The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California, has awarded a $1 million gift to University of the Pacific,
Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry to support scholarships for deserving dental students.
The gift establishes the Delta Dental Endowed Scholarship for Opportunity. The fund is designed to support students who have demonstrated high academic achievement while having experienced financial disadvantage or hardship, or who may be overcoming other difficult circumstances in their lives.
Funding will be awarded to a minimum of two dental students each year, with a preference for students who have demonstrated interest in working in underserved communities.
“We are grateful to the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation for this investment in the future of our profession and the impact it will make on the lives of our students,” said Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi, dean of the Dugoni School of Dentistry. “By launching this endowed scholarship, these funds will make a difference for many years to come. We look forward to supporting our talented and deserving students who are committed to working with patients and communities in need.”
“We are proud to partner with University of Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and support their mission to educate and train the next generation of dental practitioners,” said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California. “The partnership helps us achieve our broader mutual goals of bettering the oral health and wellness of our communities by fostering greater inclusivity and increasing educational opportunities for those training for careers in the dental field.”
The Dugoni School has received other funding from the foundation in recent years, including grants to support a patient emergency fund and provide care for military veterans and individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. Most recently in 2022, the foundation awarded an Access to Care Grant to support the Pacific Health Care Collaborative, a unique interprofessional health care initiative that will be located in Sacramento.
