W.Va. offers incentive for dental grads to stay

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University School of Dentistry students are being offered a financial incentive to stay in the state after they graduate.

A new grant program is designed to help dental school graduates pay off student loans if they commit to practicing in an area where there is a shortage of dentists.

The Dental Workforce Loan Reimbursement program offers up to $50,000 for a two-year commitment and $25,000 for a one-year commitment. Loan reimbursement grants will be awarded to five students annually.

School of Dentistry dean Dr. David Felton says 35 percent of West Virginia's dental workforce will retire in the next decade. The loan reimbursement program will help WVU graduates fill that void.

Fourth-year dental students have until Nov. 16 to apply for the grants