School-based oral health program

Through a partnership with Virginia Health Catalyst, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Education and our safety net partners, the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation has developed a new school-based oral health program to address barriers to dental care access for low-income and uninsured children. 50% of children who received care at a school-based program in 2018 had not seen a dentist in the prior year, and the pandemic resulted in an overwhelming need for dental care for children in 2021. This new program will expand the number of school-based clinics operating in the Commonwealth by eight to 10.

This collaborative opportunity will offer education, support, technical assistance, and connection to school nurses and clinic staff. Participants will receive the funding and tools they need to lessen the financial and administrative impacts of creating these clinics themselves. Look for more exciting updates coming soon!

George A. Levicki, D.D.S. Endowed Scholarship

The George A. Levicki, D.D.S. Endowed Scholarship was created at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry in honor of our former CEO and founder, George Levicki. This scholarship recognizes the qualities in a dental student that Dr. Levicki brought to Delta Dental of Virginia over his long career. The scholarship is given to a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year dental student who:

• Is a resident of Virginia;
• Demonstrates leadership qualities both in school and outside of school;
• Is a person of high integrity; and
• Has a strong interest in persons with limited access to dental care.

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Partnership

In 2012, Delta Dental of Virginia, realizing that medical students received little oral health education, established the first integrated oral health curriculum at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Delta Dental sought to help these students make a positive impact on patients’ health and well-being. The curriculum includes lectures and clinical training on general oral medicine and oral health; oral exams; oral cancer; medical management of patients; and clinical skills training on-site at the dental clinic. The program also established an annual oral health lectureship to highlight the important link between oral health and overall health. The lecture usually takes place annually in January.