Michelle Arnett, MS, RDH, is an Associate Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Michelle Arnett graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry with a certification in Dental Hygiene and a Bachelor of Science. She began working in private clinical practice and had a fulfilling clinical career before pursuing a graduate degree. Michelle Arnett’s interest in education and research led her to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry where she obtained a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene. She joined the University of Michigan faculty and taught in the entry-level and degree-completion dental hygiene programs and was a clinical research coordinator and practicing dental hygienist in the Department of Graduate Periodontics. Michelle Arnett joined the University of Minnesota in 2018 as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Primary Dental Care. She taught Periodontology, Communications, and the Dental Hygiene Care Process: Clinical Application III. She currently teaches the Process of Care in Allied Oral Health: Clinical Application IV in the dental hygiene undergraduate program and Thesis I, Thesis II and the Capstone Track (Capstone I-IV) in the dental hygiene graduate program. Her areas of research focus are motivational interviewing and periodontology. In addition to topics to enhance her teaching, student mentorship, and address dental hygiene educator burnout. Michelle Arnett’s professional memberships include Sigma Phi Alpha-Nu Chapter, American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

Cynthia Stull, DHSc, MDH, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, encompassing three separate programs. Stull received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Dental Hygiene degrees from the University of Minnesota. She received her Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University. Dr. Stull’s research contributions include the integration of dental hygienists on health care teams and the expanded role of dental providers in human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer prevention and screening through motivational interviewing strategies, cutting edge virtual reality and simulation training, and innovative imaging devices.  Dr. Stull is a member of the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Hygiene Association, the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative, and the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, causing 70% of all oropharyngeal cancers (OPC). A safe, effective vaccine against oncogenic HPV types is available; however, uptake of the vaccine in the United States has been slow. Provider communication has been identified as one of the most influential facilitators of vaccine uptake. Reported barriers to discussing HPV with patients is a lack of knowledge and confidence in discussing this sensitive topic. Brief-Motivational Interviewing (brief-MI) is a collaborative patient-centered counseling approach to support a positive behavior change and has been investigated as an effective communication approach for HPV counseling.  This presentation will provide general HPV information, the role of HPV in OPC, HPV vaccination facts and brief-MI training for HPV OPC prevention.

At the conclusion of this course the participants should be able to:

• Discuss the epidemiology of HPV and OPC
• Discuss the role of vaccination in prevention of oropharyngeal cancer
• Define motivational interviewing, the “Spirit of MI”, and brief-MI strategies and rules
• Apply elicit-provide-elicit for HPV and HPV vaccine communication
• Identify ways to apply brief-MI as a communication method for HPV conversations in your practice or teachings

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