Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program assists 8 local Dentists

Gov. McKee, Speaker Shekarchi and leaders in oral health sector gather at Rhode Island State House to celebrate inaugural cohort of new program’s awardees

Established new in 2025 to encourage new dentists to launch and grow their careers in Rhode Island, the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program has completed its first round of awards.

Eight local dentists who graduated from dental school in the last 5 years – six of whom work in private practices and two at federally qualified health centers – were selected as the inaugural cohort of awardees for the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program.

Awardees of the program are eligible to receive up to $20,000 in student loan assistance annually for up to three years, provided they continue to practice full-time in Rhode Island throughout the duration of their participation in the program and demonstrate an existing or future commitment to meeting the needs of underserved Rhode Islanders.

“This loan repayment program not only is a boon for the dental industry, but also helps Rhode Island retain hard-working, talented people who advance our state’s health and well-being goals,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I’m grateful to Delta Dental of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Foundation for their vision on this effort, and for their partnership in building a better future for our state.”

“The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program is the latest in our suite of workforce-focused investments that aim to ensure Rhode Island remains 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 congratulate our first group of awardees, and we thank them for committing to keep their talents and passion right here in our shared home state of Rhode Island.”

Program awardees were recommended by an independent Application Review Committee managed by the Rhode Island Foundation and made up of leading experts in the state’s oral health sector. They were announced and celebrated at a ceremony held in the Governor’s State Room at the Rhode Island State House held on December 3rd.

Awardees of the 2025 Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program include:

Michael Accaoui (Mendon Dental Associates)

Elizabeth Choi (Blackstone Valley Community Health Care)

Finn Evans (Eric George, DMD & Associates)

Zahra Hanif (Dental Arts Group)

Julia Lafen (Joanne C. Lewis Pediatric Dentistry)

Jordan O’Neill (Blackstone Valley Community Health Care)

Matthew Pazienza (Ernest P. Votolato DMD & Frank A. Pazienza DDS)

Gayathri Shenoy (Rhode Island Periodontics / Seacoast Family Dental)

“Growing and nurturing the pool of dental health providers is crucial if we are to ensure Rhode Islanders continue to have access to the care they need,” said David Cicilline, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. “Initiatives like this encourage skilled Rhode Islanders to stay home and incent out-of-state practitioners to build their lives and careers here.”

“Rhode Island, like virtually every state in the nation, is facing staffing shortages in all areas of health care. Dental care is an important part of overall health, and today’s announcement is a wonderful example of the power of corporate and nonprofit partnership in addressing our state’s most pressing needs,” said Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “Thank you to Delta Dental of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Foundation for ensuring that talented graduates remain in Rhode Island to practice dentistry, and thank you to the members of this inaugural cohort for your commitment to our community’s health.”

“Dental care is critical to overall health, and ensuring our state has enough dental providers is essential for Rhode Island’s future,” said Rhode Island Senate President Valarie J. Lawson. “This loan repayment program represents an important step forward, and I want to thank Delta Dental and the Rhode Island Foundation for providing a shining example of what we can accomplish by working together. I also want to congratulate and thank the initial awardees of this program for their commitment to Rhode Island, and to their patients.”

The program will reopen in 2026, with additional details and deadlines to be announced in coming months. The Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program is open to recent graduates of U.S.-based or foreign dental schools who hold qualifying government or commercial educational loans. This program launched earlier this year with a $5 million investment from Delta Dental of Rhode Island and is administered by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Learn more at www.RIFoundation.org/DeltaDental.

About Delta Dental of Rhode Island
Delta Dental of Rhode Island and its subsidiaries provide access to affordable dental and vision care for more than 850,000 members. Headquartered in Providence, R.I., Delta Dental of Rhode Island is the state’s leading dental insurer and is committed to ensuring accessible, affordable dental care for all Rhode Islanders. For more information about Delta Dental of Rhode Island, visit deltadentalri.com.