Articles from Delta Dental of Tennessee

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) and its charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, recently presented Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, CEO of Interfaith Dental, with its Smile Power Award. The award, which celebrates an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the oral health of Tennesseans, was given to Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi in recognition of her decades-long leadership of Interfaith Dental, a volunteer-driven safety net clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, and commitment to expanding access to care for the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today launched its 10th annual holiday campaign, pledging a collective $70,000 in donations to the seven children’s hospitals across the state. The funding will be directed in part based on public input, and Tennesseans are invited to select the children’s hospital close to their home or their heart to receive additional dollars from Delta Dental online and via social media through December 25.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) announced today the appointment of industry veteran Barry Boster as its new Chief Revenue Officer. With more than 30 years of experience in the employee benefits industry, Boster will play a key role in driving revenue growth and strengthening relationships with partners across the state.

The Nashville Sounds, Delta Dental of Tennessee, and cityCURRENT recently hosted the third annual Kids Dental Day at First Horizon Park. More than 400 kids of all ages from the Nashville area received free dental screenings, a new pair of socks and shoes, snacks, a new book, and Sounds souvenirs as they prepare for the new school year. Approximately 80% of the kids screened at the event needed additional dental care and were able to receive a complimentary cleaning onsite, as well as a referral to Meharry or Neighborhood Health for follow up care, as needed.

Delta Dental of Tennessee’s charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, today announced the launch of a statewide oral health education campaign in partnership with PBS KIDS stations across Tennessee. The year-long “Healthy Smiles” campaign features a series of public service announcements (PSAs), local community events, and new educational materials designed to teach children about oral health and encourage healthy habits.

This year, Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) is celebrating 25 years of giving back to the community it calls home. With its mission of ensuring healthy smiles, the not-for-profit organization donated more than $70 million since 1999, giving to improve the oral and overall health of Tennesseans. Delta Dental along with the company’s philanthropic arm, the Smile180 Foundation, supports the state’s dental colleges, children's hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities.

Jeff Ballard, CPA, CGMA, has formally taken on the role as Delta Dental of Tennessee’s new CEO, the company announced. Ballard joined Delta Dental in 2015 as Chief Financial Officer and was elevated to president in 2022. He will now hold the title of president and CEO, a transition first announced in August 2023.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today launched its annual holiday campaign, pledging a collective $75,000 in donations to the seven children’s hospitals across the state. The funding will be directed in part based on public input, and Tennesseans are invited to select the children’s hospital close to their home or their heart to receive additional dollars from Delta Dental online and via social media through December 25.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today announced that Dr. Phil Wenk will retire as chief executive officer (CEO) on December 31, 2023. Jeff Ballard, CPA, current president and CFO of Delta Dental, will succeed Wenk and become president and CEO effective January 1, 2024.

To help expand access to dental care for individuals with special health care needs, Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) is introducing enhanced benefits and a new training program for providers. Beginning January 1, 2024, children and adults with special health care needs will have access to expanded benefits through the Delta Dental network.

Delta Dental of Tennessee’s charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, today announced the launch of a statewide oral health education campaign in partnership with PBS KIDS stations across Tennessee. The year-long “Have a Healthy Smile” campaign features a series of public service announcements (PSAs), local community events, and the release of a classroom curriculum, Healthy Smile Learning, designed to engage students across grades K-8 through a series of tailored lesson plans and videos.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today launched its 10th annual holiday campaign, pledging a collective $75,000 in donations to the seven children’s hospitals across the state. The funding will be directed in part based on public input, and Tennesseans are invited to select the children’s hospital close to their home or their heart to receive additional dollars from Delta Dental online.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today announced a new grant opportunity for schools to replace an existing water fountain with a contactless Elkay bottle-filling station through its Water’s Cool @ School program. While previous grant cycles have focused on elementary and middle schools, any Tennessee school serving students in grades K-12 is now invited to apply by the November 18 deadline. Delta Dental will ultimately award grants to 30 schools across the state.

Today, Delta Dental of Tennessee’s charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, announced a $1.075 million commitment to the Cleft and Craniofacial Program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The funds will be used to establish the Delta Dental of Tennessee’s Smile180 Foundation Directorship for the Cleft and Craniofacial Program, and to provide critical support as the program seeks to expand its services to care for more young patients and their families.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) and its charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, have recognized outgoing Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey with its third-ever Smile Power Award. The award, which celebrates an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the oral health of Tennesseans, was given to Dr. Piercey in recognition of her stewardship of the state’s new 5-year, $94 million pilot program to expand access to dental care known as the Healthy Smiles Initiative. Click here to view a video of the award presentation.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today announced the 25 middle schools from across the state selected to receive “Water’s Cool @ School” grants to replace an existing water fountain with an Elkay bottle filling station. The grant program, first launched in 2020, aims to educate students on the benefits of drinking more water, as well as help make it more accessible during the school day. Schools are encouraged, but not required, to submit creative projects along with their grant applications that highlight how water is good for your health, what makes a healthy smile, or why the school needs a water bottle filling station.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) has promoted Jeff Ballard, CPA, to the new position of executive vice president. He will also continue in his current role as chief financial officer (CFO) and oversight of the sales department. Ballard came to Delta Dental in 2015.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today launched its annual holiday card campaign in support of children’s hospitals, highlighting the vital role that Child Life programs play in supporting children and their families through medical experiences. Delta Dental is committing a collective $140,000 in donations to children’s hospitals across the state through the campaign; each of the seven children’s hospitals will receive at least a $10,000 donation, and the remaining $70,000 will be awarded based on public input by December 26.

Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) today announced a new grant opportunity for middle schools to replace an existing water fountain with a contactless Elkay bottle-filling stations through its Water’s Cool @ School program. All Tennessee middle schools are encouraged to apply before the November 23 deadline. Delta Dental will award grants to 25 middle schools across the state.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, along with the Tennessee Charitable Care Network (TCCN), an association of more than 50 safety net health care clinics including 19 dental clinics, has declared June 14-18, 2021, the 6th Annual Smile Power Oral Health Week. Smile Power Week highlights the transformational care these clinics provide in communities across Tennessee, from fillings and emergency tooth extractions to restorative dental care through the state’s safety net denture program. In 2020, Tennessee's safety net dental clinics served more than 39,850 patients who may otherwise not have received care.

Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, a Nashville-based non-profit dedicated to providing support, education, and hope to anyone impacted by cancer, and Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental), the state’s largest independent dental benefits carrier, today launched a new partnership to support individuals living with oral cancers and raise awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection.