G.E.H.A Solutions Oral Health Access Scholarship

Funder: Roy James Rinehart Memorial Foundation in partnership with G.E.H.A Solutions and UMKC School of Dentistry

Geographic Scope: United States, specifically Dental Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (Dental HPSA)

Focus Areas:

• Oral health access in underserved communities
• Support for students committed to practicing in Dental HPSAs
• Removal of financial barriers for aspiring dental professionals
• Service, leadership, and community impact

Eligibility Requirements:

• Junior or senior Dental Hygiene (DH) student OR Third-year or fourth-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) student
• Submit completed application, personal statement, and current resume
• Commit to full-time practice (30+ hours/week) as dental hygienist, dentist, or specialist in U.S. within Dental HPSA for at least one year
• Cannot be under any other service obligation during same time (military, national health service corps, public health, loan forgiveness program)

Award Amounts:

• UMKC Dental Hygiene Students: Five recipients receiving $20,000 each
• UMKC Dental Students: Five recipients receiving $50,000 each

Service Obligation:

• Agreement is between student and Roy James Rinehart Memorial Foundation
• Student must sign service contract
• Full-time practice (minimum 30 hours/week) within Dental Care HPSA required
• Service obligation must begin within three months after degree completion
• One-year commitment required from date full-time practice commences
• Recipient chooses practice site within designated Dental HPSA
• Deferment available for medical reasons, military service, or full-time advanced residency programs
• Repayment penalty if commitment not met: full amount plus interest, costs, and collection fees
• Rinehart Foundation has discretion for extraordinary circumstances (disability, death)

Award Distribution:

• Scholarship amount awarded to student account
• Applies toward cost of attendance
• Eligible for disbursement to student after tuition balances paid

How to Apply

1. Review full eligibility guidelines and requirements
2. Prepare required documents:
   • Resume
   • Personal statement addressing:
   • Why do you desire to work in a Dental HPSA?
   • What activities have you been involved in that confirmed your desire to work in a Dental HPSA?
   • Why will you be successful in caring for patients in underserved areas?
   • What are your short-term and long-term practice plans and goals? Include location or proximity if known.
3. Complete online application form using the provided link
4. Submit all materials by application deadline (December 7th, 11:59 PM CST)

Timeline

• Application Deadline: December 7th, 11:59 PM CST
• Award Notification: Early January 2026
• Award Distribution: January 2026 (contingent upon final agreement approval and full funding receipt from G.E.H.A Solutions)