Federal grant support to general practice residency programs in dentistry: results of two years of funding

The Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-484) authorized federal grant support to general practice residency programs. This paper reports the results of two years of funding under this authority. In this period, 46 institutions received grants totalling $7.8 million for the purpose of enlarging enrollments, hiring faculty and support staff, improving facilities, and related purposes. Three hundred eighty-six residents were enrolled in grant-supported programs; 118 of these residents received federal financial assistance. Dental departments in hospitals located in the eastern part of the country were the major recipients of these grants. Additional information related to program and trainee data, sponsorship of programs, developmental stage of programs, geographic location of programs, and funding by budget category is presented.