ABINGDON, VA., October 16, 2025 – Dr. Scott Miller has been recognized as a 2025 Health Access Hero Awards recipient by Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest. Individuals are nominated by friends and colleagues to shine a light on their work and receive a $10,000 donation to a charity of choice. Dr. Miller was nominated for his work to expand access to comprehensive dental care for underserved populations, including patients enrolled in Medicaid or unemployed and uninsured patients, while also training new dentists to serve in the dental desert that is Southwest Virginia. The annual Health Access Hero Awards recognize individual change-makers and nonprofits working to broaden access to health services for communities in need.
Founder of Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center (AHCDC) in Abingdon, Va., Dr. Scott Miller is dedicated to improving access to dental care. AHCDC opened in March of 2020 and has served more than 8,000 patients with more than 84,000 dental procedures and trained 29 new dentists. He also tripled the clinical capacity of AHCDC, established the first local digital dental lab, and directs the Johnston Memorial Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program, where more than 25% of graduates choose to practice locally. Dr. Miller is a Medicaid advocate, serving on the state’s Medicaid Dental Advisory Committee. He will donate his $10,000 award to AHCDC as it breaks ground on more space for 7 additional chairs and new digital tools.
“To me, health access means you have a seat indoors, at a clinic or office, not in a fairground under a tent in the scorching heat of July vying for whatever dentistry you can get. This has been the case for thousands of Southwestern Virginia residents who postpone care until the annual remote clinic days,” Dr. Miller said. “That’s not the model for patients in need. Access means having a provider you can go to five days a week. And if you’re in pain, there is a spot waiting for you. That is what we do here. I am proud to say our compassionate residents and deeply experienced faculty will see you the day you call with a toothache.”
Healthcare access is an ongoing issue across America, and grassroots efforts can drive meaningful results within communities. From diabetes to oral health, the Health Access Hero Awards raise awareness about the work of people and programs around the country that are charting new ways to overcome longstanding healthcare challenges.
“Sun Life and DentaQuest are committed to broadening access to care through philanthropic initiatives that can have large-scale impact at local levels. Dr. Miller's work addresses the critical shortage of dental care in Southwest Virginia, where the dentist-to-population ratio is significantly lower than the state average,” said David Healy, president of Sun Life U.S. including DentaQuest. “Every year, we receive dozens of nominations, and we want to thank all the unsung Heroes doing the hard work, day in and day out. And to Dr. Miller, thank you for the opportunity to help make your impact even stronger and move the needle toward equitable health access for all.”
There are two tracks to the Health Access Hero Awards: various grants to fund innovative health and wellness programs at community organizations, and recognition of individuals who have made a significant impact in their communities. Individual Heroes also receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice. The Health Access Hero Awards have provided more than $3.5 million in grants and recognized more than 130 individuals across the country.
Read more about Dr. Miller and the 2025 Health Access Hero Awards, including all the recipients, at https://www.dentaquest.com/en/about-us/health-access-heroes.
ABOUT DENTAQUEST
Sun Life U.S. Dental, which includes DentaQuest, is dedicated to improving the oral health of all through purpose-driven, outcomes-based solutions. We make dental benefits better for everyone through Preventistry® – an inclusive approach centered on preventive, quality care, expanded access and solutions built on valued relationships across the health care ecosystem. We manage dental and vision benefits for approximately 35 million Americans. For 30 years, we have delivered cost-effective benefit plans and services for employer groups, individuals, health plans, and government-sponsored dental programs. We are the largest Medicaid and CHIP dental benefits administrator in the U.S., by membership. We also support direct patient care through an expanding network of approximately 75 dental practices in underserved communities across the United States. Learn more about Sun Life U.S. Dental at Sunlife.com/dental and DentaQuest.com.
ABOUT SUN LIFE
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom.
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