Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation presents Community Health Spirit Award to Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs leader
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Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Logo JPG


November 11th, 2019

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation presents Community Health Spirit Award to Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs leader

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation today announced Simone Hogan, LICSW, Senior Director of Healthcare at the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), as the recipient of its 2019 Ann K. Johnson Community Health Spirit Award. Presented at the Delta Dental of Minnesota Symposium at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington, Hogan was recognized for her work supporting oral health for vulnerable older adults and veterans in Minnesota.

In 2017, Hogan spearheaded an effort to construct a new, nation-leading dental clinic on the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus to provide comprehensive dental services to senior residents. With broad funding support and multiple partners, the clinic opened for patient care in fall 2019. Oral healthcare is a clinical initiative for the agency and mobile dentistry is also provided at the three greater MN Veterans Homes. Hogan has continued to lead the project, evaluating and adapting the model as needed.

“We are thrilled to present Simone Hogan with the Ann K. Johnson Community Health Spirit Award in recognition of her leadership, positive outlook, resolve and collaborative approach to bringing oral health forward in the lives of vulnerable older adults and veterans,” said Joe Lally, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation’s executive director. “Our team has experienced her leadership firsthand through her work on the Minneapolis Veterans Home Dental Clinic and we appreciate her dedication to ensuring on-site oral care is sustained for years to come.”

Hogan oversees the operations of the five state Veterans Homes with the MDVA Deputy Commissioner. She has worked with the MDVA since 2017, guiding its health care system and ensuring it meets quality of care measures. Prior to joining MDVA, she was a clinical social worker at the Minneapolis VA Hospital for approximately 12 years. She is passionate about Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation providing excellent healthcare services to Veterans. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation will present $2,500 to the MDVA’s Minneapolis Veterans Home Dental Clinic in Hogan’s honor. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation was also one of the initial funders of the dental clinic with a $100,000 grant. The clinic is the first of its kind in the country.

Established in 2014, the Ann K. Johnson Community Health Spirit Award is given annually to individuals in special recognition of their contributions to improving oral or overall health in Minnesota and to celebrate their visionary leadership. The award is presented in honor of Ann Johnson, former executive director of Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and community affairs director of Delta Dental of Minnesota.

Recipients of the award exemplify Johnson’s leadership qualities by: inspiring and bringing together people to achieve oral health and/or overall health goals; leading by example through a lifelong commitment and dedication to communities; seeking continual growth through listening, learning and practicing creative leadership; achieving significant accomplishments for community health, especially oral health; promoting a positive work experience; and helping others shine and rise to their full potential.

About Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation is founded on the belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile. In 2009, Delta Dental of Minnesota’s parent organization sold a company and used 100% of the proceeds to establish and fund the Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of Minnesotans through oral health. To date, the foundation has invested more than $35 million to expand prevention and care, reaching more than 1 million people to promote healthy smiles statewide.