Delta Dental of RI Launches New Dentist Loan Repayment Program
Delta Dental of Rhode Island Expands its Local Oral Health Workforce Initiatives with New Dentist Loan Repayment Program
New initiative will offer loan repayment assistance to eligible dentists who commit to practicing full-time in Rhode Island’s dental sector
As part of its continuing effort to strengthen Rhode Island’s dental workforce, Delta Dental of Rhode Island announced today the launch of a new loan repayment program specifically designed to support local dentists.
Administered by the Rhode Island Foundation and funded through a $5 million investment from Delta Dental of Rhode Island’s reserve funds, the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program will provide eligible Rhode Island dentists with student loan repayment assistance of up to $20,000 per year for up to three years. The program will select up to 10 awardees annually, with input from a local advisory committee managed by the Rhode Island Foundation.
“This new loan repayment program is the latest in our suite of workforce-focused investments that aim to ensure Rhode Island is an attractive, competitive state for aspiring and actively practicing dentists to launch and build their careers,” said Joseph R. Perroni, President & CEO, Delta Dental of Rhode Island.
“We are thrilled to launch this program and look forward to announcing the first cohort of dentists later this year,” Perroni said.
The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Loan Repayment Program is open to recent graduates of U.S.-based or foreign dental schools who hold qualifying government or commercial educational loans. Candidates must commit to practicing in the state of Rhode Island for a minimum of 32 hours per week and demonstrate an existing or future commitment to meeting the needs of underserved Rhode Islanders throughout the duration of their participation in the loan repayment program.
“The strength and sustainability of Rhode Island’s healthcare system relies on the consistent nurturing and replenishing of the state’s talent pool. Programs like this go a long way in keeping skilled Rhode Islanders home and attracting out-of-state talent to move here, put down roots and build their lives and careers here,” said David Cicilline, President & CEO, Rhode Island Foundation. “We applaud Delta Dental of Rhode Island for this significant investment in Rhode Island’s workforce and the future of our state’s oral health sector.”
The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Loan Repayment Program complements several additional investments Delta Dental has made to build a stronger dental workforce, including:
- Delta Dental of Rhode Island Hygiene Workforce Program: A $3 million initiative launched in 2025 to help local in-network dental offices recruit and retain dental hygienists. Learn more »
- Contributions to State Loan Repayment Program: Delta Dental is a long-time supporter of the Rhode Island Department of Health and Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLPR), contributing more than $500,000 to the program since its inception. This statewide program offers assistance for medical and dental professionals who commit to practicing in underserved areas, strengthening access to care statewide. Learn more »
- Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholarship Program: Ongoing support for dental hygiene students at the Community College of Rhode Island, providing scholarships and helping expand Rhode Island’s dental workforce. Learn more »
- Delta Assistant Training Cohort: A partnership with Wood River Health, the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner and the Community College of Rhode Island to offer eligible aspiring dental assistants with a free, comprehensive, 14-week training program to acquire classroom and clinical experience and earn necessary industry certifications.
The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program is open for applications. Interested candidates may apply online by August 27 by visiting rifoundation.org/deltadental. Delta Dental of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Foundation expect to announce the first cohort of awardees this fall.
Learn more about the program at rifoundation.org/deltadental.
