Conference Scholarships for Students

Getting dental students out of the classroom and into the venues where they can learn more about public health dentistry and caring for people with disabilities can be prohibitively expensive.

That’s where the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) comes in. As part of our commitment to workforce development, we’re now offering grants to send dental students from select student groups in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to conferences that teach them how to meet everyone’s comfort level and abilities across the lifespan.

Application Details

Before you apply, here’s what you need to know:

• The application must be submitted by the group’s faculty adviser, and funds will be dispersed directly to the dental school. Students may not apply individually.
• The name of each attending student must be listed in the application along with their year. Each student must be a member of the applicable student group.
• As part of the funding, each of your attending students agree to submit photos, videos and a written reflection within three months of the conference.
• Applicants must submit a detailed budget that lists travel, room and registration costs. Requests must be reasonable and cannot exceed $10,000.
• Funding will cover conference registrations and travel fees only. Travel fees include economy airfare or mileage reimbursement at the federal rate along with a standard hotel room. If a nonrefundable ticket is purchased and it cannot be used (for any reason), the DDF will not reimburse the cost.
• Students attending NOHC will be required to attend a dinner hosted by the Delta Dental Foundation.

Eligible Conferences and Meetings

Student groups may choose from the conferences below.

• July 18-20, 2025, RDH UnderOneRoof (Dallas, TX)
• August 17-19, 2025, Community Health Institute & Expo - NACHC (Chicago, IL)
• October 4-6, 2025, ADHA, (Long Beach, CA)
• October 23-25, 2025, SmileCon (Washington, DC)
• November 9-12, 2025, NNOHA (San Antonio, TX)
• April 17-19, 2026, SCDA Annual Meeting (Dallas, TX)
• April 13-15, 2026, NOHC (Oklahoma City, OK)
• June 2026, AADMD
• June 22-24, 2026, AAIDD (Chicago, IL)

Conference Scholarships for Community Partners

Our community partners are doing work that matters—and we want the world of public health dentistry to know about it. To help make that happen, we’re inviting Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) grantees to present their grant-funded work at conferences throughout the country, and we’ll cover registration and travel fees. The DDF will also work with you to help promote the session through social media, interviews, blog posts and more. 

How to Apply

Before you apply, here’s what you need to know:

• Your session must already have been accepted at one of the conferences listed under Suggested Conferences and Meetings. (If you don’t see your conference listed, please email ddf@deltadentalmi.com.)
• The focus of the presentation must be programs and projects funded by the DDF.
• As part of the funding, you agree to work with the DDF to promote the session through social media, interviews, blog posts and more.
• Funding will cover conference registration fees and reasonable travel expenses for up to two people.

Suggested Conference and Meetings

This list of approved industry conferences includes but is not limited to:

• February 19-20, 2025, AIDPH (Chicago, IL).
• March 20-23, 2025, SCDA Annual Meeting (Orlando, FL)
• April 7-9, 2025, NOHC (Orlando, FL).
• June 5-8, 2025, AADMD (Scottsdale, AZ)
• June 23-25, 2025, AAIDD (Washington, DC)
• July 18-20, 2025, RDH UnderOneRoof (Dallas, TX)
• August 17-19, 2025, Community Health Institute & Expo - NACHC (Chicago, IL)
• October 4-6, 2025, ADHA, (Long Beach, CA)
• October 23-25, 2025, SmileCon (Washington, DC)
• November 9-12, 2025, NNOHA (San Antonio, TX)