Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program (DFLRP)

The Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration. This federal initiative is designed to strengthen the nation’s oral health workforce by addressing faculty shortages in dental and dental hygiene education programs. By providing financial support in the form of loan repayment, the program seeks to make academic careers more attractive and sustainable for dental professionals, particularly in disciplines that support public health and underserved populations. The primary purpose of this program is to increase the number of qualified dental and dental hygiene faculty by assisting accredited training programs in recruiting and retaining full-time faculty members. The program supports institutions rather than individuals directly, enabling them to offer loan repayment benefits as an incentive for faculty service. This approach aligns workforce development goals with educational capacity building, ensuring that future dental professionals receive training from adequately staffed and qualified faculty. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support loan repayment for eligible faculty members affiliated with qualifying programs. Awards are expected to be distributed across approximately eight recipients, with a total program funding pool of 800000 dollars and individual awards up to 100000 dollars. While a minimum award floor is technically listed, it is not substantively defined and should be treated as unspecified. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, making the funding fully federally supported. Funds are restricted to supporting loan repayment as an incentive mechanism and are not intended for broader institutional expenditures. Eligible applicants include a range of higher education institutions and nonprofit entities; however, eligibility is specifically limited to programs that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. These must be programs in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, including dental hygiene schools or residency and advanced education programs. Both public and private nonprofit institutions may apply, as well as tribal organizations and governments that meet accreditation requirements. This ensures that funding is directed toward programs with verified educational quality standards. The application process is conducted electronically, with submissions required through the designated federal grants platform by the stated deadline. Applicants must prepare and submit a complete application package by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While detailed application components are not outlined in the forecast notice, typical federal submissions include program narratives, budget justifications, and institutional documentation. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent are specified for this opportunity. The timeline for this opportunity indicates an estimated posting date in mid-May, with applications due approximately one month later in mid-June. Awards are expected to be announced by early August, with project activities beginning in early September. This relatively short turnaround emphasizes the importance of early preparation by eligible institutions. The program appears to be part of an ongoing federal workforce initiative, though recurrence is not explicitly stated. For additional information or clarification, applicants may contact the listed program officer via phone or email.