| The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation has donated a total of $1.38 million to Wichita State |
| University's (WSU) College of Health Professions for large-scale projects such as the expansion |
| of the dental hygiene clinic, development of a dental residency program, as well as, construction |
| of the program's building, and a $50,000 endowed dental hygiene scholarship. |
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Delta Dental of Kansas Dental Hygiene Clinic
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| In 2004, the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation provided $300,000 to renovate and expand the WSU |
| dental hygiene clinic, which is now the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation Dental Hygiene Clinic. |
| Total funding of the project reached $1 million through commitments from six foundations, including |
| the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation. |
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| The majority of funds raised created a state-of-the-art facility with a new dispensary and reception |
| area with 24 operatories. Adding several operatories allowed the class size to increase by 20% in |
| order to meet the increasing need for hygienists statewide. The remainder of the funds raised |
| created an endowment to supplement additional clinical faculty salaries needed for the increased |
| class size. |
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Advanced Education in General Dentistry
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| The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation granted $250,000 to Oral Health Kansas in 2006 to fund |
| initial research for an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program on the campus of |
| Wichita State University. A multi-party project of Oral Health Kansas, WSU College of Health |
| Professions, Via Christi Health Systems and GraceMed, the AEGD program is a one-to-two year |
| residency program for dentists who desire to expand their clinical and practical knowledge. In 2008, |
| the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation and Delta Dental of Kansas committed an additional |
| $3 million to the AEGD program. The joint gift, which was distributed over a 3-year period, provided |
| funding for the construction of the AEGD building. |
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| WSU's goal is to attract dentists looking to expand their education with a program that offers |
| state-of-the-art technology and a broad range of clinical experience. The AEGD program is a |
| community resource aimed at increasing oral health care while encouraging dentists to stay in |
| Kansas and build long-term careers. Services available through the facility will include primary dental |
| care, pediatric dentistry, implants and full mouth rehabilitation, orthodontics and advanced clinical |
| techniques. In addition to training dentists, dental hygienists and assistants can complete their |
| rotations at the facility. |
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| WSU is working with its community partners through the AEGD program to increase access to oral |
| health care in many rural and low-income Kansas communities where the need is great. The majority |
| of Kansas counties (94 of 105), along with the cities of Topeka and Wichita, are designated as |
| "Health Professionals Shortage Areas" for dentistry by the federal government's Health Resources |
| and Services Administration. Kansas has 36.8 dentists per 100,000 residents, which is 33% below |
| national targets. |
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| A groundbreaking ceremony for the new WSU AEGD building was held on July 22, 2010. You can |
| view pictures from the ceremony in our Facebook album. |
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| The WSU AEGD building was dedicated during a grand opening ceremony on October 24, 2011. The photo below shows DDKS President and CEO Linda Brantner, DDKS Foundation Board Member Jill Quigley, DDKS Executive Director Karen Finstad and DDKS Board Member Elizabeth Kinch outside of the building at the grand opening ceremony. |
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