FIND Project Awards Grinnell Dentist
Posted on June 16, 2016 in Corporate
Dr. Jeffrey Millet, a dentist practicing in Grinnell, was awarded $80,000 in educational loan repayment through the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) project. The FIND project recruits dentists to practice in rural communities in underserved Iowa counties by helping them with their dental education debt. Dr. Millet’s award is comprised of funding from the Delta Dental of Iowa Loan Repayment Program, matching grants coordinated by Poweshiek Iowa Development, and funding from a state appropriation for the FIND project.
“Delta Dental is dedicated to improving oral health for underserved populations,” said Jeff Russell, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa. “Dr. Millet is heavily involved with volunteer activities, has a knack for leadership and is passionate about providing lifelong service to Iowans in the communities he serves.”
Dr. Millet is a 2011 graduate of The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics and began practicing full time at Family Dentistry following graduation. Family Dentistry serves many communities in rural central Iowa with offices located in Grinnell, Sully, Victor, and Montezuma. The practice is committed to public health dentistry by working with area schools to promote healthy life choices and to providing access to care for aging Iowans by partnering with local nursing and care facilities to help facilitate transportation to the office or on-site visits.
Whether joining an existing practice, investing in new equipment and technology or starting a practice from the ground up, initial investments in a dental practice are significant, with an average investment of more than $300,000. In addition, most dentists graduate from dental school today with more than $240,000 in educational debt.
To be eligible for the FIND Loan Repayment Program, award recipients agree to practice in a designated healthcare shortage area and devote at least 35 percent of their practice to Medicaid-eligible, elderly, disabled, and other underserved patients over a five-year period. Sixty-five of Iowa’s 99 counties are designated as dentist shortage areas for the Loan Repayment Program. The Loan Repayment Program is a component of Delta Dental of Iowa’s Public Benefit program that invests in projects that support and improve the oral health of Iowans. For more information, visit www.iowafindproject.com.
FIND project partners include Delta Dental of Iowa, Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Iowa Area Development Group, Ripple Effect, Iowa Department of Public Health and The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics.
About Delta Dental of Iowa
Delta Dental of Iowa is the largest and most experienced provider of dental benefits in the state. As a not-for-profit insurance company, Delta Dental of Iowa invests in oral health and wellness projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research. Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mission is to support and improve the oral health of Iowans.
Delta Dental of Iowa is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the leading national network of independent dental service corporations. The Delta Dental member companies provide dental benefits to more than 70 million Americans in more than 120,000 employee groups throughout the country. For more information, visit our website at www.deltadentalia.com.