Offered by the Delta Dental Foundation
The Public Health Dentist Loan Repayment Program is an initiative designed to support dentists in managing their student debt while expanding oral health access to underserved areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This program intends to not only alleviate the financial burden of student debt in the profession but also ensure that quality dental care reaches more individuals in underserved communities.
Dentists selected for the program will be eligible to receive an award of up to $25,000 per year (which can be renewed annually for a maximum of three years for a total award of up to $75,000) that can be used toward their dental school educational debt. Loan repayment funds will be issued directly to the recipient’s loan servicer(s).
To be eligible for participation in the program, applicants must:
- Be fully trained and licensed (or be in the process of becoming licensed) to practice dentistry as a DDS or DMD in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Be in good standing with applicable state dental board(s), state agencies and regulatory agencies.
- Work full time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) or have an employment agreement to work full time at an eligible practice site. Ongoing employment verification will be required.
- Provide verification of their current dental educational debt. Ongoing verification will be required.
- Agree to provide dental services for at least one year (up to three years) at an eligible practice site.
- Submit a completed application and provide all associated documentation for review during the open application period.
- Participate in a scheduled interview(s) with the selection committee.
Dentists not eligible to participate in the program include:
- Dentists who have defaulted on federal loans.
- Dentists who are on an exclusion or sanctioned list (i.e., OFAC, OIG).
- Dentists who are on Focused Review.
- Dentists who are not in good standing and/or have complaints.
- Immediate family members of employees and board members of Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc., and the Delta Dental Foundation.
Continued Program Eligibility
Recipients who are chosen to participate in the program will need to verify program compliance on at least an annual basis (or more frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance). Such verification may include:
- Proof of good standing and active licensure in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana
- Proof that Recipient is continuing to work full-time at an Eligible Practice Site (minimum 30 clinical hours/week)
- Provide de-identified reports as outlined in the agreement Recipients sign with DDF
- Annual verification of current outstanding student loan debt
- Participation in scheduled interview(s) with DDF to discuss your experience with the Program.
A recipient’s failure to maintain ongoing compliance with program requirements may result in a termination from the program and a loss of loan repayment.
Eligible Practice Site Requirements
Each recipient selected must be employed (or be in the process of obtaining an employment) at a nonprofit practice site (eligible practice site). Recipient must work full time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) for at least a 12-month period at an eligible practice site.
Eligible practice sites include:
- Certified rural dental clinics
- Community health centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes
- Local health departments
- Nonprofit dental clinics
- Tribal-affiliated dental clinics
- Standalone nonprofit urgent care dental sites
If you have questions on this program, please contact us at ddf@deltadentalmi.com.
Public Health Dentist Loan Repayment Program
Offered by the Delta Dental Foundation
The Public Health Dentist Loan Repayment Program is an initiative designed to support dentists in managing their student debt while expanding oral health access to underserved areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This program intends to not only alleviate the financial burden of student debt in the profession but also ensure that quality dental care reaches more individuals in underserved communities.
Dentists selected for the program will be eligible to receive an award of up to $25,000 per year (which can be renewed annually for a maximum of three years for a total award of up to $75,000) that can be used toward their dental school educational debt. Loan repayment funds will be issued directly to the recipient’s loan servicer(s).
To be eligible for participation in the program, applicants must:
- Be fully trained and licensed (or be in the process of becoming licensed) to practice dentistry as a DDS or DMD in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
- Be in good standing with applicable state dental board(s), state agencies and regulatory agencies.
- Work full time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) or have an employment agreement to work full time at an eligible practice site. Ongoing employment verification will be required.
- Provide verification of their current dental educational debt. Ongoing verification will be required.
- Agree to provide dental services for at least one year (up to three years) at an eligible practice site.
- Submit a completed application and provide all associated documentation for review during the open application period.
- Participate in a scheduled interview(s) with the selection committee.
Dentists not eligible to participate in the program include:
- Dentists who have defaulted on federal loans.
- Dentists who are on an exclusion or sanctioned list (i.e., OFAC, OIG).
- Dentists who are on Focused Review.
- Dentists who are not in good standing and/or have complaints.
- Immediate family members of employees and board members of Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc., and the Delta Dental Foundation.
Continued Program Eligibility
Recipients who are chosen to participate in the program will need to verify program compliance on at least an annual basis (or more frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance). Such verification may include:
- Proof of good standing and active licensure in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana
- Proof that Recipient is continuing to work full-time at an Eligible Practice Site (minimum 30 clinical hours/week)
- Provide de-identified reports as outlined in the agreement Recipients sign with DDF
- Annual verification of current outstanding student loan debt
- Participation in scheduled interview(s) with DDF to discuss your experience with the Program.
A recipient’s failure to maintain ongoing compliance with program requirements may result in a termination from the program and a loss of loan repayment.
Eligible Practice Site Requirements
Each recipient selected must be employed (or be in the process of obtaining an employment) at a nonprofit practice site (eligible practice site). Recipient must work full time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) for at least a 12-month period at an eligible practice site.
Eligible practice sites include:
- Certified rural dental clinics
- Community health centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes
- Local health departments
- Nonprofit dental clinics
- Tribal-affiliated dental clinics
- Standalone nonprofit urgent care dental sites
If you have questions on this program, please contact us at ddf@deltadentalmi.com.