Student Loan Repayment Grant

Student Loan Repayment Grant

Status: PROGRAM CLOSED - Final award given in 2022

Purpose: The CDA Foundation Student Loan Repayment Grant was designed to offset the financial burden of student loan debt for new dentists entering public or community health careers. The program was designed to immediately reduce barriers to access oral health care services in targeted underserved communities and populations while establishing an ongoing mechanism to provide dental professionals an opportunity to reduce their financial burden while working in these communities.

Geographic Scope: California

Award Amount: Not specified in available documentation

Program Status

In 2022, The CDA Foundation awarded its final Student Loan Repayment Grant. While the Foundation's fund has been exhausted, there are many other loan repayment grant opportunities available to new dentists who are committed to a career in public or community health.

Eligibility Criteria

• Recent dental school or specialty school graduates
• Committed to working in public or community health
• Serving underserved communities and populations in California

Focus Areas

• Public health dentistry
• Community health dentistry
• Service to underserved and low-income populations

Impact Since 2002

• 22 dentists enabled to work in public health
• Nearly 100,000 patients in underserved communities served
• Nearly $30 million in dental care provided

Recent Recipients

• 2022: Dr. Jennifer Stone (Pediatric dentist, Eureka, Humboldt County)
• 2021: Dr. Sogole Tabatabaiepur (General dentist, Solano County)
• 2021: Dr. Jose Carrasco Sandoval, DDS (General dentist, Los Angeles)
• 2019: Dr. Matthew Mecheal (St. Jude Neighborhood Health Center, Orange County)
• 2018: Dr. Andrea Ustarez (AltaMed, Los Angeles)
• 2017: Dr. Daniel Ramirez (Coastal Health Alliance, Marin County)
• 2016: Dr. Habiba Ismail (Metro Health Station, Los Angeles)
• 2015: Dr. Sonia Relingo (United Health Center, Mendota)
• 2014: Dr. Aisha Amin (Family HealthCare Network, Tulare County)
• 2013: Dr. Stephanie Calvillo (Low-cost clinic, Redlands)
• 2012: Dr. Kongsab Hatlavongsa (United Health Centers, Mendota)

Contact

California Dental Association Foundation 1201 K Street, 14th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 800.232.7645