Dental News - CDA Foundation awards grant to help dentist care for underserved

Dental Tribune USA

Thu. 8 November 2012

save

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA: The California Dental Association Foundation has announced Kongsab Hatlavongsa, DDS, as the 2012 recipient of its Student Loan Repayment Grant. Hatlavongsa will receive a maximum of $105,000 to help offset a portion of his student loan debt in exchange for a three-year commitment to practice in an underserved community.

Hatlavongsa and his family came to the United States as refugees from war-torn Laos when he was just 6 months old. Living below poverty level, Hatlavongsa and his family struggled to overcome cultural, economic and social obstacles.

“My parents always stressed the importance of hard work, higher education, and optimism,” said Hatlavongsa, who achieved great academic success as both a 2001 UC Berkeley School of Law graduate and a 2011 graduate of the UCSF School of Dentistry.

With a desire to provide patients with quality dental care regardless of their financial status, Hatlavongsa chose to leave a career in a flourishing attorney practice and to begin his new career by returning to his community to provide care to the underserved.

“I saw dentistry as an opportunity for me to impact more lives,” said Hatlavongsa.

“Dr. Hatlavongsa takes his work in the community very seriously, and the CDA Foundation is pleased to have been able to help him carry out his dream of helping people,” said Donald Rollofson, DMD, chair of the California Dental Association Foundation.

Hatlavongsa practices in a United Health Centers community health clinic in Mendota, Calif., where he works to provide accessible dental care to primarily farm worker families and others who experience barriers.

The weight of student loan debt can make a career in public or community health nearly impossible for new dentists. To offset some of the financial burden, the CDA Foundation awards selected recent dental school/specialty graduates with the Student Loan Repayment Grant in exchange for a commitment to care for underserved individuals.

Since 2002, the Student Loan Repayment Grant program has placed 12 dentists into community clinics where they’ve helped more than 46,000 patients and provided nearly $13 million in care for individuals who experience barriers to care. Virtually all of those dentists have remained not only in public health but in the communities where they first served.

(Source: CDA Foundation)

To post a reply please login or register

CDA Foundation grant helps Marin County dentist care for underserved

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA: The California Dental Association Foundation recently awarded Daniel Ramirez, DDS, with its Student Loan Repayment Grant. In ...

AGD Foundation awards grants to help increase access to care

CHCAGO, Ill., USA: With the generous support of its 2012 donors, the Academy of General Dentistry Foundation — the philanthropic partner of the ...

Dentists who pledge to help underserved get loan repayments, thanks to CDA Foundation

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA: The California Dental Association Foundation recently awarded Aisha Amin, DMD, with its Student Loan Repayment Grant and selected ...

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation awards grant to America’s ToothFairy

CHARLOTTE, N.C., USA: Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation recently awarded a two-year, $300,000 grant to America’s ToothFairy: National ...

Underserved in Philadelphia receive free care, thanks to AGD and AGD Foundation

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., USA: More than 240 volunteer dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and University of Pennsylvania dental students and faculty provided ...

AGD and AGD Foundation to provide free care to hundreds of Philadelphia's underserved residents

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., USA: On Saturday, June 23, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the AGD Foundation will partner with the University of Pennsylvania...

ADA launches program to provide dental care in underserved areas

CHICAGO, IL, USA: The American Dental Association (ADA) recently launched a pilot program in several states to deliver needed dental care to underserved ...

ADA seeks nominations for new dentist awards

NEW YORK, NY, USA: Do you know of a newly minted dentist who deserves some special recognition? If so, it is time to speak up! That’s because the ...

Patterson Foundation awards more than $187,000 in grants

ST. PAUL, Minn., USA: The Patterson Foundation recently announced $187,460 in grant funding to 11 non-profit organizations in the oral and animal health ...

CDA Cares provides free treatment to underserved in San Diego area

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA: Hosted by the California Dental Association Foundation and CDA, the CDA Cares volunteer dental clinic at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 22 April 2024
10:00 AM EST (New York)