Northern California residents with developmental disabilities will benefit from a new grant designed to support care for patients as well as enhance training for the next generation of healthcare providers.
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation has awarded a $50,000 Access to Care Grant to the Special Care Clinic and Hospital Dentistry Program at the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.
The grant will support screenings and treatment services in the school’s clinics for about 1,000 patients with special needs and help pay for supplies and lab work costs. Also, funds will help support pre-organ and post-organ transplant oral health assessments and care as well as in-patient dental consultations at local hospitals.
Plus, the funds will help the clinic provide education and experiential learning opportunities to more than 190 dental students, residents and scholars, medical students, and pharmacy externs who together will handle more than 4,600 patient visits each year.
“It is important that we train the next generation of healthcare providers to be comfortable caring for people from all walks of life and in serving the needs of those with complex medical conditions,” said Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, EdD, MBA, dean of the school. “We are very appreciative of this generous support from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to help us achieve these goals.”
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation provides funding and support to advance research, education, and access to dental care across 15 states and the District of Columbia. Its Access to Care Grant supports nonprofit community clinics and healthcare programs working to improve oral health and access for underserved children and adults.
This new grant will support patients across four broad areas: cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, genetic abnormalities, and seizure disorder. Funds also will support medically compromised patients in hospitals who require dental services and/or clearance before physicians can begin treatment.
Related Articles
Dugoni School Receives Grant to Treat the Developmentally Disabled
Legislation Addresses Oral Healthcare for Special Needs Patients
Kit Teaches Children With Special Needs About Oral Health
