[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 58 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2598-S2599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DR. RELLA P. CHRISTENSEN

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. I am honored today to be able to pay 
tribute to a truly remarkable woman, and world-renowned dental 
consultant--Dr. Rella P. Christensen. Appropriately, at its 35th 
Anniversary Celebration in Las Vegas, on May 18, 2012, the Board of 
Directors of the CR Foundation will honor the life's work of Dr. 
Christensen.
  Born on September 27, 1938, Rella received a Bachelor of Science in 
Dental Hygiene from the University of Southern California in 1960, and 
practiced dental hygiene for more than 25 years. She established and 
became the Director of the Bachelor's Degree in Dental Hygiene at the 
University of Colorado in 1970. Later, in 1986, she earned a PhD in 
physiology, with an emphasis on microbiology, from Brigham Young 
University and completed a post-graduate course in anaerobic 
microbiology at Virginia Polytechnic State University.
  Rella co-founded Clinical Research Associates, now known as the CR 
Foundation, in 1976 with her husband Gordon, a world renowned and 
respected dentist and educator. For 27 years Rella directed this 
influential dental products testing institute as a full time volunteer. 
Her additional responsibilities included being the lead researcher and 
Editor-in-Chief of the CRA Newsletter which was published in 10 
languages under her leadership with a worldwide circulation in 92 
countries.
  She went on to serve as Chairman of CR's Board of Directors for 2 
years. Currently she volunteers as the team leader of Technologies in 
Restoratives and Caries Research section of CR.
  Rella has been a steady, humble, but significant influence in the 
profession of dentistry, worldwide, for over a third of a century. 
Helping others in dentistry to find tools and concepts that really work 
is a passion for Rella. She has presented over one thousand dental 
continuing education programs, totaling over 5,200 hours, at national 
and international locations. Guided by her research discoveries, 
lectures, and writings, dentists are better able to secure their own 
professional development and understanding of materials, methods, 
dental products, and their own dental missions.
  Dr. Rella Christensen has received numerous honors for her commitment 
to her field. In 2001 she was selected as the Distinguished Alumnus of 
Brigham Young University's School of Life Sciences, and now serves on 
its National Advisory Board.
  In 2002 Rella received an Honorary Doctorate from Utah Valley State 
University. In 2011, Rella was named one of the Dental Products Report 
``Top 25 Women in Dentistry'' and one of the

[[Page S2599]]

``30 Leaders in Dentistry'' by Takacs Learning Center. In 2012, she was 
named ``Most Influential Researcher'' by Dr Bicuspid.com, an online 
professional publication.
  As one of dentistry's great leaders, it is with great respect, 
gratitude, admiration, and affection that I pay tribute to Dr. Rella P. 
Christensen.

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