Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has received a $65,000 grant from the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation to boost oral health career awareness on Colorado's Western Slope. The region has been designated as a dental health professional shortage area, with Grand Junction and surrounding counties facing below-average recruiting and retention rates.
Through its community education center, CMU will use the funds to serve Delta, Mesa, Montrose, and Gunnison counties, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and rural students. Planned initiatives include hands-on dental demonstrations, career panels, job shadowing, and summer health career camps for middle and high school students.
