2025 Clinical Dental Education Innovations Grant Program

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering the 2025 Clinical Dental Education Innovations Grant Program. This program aims to address the limited opportunities for clinical training, which is a requirement for dental professionals to become licensed. Under the authority of Minnesota Statutes, the Commissioner of Health is authorized to award grants to sponsoring institutions and clinical dental training sites. The core mission alignment is to increase dental access for underserved populations and to promote innovative clinical dental education or clinical training programs. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are underserved populations in Minnesota, who will benefit from increased dental access. The grant also benefits teaching institutions and clinical training sites that train dental professionals, enabling them to enhance their programs. The impact goals are to improve the availability of clinical training for dental professionals and, consequently, to expand access to dental care for those who need it most. The program prioritizes projects that increase dental access for underserved populations and foster innovative clinical dental education or training. Eligible applicants include teaching institutions and clinical training sites that provide accredited clinical training, with an exception for organizations actively seeking accreditation with a reasonable assumption of success. Grant funds are not transferable. The expected outcomes include an increase in the number of trained dental professionals, leading to improved dental access for underserved communities. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of grants awarded, the number of individuals receiving clinical training through these programs, and ultimately, the impact on dental care access for the target populations. The grant agreements are estimated to begin on January 1, 2025, and end on December 31, 2025. The estimated total amount to grant is $1,122,000, with individual awards ranging from approximately $30,000 to $150,000.