Madison Reporter

Delta Dental of Wisconsin (DDWI) Foundation has provided $2 million in matching funds to 14 technical colleges, including Madison College, to expand statewide oral health workforce programs.

Madison College was awarded $143,000 from the Delta Dental Foundation and $1.43 million from the Oral Health Grant. The college plans to utilize the funds to expand its current dental hygienist program and introduce a new expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) program. Currently, there is a waiting list for the dental hygienist program.

The grant will allow the dental hygiene program to add additional students, while the new EFDA program will cater to 15 students per cohort and is looking to offer multiple cohorts annually, said Marissa Tokarczyk, Madison College Dean of Health Sciences.

“These funds will allow opportunities for our community to expand access to oral health services and improve public health outcomes,” Tokarczyk said. “More trained professionals in the dental field will help meet the rising need for dental care, reducing wait times, and improving the quality of services available to local populations.”

In January, Gov. Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 89 into law, allocating $20 million for oral health care workforce initiatives within the Wisconsin Technical College System. This funding was set aside during the 2023-25 biennial budget process.

Under the guidelines, each college must match 20% of its funding request to the Joint Finance Committee. To further its goal of expanding access to dental care and strengthening the dental workforce while improving the oral health of underserved populations, DDWI Foundation pledged to match a portion (up to $2 million in total) of the state's funding for approved initiatives at colleges.

“Delta Dental of Wisconsin looks forward to continuing its partnership with technical colleges across Wisconsin in support of their oral health workforce programs,” said Shannon Semmerling, executive director of Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation.

“The Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation’s matching funds to the Wisconsin Technical College System, in support of Wisconsin Act 89, significantly expands the state’s dental workforce. This grant will allow us to introduce two advanced career fields – dental therapy and expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) programs – new to Wisconsin,” said Layla Merrifield, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System. “This generous matching fund combined with the state’s budget appropriation will help us address an impending wave of retirements in the dental profession. Adding mid-level professionals through dental therapy and EFDA and increasing the number of dental hygienists will enhance patient care and boost oral health among our most vulnerable populations. Strong partnerships between technical colleges and Wisconsin employers continue to be a cornerstone of our state’s success – providing a competitive edge in economic and public health outcomes.”

National surveys indicate that one-third of dental assistants and dental hygienists plan to retire within five years, underscoring a proactive need to bolster this workforce.

The funding and program enhancements are expected to inspire careers in oral health and ultimately improve accessibility for Wisconsin residents. The funds will primarily be used to establish nine new programs for dental hygienists, assistants, therapists or EFDAs; additionally they aim at expanding or improving 13 existing programs by purchasing equipment and making facility improvements.

Colleges will receive these funds throughout summer.