LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 10, 2025) — The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UKCD), in partnership with UK HealthCare, has been awarded $35,975 through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund (HWIF) to support full-tuition scholarships for students enrolled in the Dental Assistant/Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) training program. The award includes a $17,987.50 match from CPE, paired with a $17,987.50 contribution from UK HealthCare.
Five Kentucky residents will receive full-tuition scholarships for the six-month training program. Scholarship recipients must commit to working for UK HealthCare for two years upon completion, helping to strengthen the oral health workforce and expand access to care across the Commonwealth.
“This investment directly supports Kentucky’s growing need for well-trained dental assistants,” said Dr. Kenneth Nusbacher, associate dean of clinical affairs and assistant chief medical officer of ambulatory dentistry UKHC. “By removing financial barriers and creating clear pathways to employment, we can prepare more dental professionals to serve communities where they are needed most.”
The initiative responds to statewide workforce shortages: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% increase in dental assistant employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with an estimated 510 annual job openings in Kentucky alone. As one of the few providers in the state accepting Medicaid for dental services, UK HealthCare plays a vital role in caring for underserved populations. Increasing the number of trained dental assistants will support patient throughput and expand access for vulnerable groups.
Awardees were be recognized during the HWIF Awards Program at the Healthcare Workforce Collaboratory on December 9 at The Campbell House in Lexington, KY.
This partnership underscores UKCD and UK HealthCare’s commitment to strengthening Kentucky’s oral health workforce and improving access to high-quality dental care for underserved communities.