August 07, 2025
Denver Health hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening of its new Dental Assistant Program Training Offices, a state-of-the-art facility designed to expand career pathways in oral health care and strengthen workforce development across the community.
Attended by Denver Health’s CEO Donna Lynne, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, and several program leaders and graduates, the ceremony gave attendees the chance to tour the new training space and meet the inaugural cohort of students.
“We’re thrilled to open the permanent home of Denver Health’s Dental Assistant Training Program,” said Donna Lynne, CEO of Denver Health. “This initiative space reflects our commitment to building accessible, high-quality career opportunities in health care.”
The program, led by Duane Mata, DDS, chair of dentistry at Denver Health, and program managers Milagros Medina and Frannie Rogers, aims to address critical gaps in oral health care by preparing students for careers as dental assistants through hands-on training and mentorship.
Congresswoman DeGette praised the program’s impact on both health care and economic opportunity.
“This is exactly the kind of investment our community needs,” said Rep. DeGette. “By training the next generation of dental professionals, Denver Health is not only improving access to care but also empowering individuals with the skills to build meaningful careers.”
Along with critical funding secured by Rep. DeGette, Denver Health’s Dental Assistant Program is supported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Delta Dental Foundation.
