March 12, 2026

Ferris State taps expert in non-profit dental care to lead Michigan’s first Dental Therapy training program

Dr. Deborah Brown, who has spent her career with organizations supporting people needing dental care, will lead the development and launch of Ferris State University’s new Dental Therapy program.

The program, the first in Michigan, will expand access to dental care by training dental therapists, who are licensed providers trained to deliver routine dental care including exams, cleanings, and fillings under a dentist’s supervision.

Brown serves as Chief Executive Officer at My Community Dental Centers, a non-profit organization operating dental clinics across Michigan, providing comprehensive, high-quality dental care to all, including Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured.

“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,” said Dr. Lincoln Gibbs, dean of Ferris State’s College of Health Professions. “We are confident that Dr. Brown’s vision, expertise, and leadership will guide this new program to excellence.”

Under Dr. Brown’s leadership, the university will build a high-quality, forward-looking program designed to expand educational pathways for students while addressing critical oral healthcare needs across the region.

Dental therapy represents an innovative and impactful model of care, and this initiative positions the Ferris State at the forefront of advancing workforce development and improving access to oral health services.

Dental therapists can practice in traditional private offices and non-traditional settings such as schools, mobile clinics and community health centers, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The state agency said while Michigan has 59.1 dentists per 100,000 people, the dentists are not distributed equally throughout the state or representative of the populations they serve.

More than 1.5 million residents live in federally designated dental shortage areas with limited access to care. This includes children and seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, people with disabilities and rural residents.

Through this initiative, Ferris State reaffirms its commitment to expanding academic opportunities and improving access to high-quality oral healthcare—particularly in underserved and rural communities.

MDHHS is assisting Ferris State with program development through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration oral health workforce grant. This includes $85,000 in funding to help the university hire a consultant to assist with curriculum design and accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Brown is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Medicine. She earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University.