Longtime CEO of Interfaith Dental recognized for her unwavering dedication to improving the oral health of Tennesseans
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–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.
The award was presented to Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi by Dr. Phil Wenk, CEO of the Smile180 Foundation, at a conference for safety net dental clinic leaders hosted by Interfaith Dental entitled “River of Resilience: Leadership in Changing Currents.”
“For nearly 30 years, Rhonda has never hesitated to step up and help, whether it was a patient in need of care, or a young dentist or nonprofit leader seeking advice,” said Dr. Wenk. “Her compassion and determination have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless Tennesseans. It’s an honor to recognize her with the Smile Power Award.”
Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi has spent her entire career overseeing dental programs for the underserved. After working in two international health clinics, she became the first employee and CEO of Interfaith Dental in 1995. Under her leadership, Interfaith has grown from a two-chair operation located in a church basement into a two-clinic, 26-chair facility with a staff of nearly 60 that provides over $8 million of care for 3,600 uninsured or underinsured patients each year.
“I’ve devoted my career to the belief that a healthy smile changes everything, and it is an honor to be recognized by partners like Delta Dental who share that commitment wholeheartedly,” said Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi. “Increasing access to quality, affordable care is truly a team effort, and I’m fortunate to work with a terrific team at Interfaith, a wonderful and resilient group of safety net clinics leaders, and so many others who make it possible to do this type of work.”
Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi is deeply engaged in the state’s nonprofit and oral health communities. She serves on the board of directors of the Tennessee Dental Association, the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, the Safety Net Consortium of Middle Tennessee, and the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce and Development. She is the chair of the Tennessee Alliance of Oral Health Advocates and was recently inducted into the International College of Dentists, an honor reserved for 3% of dentists worldwide.
In 2021, Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi was appointed by Governor Lee to a special task force to address oral health access for all Tennesseans. The task force’s resulting recommendation – a five-year, $94 million pilot program known as the Healthy Smiles Initiative – aims to increase access to oral health care for all Tennesseans by increasing the number of dentists practicing in the state. Now wrapping up its third year, the program has helped UTHSC College of Dentistry and Meharry Dental School increase their class sizes, increase access to dental care through the development of a new dental clinic in Kingsport, and create incentives for graduating dentists to practice in areas of need. In addition, under her leadership, Interfaith Dental designed and manages a statewide oral health program for low-income older adults.
Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi is just the fourth recipient of the Smile Power Award, joining a distinguished group that includes the late State Representative Charles Sargent, former Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak, and former Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey.
Delta Dental’s Smile180 Foundation has donated more than $30.7 million to Tennessee’s dental colleges, children’s hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities since its creation in 2015.
To learn more about Delta Dental’s philanthropic work across Tennessee, visit the Smile180 Foundation website.
About the Smile180 Foundation
Smile180 reflects the transformative power of a healthy smile to turn someone’s life around. The Smile180 Foundation supports Tennessee’s dental colleges, children’s hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities.
About Delta Dental of Tennessee
Delta Dental of Tennessee is the state’s largest independent dental benefits carrier with 1.5 million lives covered. As part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, Delta Dental of Tennessee members have access to the largest dental network in the nation, with more than 206,000 providers serving more than 558,000 locations. With the simple mission of ensuring healthy smiles, Delta Dental of Tennessee works hard to help members of the communities it serves. Along with its corporate foundation, Smile180, Delta Dental of Tennessee donated more than $4.0 million in funding and in-kind services to over 100 organizations in 2024.
Contacts
Ann Waller Curtis / [email protected]
