CDA grants help offset student loan debts

Two California dentists will each receive a maximum of $105,000 to help offset significant student loan debt in exchange for a three-year commitment to work in an underserved community through the California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation's Dental Student Loan Repayment Grant Program.

Nine grants have been awarded since the program's inception in 2002. It is estimated that each CDA Foundation Student Loan Repayment Grant recipient provides more than $500,000 in dental care annually. In 2009 the program saw a 67% increase in applications over 2008. The two latest recipients, Siri Ziese, D.D.S., and Jose Torres, D.M.D., were among 25 applicants.

Dr. Ziese is the child of Yugoslavian immigrants with limited financial resources. During college Dr. Ziese worked as a dental assistant for the Diamond Springs Dental Center where she is currently serving her three-year commitment. Because of the debt she incurred from dental school, Dr. Ziese was planning to move out of state after graduating from Loma Linda School of Dentistry in 2007 but now is able to remain at the clinic that taught her so much.

"My family's long struggle with social and economic hardship have inspired me to serve the community I am so familiar with. The grant is an amazing blessing and is having a huge impact on my life and, in turn, my community," said Dr. Ziese.

Dr. Torres practices at United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley/Earlimart Health Center in the same farm worker community where he grew up. His fluent Spanish and roots in the community have helped him earn the trust of its current residents. Dr. Torres knew he wanted to give back to the community that raised him when he graduated from Tufts University in 2007, but with his mounting debt, was not sure how.

"Because of the grant, I am able to stay here for a long time, giving the patients stability in care that had been lacking. It allows me to focus on providing quality dental care and building relationships with the patients that I identify with," said Dr. Torres.