Think Beyond the Prophy: PerioLinks

For National Dental Hygiene Month the think beyond the prophy feature is Kathyrn Gilliam, RDH, BA, the Founder and CEO of PerioLinks. Kathryn is a self-proclaimed CE junkie, that pursues many advanced courses as she possibly can each year. She is passionate about the early detection of head and neck cancers and caring for patients undergoing cancer treatment. She is a clinically practicing hygienist that also coaches teams and lectures internationally. She is a passionate hygienist that loves to mentor other dental hygienists and help them elevate their identities as health care providers.

She presents CE courses on the oral-systemic link in clinical practice, advancing the science of research, early detection of head and neck cancers, and providing adequate care to patients undergoing chemotherapy. 

What is your educational background and honors?

• An honors graduate of the University of Texas Dental Branch
• Undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska and Louisiana State University
• Earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a focus on writing, and minors in French, Psychology, and Sociology
• A proud graduate of the prestigious Bale Doneen Preceptorship for Healthcare Professionals and the Lioness Learning Advanced Transformation Training and Inspirational Speakers programs

What is a cool fact about yourself?
I grew up an “Air Force Brat” and lived in six states as well as Turkey and England as a child and studied in France one summer during college. I became fluent in French - even dreaming in French, but now, after learning kitchen Spanish in Texas, I mix up both languages in one sentence! :)

What are key highlights or interesting facts about your career?
I’ve been on the forefront of the early detection of oral cancer since I started practicing dental hygiene. We were taught to perform the basic head and neck cancer exam in dental hygiene school, however, it seemed once in practice many hygienists stopped doing it to save time. As most of you know, dental hygienists always seem to be pressed for time. And I know it only takes me three minutes to perform a thorough, spa-like head and neck abnormality screening. A personal experience with a patient who had cancer intensified my passion for early detection and my drive to educate and inspire other dental professionals to look for early signs of oral cancer.  I began writing articles and CE courses titled Three Minutes to Save a Life. I taught my coaching clients to never neglect to do a thorough head and neck abnormality exam. It was a non-negotiable point for me. If the client RDHs wouldn’t commit to doing this exam for every patient at every appointment, I wouldn’t coach the team. There’s no excuse for not performing this potentially life-saving exam.

What are you currently up to?
Currently, while still practicing clinically, I’m enjoying lecturing and training teams on the links between oral health and total body wellness, and oral abnormality screening. I’ve always been interested in the medical side of dentistry, and now that we have a medical model to follow, it’s even more exciting to share with other dentists and hygienists. I also teach teams how to care for patients undergoing treatment for cancer in the general dental office. My goal is to give dental teams more confidence in their ability to treat these patients and deal with their special needs.

Why did you become a dental hygienist?
I became a dental hygienist because I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. He was an amazing dentist, who was well ahead of his time in the treatments he developed for his patients. At the time I went to dental hygiene school, it wasn’t common for women to become dentists, so I followed the traditional path into dental hygiene instead. I love it. I love the extended time we have to develop deep relationship with our patients, so I don’t regret it, however, I would like to own my own practice.

How have you kept your momentum to reach your goals?
I’m a very driven person. I’m an education junkie and I’m motivated to do whatever it takes to reach my goals. I surround myself with like-minded, positive, high achievers who help me stay positive and stay focused on my dreams and goals. I’ve joined professional organizations that encourage continual growth and collaboration. These organizations are an abundant source of inspiration and education.

What mentoring moment help shape you to think beyond the prophy?
The turning point in my career was when Vicki McManus, RDH, CEO of Productive Dentist Academy, was creating a dental hygiene coaching company called Hygiene Mastery in 2000. I was among the eight dental hygienists chosen to train to be the coaches. Vicki gave me confidence and became a powerful mentor in my life. The camaraderie and collaboration with the other coaches was very special and we remain great friends to this day, even though we’ve all gone on to create our own separate businesses. I continue to be inspired by their knowledge, success and spirit of abundance. I cherish the relationships I have with others in this business. I’ve been blessed to meet generous, collaborative, encouraging and really fun and interesting people.

What tips do you have for other dental professionals who want to be entrepreneurs?
I encourage all dental professionals who want to be entrepreneurs to have courage and do it. Join organizations to educate yourself in whichever direction you want to pursue and to network with like-minded people. Get a business coach and clarify your goals. There are so many opportunities available to us as dental hygienists. You only have to chose your path, stay focused, work hard and don’t give up.

How do you maintain the joy in your life?
My life is joyful because I have a wonderful family that I love. I just celebrated 33 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. We have two brilliant sons who are studying at the University of Texas. Our beloved pup, Ginger, keeps our nest from feeling too empty. I am also blessed to be close to my mother and sister, and we enjoy time together. I also have extended family and friends who bring a great deal of joy to my life. Connections with people are very important to me, and no matter how busy I get, I try to stay in touch with those who mean so much to me.

Anything else you would like to add?
I think it’s important to continue to do things besides working, which is challenging for us “Type A’s.” When you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll find yourself working all hours of the day and night to develop and build your business, and I’m absolutely guilty of working too much myself. I make an effort to continue to do the things I love, like  going to movies, treasure hunting in antique shops, taking yoga classes and traveling. My idea of bliss is lying on the beach with a big, thick book and a cold lemonade. When you have your own business, you don’t have as much time to do those things as before, but it’s beneficial to your mental well-being to devote time to hobbies. Relaxation is important to help maintain balance and boost energy and enthusiasm for your work.