NEW ULM — Mary J. Kissner, CDA, LDA, FADAA, of New Ulm, is the recipient of an American Dental Assistants Association Fellows Award.

Kissner has been involved in dentistry for 34 years and has been employed for over 30 years by New Ulm Dental Clinic.

A member of ADAA since 1984, Kissner has also been involved with her community and church. She was educated at Canby Area Vocational Technical Institute, formerly known as Minnesota West Technical College.

Long a standard of professional achievement, fellowship and mastership in one of America’s healthcare organizations have been levels of professional recognition and accepted accomplishments among peers.

The benefits of obtaining these credentials include advanced knowledge leading to increased value to patients and practice, enhanced confidence in dental assisting capabilities, public recognition of professional achievement; and increased self-esteem.

There are two paths to these goals: clinical and business. Fellowship is available only to ADAA members and only to those who have documented the prescribed educational achievements.

To obtain fellowship status, a person must complete a minimum of 300 hours of continuing education in specific dental topics through a combination of lecture, participation, and home study courses.

To obtain mastership status, a person must first become an ADAA fellow. Candidates will then complete 400 hours of additional continuing education in a variety of advanced subject categories through a combination of lecture, participation, and home study courses. Mastership candidates must also document hours in volunteer community dental service.

Candidates have 10 years to complete each of the fellowship and mastership requirements.