BIG RAPIDS — Ferris State University announced the launch of Michigan’s first Dental Therapy training program on March 12, 2026. Dr. Deborah Brown, an expert in non-profit dental care, has been appointed to lead the development and launch of the initiative in Big Rapids.
The program aims to train dental therapists to provide routine care, including cleanings, exams and fillings, under the supervision of a dentist. This initiative comes as more than 1.5 million Michigan residents live in federally designated dental shortage areas with limited access to oral health care.
Brown currently serves as the chief executive officer at My Community Dental Centers, a non-profit organization that operates clinics across Michigan. The organization provides dental care to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured residents. Brown is a graduate of the Rutgers University School of Medicine and holds a Master of Health care Administration from Seton Hall University.
Lincoln Gibbs, dean of the Ferris State College of Health Professions, said the new program will provide students with skills that are in high demand. “This program is an exciting new chapter for Ferris State and will provide students with in-demand skills that will allow them to help people across Michigan and beyond,” Gibbs said. “We are confident that Dr. Brown’s vision, expertise and leadership will guide this new program to excellence.”
Data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows that while the state has 59.1 dentists per 100,000 people, those providers are not distributed equally. This lack of representation and distribution leaves more than 1.5 million residents in federally designated dental shortage areas. The affected populations include rural residents, people with disabilities, seniors, pregnant women and low-income families.
Dental therapists are licensed to practice in traditional private offices and non-traditional settings such as schools, community health centers and mobile clinics. They work under the supervision of a dentist to deliver care. Ferris State officials said the program is designed to create new educational pathways for students while addressing regional oral health care needs.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is assisting Ferris State through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration oral health workforce grant. The university received $85,000 in funding to support the initiative. These funds will be used to hire a consultant to assist with curriculum design and the accreditation process.
Ferris State University will seek accreditation for the program through the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Curriculum development is ongoing with the support of federal grant funding and state health officials.