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2026 CDHA Student Poster Competition

The annual CDHA Student Poster Competition offers dental hygiene students an exciting and creative platform to showcase their research, innovative ideas, and unique talents. This engaging competition provides students with the opportunity to present research and information that holds significance for the profession, benefiting both patients and the future of dental hygiene.

The 2026 Student Poster Session will maintain its hybrid format. Participants are required to submit a video presentation of either an Informational or Original Research poster for the initial judging phase. The top five scoring posters/presenters will advance to the Live Question and Answer Judging Session on May 15, 2026, taking place at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Anaheim, CA (in person or via ZOOM).

Poster Session Competition Presentation Details

The 2026 CDHA Spring Scientific Session will feature all submitted posters, providing students with the opportunity to present their topics to the attendees. CDHA will print all posters for display. Winners will be announced at the CDHA Spring Scientific Session. The top 3 posters in each category will be highlighted at CDA Presents on May 16, 2026. Registration is complementary and CDHA strongly urges these poster teams to attend the CDA (includes award ceremony).

Eligibility/Registration

Senior student members of CDHA are eligible for participation and must complete registration by April 1^st by midnight. All submitted posters will be featured during the CDHA Spring Scientific Session; entry includes event registration, poster printing, and display.

Registration Process:

Register the designated team leader during the registration process. (CDHA will reach out to confirm your team members.)
The team leader for each team must submit required poster elements no later than April 6^th by midnight via email to the CDHA Poster Session Chair, no exceptions.
All team members will be registered for the Spring Scientific Session if they are attending in-person.
Team leaders are encouraged to send required poster elements ahead of the deadline (submission elements MUST be submitted by the team leader).

As a reminder, each team registration includes in-person attendance for (2) two team members. Additional team members attending in person are an additional $50 per person.

NOTE! Please only allow 4 team members to register per poster.

The deadline to enter your team is April 1, 2026.

Once registration is confirmed you must submit the required poster elements no later than April 6, 2026.

As a reminder, you must login to your CDHA account or create a CDHA account to register.

REGISTER YOUR TEAM

The poster session is judged in collaboration with the California Dental Association (CDA), and supported by the CDHA Foundation, monetary awards for the top three scoring posters in each category will be announced at the the 2026 CDHA Spring Scientific Session.

Mary Fadhl Research Grant

The CDHA Foundation is pleased to announce the Mary Fadhl Research Grant, this travel grant is available to poster teams to defray costs of attending the poster session in person. Details and application can be found at here.

Poster Session Awards!*

1st place in both categories: $1,250
2nd place in both categories prize: $750
3rd place in both categories prize: $450

*Awards will be issued after May 15 & 16, 2026, from both CDHA and CDA! Recipients will receive a total of two (2) checks, one from CDHA and one from CDA.