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Delta Dental supports dentists and dental hygienists in high-need areas

October 26, 2026
Female dental professional smiling with arms crossed and looking off into the distance.

PRESS RELEASE: Oct. 26, 2026
Contact: Jordyn Imhoff, Senior Communications and Public Relations Officer, Delta Dental of Michigan
313-798-0205, news@deltadentalmi.com


Delta Dental supports dentists and dental hygienists in high-need areas

Forty-seven dentists and dental hygienists will receive $850,000 in loan repayment and scholarships from Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Nearly 900 oral health practitioners are needed across 584 dental health professional shortage areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, according to recent Health Resources and Services Administration data.

Delta Dental is committed to supporting the next generation of oral health professionals through:

  • Loan repayment for dentists in private practice: Selected recipients are private practice dentists dedicated to serving Medicaid beneficiaries in shortage areas across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Each will receive $40,000 in annual loan repayment that they may apply to renew for up to five years—a total of $200,000 in debt relief.
  • Hygiene scholarships for new students: Students currently accepted to a dental hygiene program in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana received scholarships of up to $15,000 per year. Students can receive a total of two years of scholarship funding.

“There’s so much to celebrate in what these recipients are setting out to accomplish,” said Jeff Johnston, DDS, MS, chief science officer of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. “By supporting their commitment to serve, we hope we can help turn passion into progress and open the door to the best dental care for more people.”

Private practice dentist loan repayment program recipients:
  • Dr. Kais Dardar, Farmington Hills, Michigan
  • Dr. Jordan Duarte, Southfield, Michigan
  • Dr. Benjamin Robertson, Mendon, Michigan
  • Dr. Emma Bergman, Findlay, Ohio
  • Dr. Faith Hayden, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Dr. Rohit Kumar, Whitehall, Ohio
  • Dr. Joochan Lim, Westerville, Ohio
  • Dr. Alexis Heck-Britton, Gosport, Indiana
  • Dr. Briana Maddox, Lafayette, Indiana
  • Dr. Anthony Miller, Tell City, Indiana
Hygiene scholarship recipients:

Michigan

  • Ameer Hawa, Macomb, Michigan (University of Michigan)
  • Amanda Trierweiler, Kewadin, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Amber Ahlin, Big Rapids, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Arely Gutierrez, Holland, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Alexis Carswell, Romulus, Michigan (Wayne County Community College)
  • Baylee Allor, Manistique, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Brianna Hagen, Shepherd, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Cameron Watson, Clinton Township, Michigan (Wayne County Community College)
  • Gianna Jadan, Sterling Heights, Michigan (University of Detroit Mercy)
  • Ileah Kane, Jackson, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Jillian Schram, Macomb, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Kennedy Ballou, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Kellogg Community College)
  • Korionana Lattimore, Clinton Township, Michigan (Wayne County Community College)
  • Laila Abbas, Dearborn, Michigan (University of Detroit Mercy)
  • Lisette Gamez-Molina, Allenton, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Logan Needham, Battle Creek, Michigan (Kellogg Community College)
  • Madison Berning, Battle Creek, Michigan (Kellogg Community College)
  • Madisyn Purdon, Manchester, Michigan (University of Michigan)
  • Menika Smith, Romulus, Michigan (University of Michigan)
  • Michelle Lifer, Muskegon, Michigan (Grand Rapids Community College)
  • Rehab Alhaj, Dearborn, Michigan (Wayne County Community College)
  • Riley Manthey, Big Rapids, Michigan (Ferris State University)
  • Sara Lala, Ann Arbor, Michigan (University of Michigan)
  • Subhan Alawan, Dearborn, Michigan (University of Detroit Mercy)
  • Victoria Daniel, Northville, Michigan (University of Michigan)
  • Zaylin Rinehart, Webberville, Michigan (Lansing Community College)

Ohio

  • Abigail Lipinski, Waynesfield, Ohio (Rhodes State College)
  • Brianna Morgan, Zanesville, Ohio (Hocking College)
  • Janine Furrie, Warren, Ohio (Lakeland Community College)
  • Julia White, Mount Perry, Ohio (Hocking College)
  • Lexa Gilliams, Warsaw, Ohio (Hocking College)
  • Sarah Abdelwali, Strongsville, Ohio (Lorain Community College)

Indiana

  • Abbie Doan, Anderson, Indiana (Ivy Tech Anderson)
  • Bethany Hottenstine, Pine Village, Indiana (Indiana University)
  • Gobinder Kaur, Greenwood, Indiana (Ivy Tech Columbus)
  • Rowan Brown, Brownsburg, Indiana (Indiana University)
  • Zoe Moore, Peru, Indiana (Indiana University Fort Wayne)

For more information, visit resources.deltadentalmi.com/Loan-Repayment.

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Delta Dental of Michigan began operations in 1957, and today with its affiliates is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the country. Delta Dental companies nationwide comprise the Delta Dental Plans Association, which provides coverage to more than 83 million Americans and operates two of the nation’s largest networks of participating dentists.

In addition to providing comprehensive dental benefits, Delta Dental of Michigan also provides vision benefits in partnership with VSP® Vision Care, and invests in initiatives that support healthy, smart, vibrant communities. Learn more at deltadentalmi.com.