Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Awards Dental Grants

Posted on May 30, 2013 in In the Community

The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, the charitable arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, awarded four $2,500 grants to graduating dental students at Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine and The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry.

For the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, education for oral health professionals is one of its key priorities. Through its student grants program, the Foundation recognizes outstanding dental students who have demonstrated service and commitment to oral health in Illinois.

“The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is committed to improving oral health of Illinoisans. Our student grants program allows us the opportunity to invest in oral health professionals committed to that same mission,” said Lora Vitek, director of philanthropy & community relations for the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation.

The student grants program for graduating dental students in Illinois is a long-standing program both at UIC College of Dentistry and SIU School of Dental Medicine.

To be eligible for the grants, recipients must pass their National Boards, be in the top 25% of their class academically or clinically, plan to practice in Illinois, demonstrate an interest and/or participate in community outreach initiatives, or have declared interest in the advanced pediatric dentistry specialty.

The four recipients are listed below:

• Rima Mounsef is graduating from the SIU School of Dental Medicine and plans to work in a rural Illinois area where she can make a large impact to those in need

• Peter Lotowski is graduating from the SIU School of Dental Medicine and has accepted a position as one of four residents at the Idaho State University Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. After his one-year residency, Lotowski plans to return to Illinois to practice.

• Alec Zurek is graduating from the UIC College of Dentistry and plans to practice dentistry in Naperville with his father. He will first pursue a specialty in prosthodontics at UIC.

• Claire Sheehan is graduating from the UIC College of Dentistry and next year will be a resident in the General Practice Residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Delta Dental of Illinois congratulates these four outstanding students on their accomplishments!

For more information on the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, please visit www.deltadentalil.com/ddilfoundation.