Established September 2000

The largest single endowment for oral health research in Kentucky created the Delta Dental Endowed Professorship in Oral Health and Systemic Disease. The endowment, which was matched through the Research Challenge Trust Fund, was the School of Dentistry's first endowed faculty position.

The holder of this professorship helps lead the school's investigations of the relationship between oral health and systemic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Delta Dental is a national organization made up of nonprofit dental plans that provides groups with dental benefits coverage. It is the oldest and largest dental plan program in the country and a major provider of dental benefits in Kentucky.