On the recordApril 23, 2012
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.…
