Main Content

Dr. G. Norriss Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program

In 2013, the Mississippi Legislature authorized the Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program (MRDSP), creating a unique longitudinal program that identifies rural college students who aspire to return to their roots to practice general dentistry.

In 2025, MRDSP was renamed the Dr. G. Norriss Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program to honor a long-serving supporter.

Academic enrichment, faculty and dentist mentoring plus solid dental school financial support through the Dr. G. Norriss Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program enablse capable young Mississippians to provide adequate dental care in rural areas of Mississippi.

Program phases

The programs three phases include:

1. initial (prior to matriculation to dental school),
2. dental school training, and
3. actual practice.

Maintaining a high level of awareness and involvement in Mississippi's rural health care is a constant in every phase of training. Channeling scholars into general dentistry or pediatric dentistry will target the current rural dental shortage.

The Dr. G. Norriss Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program is good news for rural Mississippi!