Trisha O?Hehir, MS, RDH is co-founder and President of O?Hehir University. She earned degrees in Dental Hygiene and Higher Education from the University of Minnesota. Her career spans more than five decades and includes private clinical practice in the United States and Zurich, Switzerland, as well as faculty positions at the Universities of Minnesota, Washington, Arizona, and Louisville.

In Arizona, Trisha pioneered the role of the Periodontal Therapist and spent several years teaching local anesthesia while also providing anesthesia in an oral surgery practice. She has completed advanced training in Myofunctional Therapy and Buteyko Breathing. In addition to extensive clinical and teaching experience, she designed the O?Hehir New Millennium (spoon) Curettes manufactured by PDT.

Trisha served on the founding editorial board of RDH Magazine in 1980 and authored its Periodontics Column for 14 years. She later became the first Editorial Director of Hygienetown Magazine. She wrote Perio Reports, a research summary publication, for more than 26 years and has authored hundreds of articles translating emerging research into practical clinical applications. Her publications include the textbook Compendium of Current Research, the cartoon book The Toothpaste Secret, the Minibuk LipZip, and a contribution to the textbook Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care by Irene Woodall. Her work has appeared in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, Journal of Dental Hygiene, Journal of Dental Research, Journal of the American Dental Association, RDH Magazine, Hygienetown Magazine, and Access.

In 2012, Trisha and two dental hygiene colleagues founded O?Hehir University, an international online educational center where licensed dental hygienists can complete a six-month Bachelor of Science in Oral Health Promotion. The university recently launched a Master of Arts program structured on the European modular model with three six-month modules. O?Hehir University now has more than 400 graduates worldwide.

Her honors include the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota School of Dental Hygiene (1991) and the Warner-Lambert/ADHA Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award (1992). Trisha lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a Past President of the Arizona State Dental Hygienists? Association.

A future-focused thinker and dynamic educator, Trisha presents thought-provoking programs that combine current research, practical clinical applications, and innovative perspectives on the future of oral health care.