Â鶹´«Ã½announces Northeast Delta Dental lead gift of $2.3 M in tri-state support of College of Dental Medicine
The Â鶹´«Ã½ announces the lead gift of $2.3 million from Northeast Delta Dental in support of the Â鶹´«Ã½College of Dental Medicine.
Northeast Delta Dental is the largest provider of dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Its gift is the largest to date that Â鶹´«Ã½has received in support of the establishment of a college of dental medicine, which reflects Northeast Delta Dental's tri-state commitment to this important initiative.
According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, dental care is the most prevalent unmet health care need in Maine. All of Maine's 16 counties have dental health professional shortage areas.
Â鶹´«Ã½plans to establish a college of dental medicine that will address both the issue of access to care and the need for more oral health professionals in the state. UNE's College of Dental Medicine will emphasize community dentistry, dental public health and prevention, excellence in clinical dentistry, an integrated health care approach to dental education, and population-based health research.
President & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental, Tom Raffio, said, "Good oral health and access to oral health care are two significant public health concerns. We believe the establishment of a dental college in Maine will increase access to oral health education and services throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the states in which we invest corporate funds, and in which the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation awards grants. Northeast Delta Dental is proud to provide this leadership gift in support of the Â鶹´«Ã½College of Dental Medicine."
Delta Dental Plan of Maine has donated $2 million, the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation provided a $100,000 grant and Delta Dental Plan of Vermont and Delta Dental Plan of New Hampshire have recently awarded an additional $100,000 each in support of the college, bringing the total gift to $2.3 million.
"This substantial and incredibly generous gift from Northeast Delta Dental provides a huge boost to our effort to make the Â鶹´«Ã½College of Dental Medicine a reality," said Harley Knowles, Â鶹´«Ã½vice president for institutional advancement.