The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University is launching a program to offer tuition assistance to students who commit to practicing in underserved areas.
The loan forgiveness program will provide financial support for tuition to dental students who agree to practice in rural and underserved communities in Georgia for five years following graduation, according to a Jan. 24 news release.
A report from the Georgia Board of Health Care found that 22 counties in the state did not have a practicing dentist, and the Georgia Department of Community Health reported that 127 counties in Georgia have at least a partial shortage of dental care.
The program will receive $200,000 in funding from Peach State Health Plan and the Centene Foundation, the release said.