Iowa dentist gets grant

DENISON, Iowa — Dr. Arron McWilliams has been awarded a $100,000 educational loan repayment grant through the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists project, which recruits dentists to rural communities and underserved Iowa counties by helping them with their education debt.

McWilliams graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2002 and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in 2006. She has worked throughout northwest Iowa.

“The average dentist graduates from dental school with more than $120,000 in debt. Loan repayment programs can be one of the most effective ways to recruit private practice dentists to underserved areas of Iowa,” said Donn Hutchins, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Iowa.

The goal of the FIND project is to stimulate community funds to match Delta Dental’s loan repayment program and to promote the importance of having a local dentist in a community to that community’s economic growth and overall health.

McWilliams’ award is made up of $50,000 from Delta Dental and $50,000 in matching grants from the Chamber and Development Council of Crawford County and a congressional earmark for the FIND project from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Denison and Crawford County are very fortunate to have a pediatric dentist in the area that can address the needs in our communities,” said Don Luensmann, executive director of the Chamber and Development Council of Crawford Country.

« Metro/Region

Share