We are women change agents with a common vision - to nurture and inspire women and women healthcare providers to achieve oral health for all.
About Ida G.
Ida Gray was the first African-American woman to become a dentist in the United States. She became an orphan when her teenage mother died. She worked from an early age as a seamstress then worked in the offices of Jonathan Taft, an early advocate of women being trained as dentists. His mentorship of Ida helped her to become the first African-American woman to ever have earned a Doctorate of Dental Surgery in the United States. Ida served both black and white patients, as well as both adults and children, though her reputation was for her gentleness with children. She inspired one of her patients, Olive Henderson, to become the second black woman dentist in Chicago. (Excerpts from Ohio State University and Wikipedia)
About Hyewon L.
As I take a trip down memory lane, I am intrigued by how public health became my professional choice. I grew up as the only English-speaking child of a low-income immigrant family who had various chronic illnesses. From early childhood, I learned how simple happiness, such as family gatherings over birthday parties and picnics, could be eliminated due to sickness. It was natural for me to be drawn to the concept – protection, and restoration of health and happiness. Having illnesses while being poor and the minority was the worst combination I could experience. This was the time when my interest in health equity started to emerge as the first member of my family who attended and completed a college. As a mother myself, my passion is on empowering mothers, women, and women healthcare providers to achieve oral health for all. When Desmond Tutu returns to his eternal home on Dec 26, 2021, it was also the day when my mom passed away 6 years ago. Pondering upon what I can do with what I already have, I started Ida Society to create a momentum of change among women healthcare providers to achieve oral health for all.
Contact: ida@idasociety.org