPPS has been providing two or three seminars per year worth 6 CEU’s each and lunch to hundreds of RDH’S per year. Due to corporate sponsors, DPPS is able to offer unbelievable prices that are lower than 13 years ago.
Did you like being a dental hygienist?
I don’t like being a Dental Hygienist, I love it! I started as a dental assistant when I was 16 and worked in one office full time and temped other days of the week. This type of exposure allowed me to accelerate in the dental profession by learning different methods and techniques. I entered Prairie State Community College when I was 22 years old and was considered old in relationship to the 18 year old high school graduates that were my classmates. At that time the normal age was 18 or directly out of high school. However, I found that my years of dental assisting paid off and allowed me to excel in many areas of hygiene and dentistry. After 25 years of dental hygiene the passion, compassion, eagerness to learn about new products and techniques and continued relationships with patients is still thriving. I love helping others and the dental field has fulfilled that desire.
Where did you go to dental hygiene school?
I went to dental hygiene school at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL. earned my Associates Degree and also licensure in dental hygiene. When my kids were grown, I returned to school for my Bachelors in Communication with a minor in Psychology and completed my Masters in Communication at Governors State University.
What are your slowest times of the year? January and February are slower than most months. In my opinion it is due to the holidays are over along with holiday trips and people need money to pay off holiday expenses, the kids are back to school and people appear to be waiting for better weather to take off days.
If you would like more information on DPPS please visit their web site at: https://dental-placement.3dcartstores.com/ or call them (708) 535-9545.
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