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PORTLAND, Maine

UNE announces Northeast Delta Dental lead gift of $2.3 M in tri-state support of College of Dental Medicine

The University of New England announces the lead gift of $2.3 million from Northeast Delta Dental in support of the UNE College of Dental Medicine.

Northeast Delta Dental is the largest provider of dental benefits in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Its gift is the largest to date that UNE has received in support of the establishment of a college of dental medicine, which reflects Northeast Delta Dental's tri-state commitment to this important initiative.

According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, dental care is the most prevalent unmet health care need in Maine. All of Maine's 16 counties have dental health professional shortage areas.  

UNE plans to establish a college of dental medicine that will address both the issue of access to care and the need for more oral health professionals in the state. UNE's College of Dental Medicine will emphasize community dentistry, dental public health and prevention, excellence in clinical dentistry, an integrated health care approach to dental education, and population-based health research.

President & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental, Tom Raffio, said, "Good oral health and access to oral health care are two significant public health concerns. We believe the establishment of a dental college in Maine will increase access to oral health education and services throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the states in which we invest corporate funds, and in which the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation awards grants. Northeast Delta Dental is proud to provide this leadership gift in support of the UNE College of Dental Medicine."

Delta Dental Plan of Maine has donated $2 million, the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation provided a $100,000 grant and Delta Dental Plan of Vermont and Delta Dental Plan of New Hampshire have recently awarded an additional $100,000 each in support of the college, bringing the total gift to $2.3 million.

"This substantial and incredibly generous gift from Northeast Delta Dental provides a huge boost to our effort to make the UNE College of Dental Medicine a reality," said Harley Knowles, UNE vice president for institutional advancement.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.