Dentistry is a terrific career. I've loved darn near every minute of my professional life. I happen to be one of those odd individuals that always knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. From the age of three, I wanted to be a dentist. It's been the perfect place for me and it's also a profession that will always be in demand. We *need* more dentists currently and we're seeing new dental schools built and brought online pretty often these days. Unfortunately, the one drawback for people thinking of dentistry as a career is the incredibly high cost of a dental education. While the income in dentistry is a nice benefit, many young doctors are saddled with heavy student loan debt. Due to the high costs, a lot of young doctors won't be able to pay off those debts for decades.
The good news in today's post is, if you are a predoctoral student and looking at ways to potentially decrease debt load, Delta Dental of Rhode Island and Boston University have just announced a program that might be able to help. Details from the recent announcement are below.
Delta Dental of Rhode Island and Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine today announced a new scholarship program aimed at building Rhode Island's dental workforce by supporting students who commit to launching and growing their careers in the state after graduation.
The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholars Program will be offered to eligible third- and fourth-year students pursuing their doctorates in dental medicine who commit to practicing in Rhode Island after earning their degrees. Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholars must also agree to participate in Delta Dental of Rhode Island networks and annually provide at least 30 hours of community-based service in support of vulnerable individuals, families and communities across the state.
"As the nation continues to navigate healthcare workforce shortages, including in the dental sector, Delta Dental of Rhode Island has taken proactive steps to ensure our state remains an attractive place for dentists to build rewarding careers," said Joseph R. Perroni, President & CEO of Delta Dental of Rhode Island. "We are pleased to join with Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine to bring this new program to life, and we look forward to working with its graduates as they leverage their skills and training to improve access to dental care for all Rhode Islanders."
With a faculty of more than 230 educators, clinicians, and researchers, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine offers pre- and postdoctoral programs to more than 800 students per year. Aspiring dentists and researchers receive a technologically advanced, personalized education and hands-on experience at the school's on-campus dental clinic, which sees more than 94,000 patient visits annually.
"At Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, the people we serve are at the heart of our mission," said Dr. Cataldo Leone, Dean and Spencer N. Frankl Professor in Dental Medicine at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. "This meaningful investment from Delta Dental of Rhode Island demonstrates leadership in recognizing and addressing Rhode Island's oral health needs. This scholarship empowers our students to focus fully on their education and their commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care—particularly in communities where access to dental care is most limited."
"This scholarship will strengthen Rhode Island's dental workforce by helping to build a pipeline of talented, compassionate providers and improving access to high-quality oral healthcare for communities across the state," said Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Associate Dean of Students at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
This new scholarship program is part of Delta Dental of Rhode Island's longstanding commitment to both strengthening Rhode Island’s dental workforce and addressing barriers in access to care. In 2025, Delta Dental of Rhode Island created a statewide Dentist Loan Repayment Program, which awards up to $20,000 in student loan repayment assistance per year for up to three years to eligible early-career dentists who commit to practicing in Rhode Island. This program supported eight local dentists in 2025 and applications are being accepted for 2026.
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