Georgia Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program

404.232.7972
GBHCW@dch.ga.gov

The Georgia Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program provides loan repayment assistance for dental education student loan debt for dentists who agree to practice full time in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia for period of 12 months up to 4 years.

The service contract requires a commitment to practice dentistry for a minimum of 40 total hours per week, with at least 32 hours of clinical or direct patient care, in a Georgia county with a population of 50,000 or less. The practice time requirement can be split between two or more counties as long as none of the practice location counties exceeds a population limit of 50,000.

The dentist may own the practice or be employed by a hospital, group dental practice, community health center, or other healthcare organization. The dentist must participate in the Medicaid program, must agree to accept new patients insured by Medicaid, and actively treat Medicaid patients.

Applicants must:

• Be a citizen or national of the United States, and a resident of the state of Georgia
• Have satisfied all requirements for unrestricted dental licensure by the Georgia Board of Dentistry
• Be a graduate of an accredited graduate dental education program located in the United States
• Hold or be in the process of obtaining a Medicaid provider number in Georgia and actively treat Medicaid patients

Up to $25,000 a year in return for a 12-month service commitment.

Recipients may receive up to 4 awards with a maximum total student loan repayment of $100,000.

A link to the online application is available on the program website.