WASHINGTON – The Howard University College of Dentistry announced a new $500,000, five-year grant from the United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund. The grant will be used to provide scholarships to currently enrolled and prospective dentistry students.

The charitable announcement came during the College of Dentistry’s Post-Doctoral Graduates Recognition Ceremony on June 28, 2021. The gift was presented to the college by Roosevelt Allen, DDS, Howard dentistry alumnus and vice president and dental director of United Concordia Dental’s Government Business Unit.

“The goal of the grant is to help address the oral and overall health care needs of underserved communities,” said Dr. Allen, who also serves as a board member of the United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund. “The mission of the Howard University College of Dentistry is to support traditionally underrepresented minorities as they pursue careers in the dental profession.”

The United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund was established this year to ensure a diverse workforce and promote dental care for the uninsured and underinsured. Andrea D. Jackson, DDS, dean of the Howard University College of Dentistry, expressed gratitude to Dr. Allen and to United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund for the donation.

“This contribution is greatly needed to assist dental students in navigating the tremendous educational debt incurred during their education to become health care providers in dentistry and contribute to access to care for the underserved population,” Dr. Jackson said. “We are very appreciative of this wonderful gift.”

At United Concordia Dental, Dr. Allen is responsible for clinical and dental policy for all Department of Defense and other government contracts for more than 4.1 million active-duty service members, active-duty family members and National Guard and Reserve service members and their families. He also provides clinical and dental policy oversight for medical assistance programs in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Dr. Allen entered the Air Force upon graduation from the Howard University College of Dentistry in 1986 and held various clinical, educator and command positions. He retired as a two-star general (major general) following 32 years of service, holding the positions of Air Force medical service director of health care operations and research and Air Force Dental Corps chief, responsible for approximately 1,000 dentists and over 3,000 dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental laboratory technicians and support staff.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

About United Concordia Dental

United Concordia Dental is a leading national dental solutions partner focused on delivering high-quality, cost-effective dental care. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the company has over 9.1 million members, one of the nation’s largest dentist networks, an AM Best “A” (Excellent) rating and has licensed entities in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. United Concordia is committed to providing remarkable experiences to our customers, with a focus on enhancing their total health. The United Concordia Dental Charitable Fund operates as a fund of the Highmark Foundation. For more information about United Concordia, visit UnitedConcordia.com.

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Media Contact: Sholnn Freeman, sholnn.freeman@howard.edu