Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc, a passionate dental hygienist and educator, and member of Oral Hygiene’s Advisory Committee. She is the founder and president of rdhu, a dental hygiene education centre that provides inspiring, hands-on learning experiences for hygienists across Canada.
Why did you decide to pursue dental hygiene as a career?
Dental hygiene felt like a natural fit from the beginning. I always loved going to the dentist and dental hygienist as a child and was drawn to the health field. In my younger years, I considered studying piano at university, but something didn’t feel quite right. I also explored nursing, but again, it wasn’t the right path.
During my Grade 13 March Break, I stayed with my favourite aunt—who is no longer with us—and that visit changed everything. She had a dental hygiene appointment scheduled while I was with her, and when she came home, she said, “Kath, you should be a dental hygienist.” In that moment, I just knew. It clicked. That was exactly what I was meant to do. I’ve never looked back, and I’m so grateful for choosing this career—it’s been deeply rewarding and fulfilling.
You are the founder and president of rdhu. Can you tell us more about why you started this dental hygiene education centre?
I started rdhu because I saw a gap in how continuing education was being delivered to dental hygienists. I was tired of sitting in large lecture halls, surrounded by colleagues, yet feeling disengaged and uninspired. The experience didn’t motivate change, nor did it support my Quality Assurance journey in a meaningful way.
I envisioned a space that felt inspiring, welcoming, and hands-on—where learning would be a transformational experience, not just a checkbox for compliance. Sixteen years later, rdhu offers more than just hands-on courses and boutique-style events. We’ve expanded to include engaging live streaming, on-demand learning, and personalized support.
A few years ago, we were able to take things to the next level by purchasing our own space in Burlington, Ontario. We designed it to reflect the educational environment I had always envisioned: spa-like, beautiful, and calming—an ideal atmosphere for learning. Today, we welcome dental hygienists and dentists from across the country who travel to attend our hands-on programs. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the community gather in a space that was created with them in mind.
At the heart of it all, my goal has always been to support dental hygienists on their QA and professional growth journey—as a coach, a mentor, and a fellow RDH—so they can learn in their own style and at their own pace, feel connected, be inspired to create real change, and truly love what they do. Today, rdhu has grown into a thriving community of approximately 20,000 like-minded professionals across Canada and around the globe, all committed to lifelong learning, clinical excellence, and growth—all for elevating oral health globally.
As a dental hygiene educator, what are some of the most important topics hygienists should be ensuring they stay educated on right now?
There are so many important topics dental hygienists need to stay educated on! In fact, this is exactly what inspired us to create our All-Access Virtual Pass—a way for dental hygienists to attend any live streaming course we offer without paying separate registration fees each time. After every course, my team and I would think, “Wow! That was amazing, relevant, and such important information—everyone needs to see this!” So, we created a pass to make that access easier and more inclusive.
I truly believe that sometimes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” I’m incredibly passionate about sharing as much as we can to bring awareness to key topics such as inflammation and systemic health, neurodiversity, oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening, instrumentation and functional safety, peri-implant care, oral probiotics, myofunctional therapy, airway health, and emerging technologies like intraoral scanning, air polishing, lasers, and advancements in orthodontics. I could go on!
There’s also a vital shift happening in our profession around communication strategies and health behavior change—skills that can truly transform patient care. My hope is that a dental hygienist might take a course or stumble upon a topic that sparks their curiosity, inspires them to dive deeper, and leads them to implement what they’ve learned into practice—ultimately, elevating client care and their entire practice.
Were there any challenges you faced early in your career? How did you overcome them?
Absolutely. In fact, my entire entrepreneurial journey was sparked by the challenges I faced early in my career—starting with the quality of instruments I was expected to use after graduation. I moved frequently due to my husband’s work, which exposed me to many different dental practices across the country. A common issue I encountered was the sub-standard quality of instruments available to dental hygienists. I saw everything from “sickelized” curettes to stubby ends and poor selection—and I knew we could do better.
These experiences led me to create my own dental instrument company, offering high-quality instruments and maintenance services. I developed a proprietary line of dental hygiene instruments, which were adopted by 10 dental hygiene schools across Canada, and we later expanded into restorative, orthodontic, and surgical lines. I also began teaching hands-on instrumentation and sharpening workshops in practices and at conferences.
It was through these workshops that the next chapter began—dental hygienists loved the hands-on experience and often asked, “Can you do more?” That question led me to seek out other outstanding educators, and eventually, rdhu was born. I’ve since sold that dental instrument company, but the lessons and relationships from that chapter continue to shape my work today. What began as a challenge turned into an opportunity to transform how we learn, teach, and elevate the profession.
Advice for other dental hygienists who would like to become business owners?
Start with a clear vision and stay aligned with your “why.” Surround yourself with a strong support network—mentors, coaches, and colleagues who understand the unique path of entrepreneurship. Be willing to evolve, take risks, and never stop learning. And above all, remember that your clinical skills are just one part of the puzzle—marketing, leadership, systems, and mindset are just as essential.
I absolutely love mentoring and coaching dental hygiene practice owners. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help them find clarity, build confidence, and take intentional steps toward growing a successful practice that reflects their values. There’s something so powerful about watching a dental hygienist step fully into their role as a business owner and create something that truly makes a difference in their community.
What do you like to do for fun?
We’ve had a cottage on Kawagama Lake for almost 25 years, and we love it so much that we eventually bought a home on the lake and made it our full-time residence. It’s where I find peace and inspiration. Paddleboarding and hiking are two of my favourite ways to unwind and connect with nature.
Organizing fundraising events for our local community is another passion of mine—like KawagaMonster Lakefest in support of the Huntsville Hospital and our Starry Summer Night bash for Moorelands Camp. These events bring people together for meaningful causes, and creating experiences that make a difference brings me so much joy.
Spending quality time with my three amazing kids, especially when they come up north for extended visits, is something I truly treasure. And I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside such inspiring, talented colleagues—many of whom I also call friends. Sharing laughs, creative ideas, and celebrating milestones together is a big part of what makes this journey so fulfilling.
Where can we find/reach you?
I love connecting with dental hygienists through my personal Instagram account @kathbok—it’s a great way to get to know each other and share bits of our lives and passions! You can also follow our professional page @rdhuInc for updates and inspiration.
We’re active on Facebook as well:
- Kathleen Bokrossy
- rdhu Inc.
Visit our website at www.rdhu.ca. There, you can fill out the web form on our homepage to stay connected through our On-Track Tuesday emails—filled with motivation and updates on upcoming events—as well as receive course announcements and professional development opportunities.
