College of Dentistry CARE Program
Community Access to Resources and Education (CARE) Program - The CARE Program is a leadership and scholarship program within the Division of Public Health Dentistry for Ohio State dental students who have connections to underserved communities and a desire to improve access to oral health care.
Through scholarship support, mentoring, and public health learning opportunities, CARE helps students develop a deeper understanding of oral health disparities, workforce shortages, health equity, and the social factors that influence both oral health and overall health outcomes.
CARE students explore how dentists can improve the health of individuals and communities through clinical care, advocacy, leadership, and service.
The program seeks to strengthen Ohio's dental workforce by investing in students who understand the unique needs of underserved communities and who may choose to serve those communities following graduation.
Program Benefits
CARE students receive:
- Scholarship support of up to $10,000 per academic year
- Mentorship from College of Dentistry faculty and community practitioners
- Exposure to community-based oral health programs and public health initiatives
- Opportunities to engage with underserved populations throughout Ohio
- Educational experiences focused on access to care, health equity, workforce development, and public health dentistry
- Networking opportunities with dental professionals serving Ohio communities
Is CARE Right for Me?
The CARE Program is intended for Ohio dental students who:
- Graduated from a high school located in an underserved Ohio community or Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (Dental HPSA)
- Have personal experience living in an underserved Ohio community
- Demonstrate an interest in improving access to oral health care
- Are interested in public health, oral health disparities, and health equity
- May consider returning to serve their community or practicing in an underserved Ohio community following graduation
Preference is given to students with a demonstrated commitment to serving populations with limited access to dental care.
Students who are unsure whether their hometown or high school is located in a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (Dental HPSA) are encouraged to apply. Program staff will review eligibility based on information provided in the application.
Important Dates
October 13, 2026 CARE Program information meeting (Location to be Announced)
Application and Letters of Recommendation Deadline
November 13, 2026 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled as a DDS student at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
- Be classified as an Ohio resident
- Demonstrate connections to an underserved Ohio community
- Participate in CARE Program activities and educational programming
- Remain in good academic standing
As part of the application process, students will be asked to provide information regarding the Ohio community in which they were raised, including the high school from which they graduated.
Why Public Health?
The CARE Program is housed within the Division of Public Health Dentistry because improving access to care requires more than clinical skills alone.
CARE students learn about the factors that affect oral health in communities, including workforce shortages, access to care, health literacy, socioeconomic barriers, and health policy. Through discussions with faculty, community leaders, and practicing dentists, students gain a broader understanding of how oral health and overall health are connected.
These experiences help prepare future dentists to become leaders, advocates, and providers who recognize the important role oral health plays in the overall health and well-being of the communities they serve.
Program Expectations and Participation
CARE students are expected to actively engage in educational and professional development activities throughout the academic year. Participation is an important component of the CARE experience and helps students build relationships with peers, faculty, community partners, and practitioners serving underserved populations.
Program activities may include:
- Monthly CARE meetings and discussions
- Community-based learning experiences
- Presentations from public health leaders, community practitioners, and healthcare professionals
- Exploration of oral health policy, workforce issues, health equity, and access-to-care challenges
- Reflection and discussion related to service, leadership, and community engagement
Participation expectations include:
- Attendance at CARE meetings and educational sessions
- Participation in program discussions and activities
- Professional communication with program staff
- Engagement with community-based learning opportunities
- Continued interest in issues related to access to care, oral health equity, and underserved populations
Our Mission
The CARE Program was established to help address oral health workforce shortages in Ohio by supporting students from underserved communities and preparing them to become leaders in improving access to care.
By investing in students who have personal connections to underserved communities, CARE seeks to develop future dentists who will improve oral health outcomes throughout Ohio and may choose to return to serve the communities that helped shape them.
CARE promotes a public health approach to dentistry that recognizes oral health as an essential component of overall health.
CARE is more than a scholarship program. It is an investment in future dentists who understand underserved communities because they come from them.
Selection Process
The CARE Program is a competitive leadership and scholarship program. Up to 10 students may be selected from each entering DDS class.
Selection is based on a holistic review of each application, including an applicant's connection to an underserved Ohio community, interest in improving access to oral health care, commitment to public health and health equity, leadership potential, and willingness to actively participate in CARE Program activities.
CARE Program Process and Application
View more details about the application process.