Patriot Health Initiative to provide $450,000 to NSU's College of Dental Medicine

Steven M. Mariano, Chairman & CEO of Patriot National Insurance Group, today announced the launch of the Patriot Health Initiative, a program which will provide Nova Southeastern University's College of Dental Medicine with up to $450,000 of funding to support its efforts to provide dental programming targeting underserved populations of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Patriot National, a leading provider of workers' compensation insurance and insurance services, has established a long record of support for charitable and community organizations throughout South Florida. Most recently, Patriot has underwritten the presenting sponsorship of the American Heart Association's Heart Ball, and the American Fine Wine Competition Gala benefitting the Diabetes Research Institute.

"This gift to NSU underscores our commitment to give back to the community that has given us so much," said Mariano as he stood alongside Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler. "These kinds of collaborations for the greater public good demonstrate how our system is supposed to work."

"The Patriot Health Initiative represents an outstanding example of the charitable investment that the private sector is making to enhance health care and education in our community," Mayor Seiler said. "The generous donation will enable Nova Southeastern University to expand its outreach and provide proper dental care to families and children in our community who might otherwise be unable to obtain these services."

The College of Dental Medicine will use the gift to support community programming. Plans to expand hours of existing programs and establish new programs that target traditionally underserved segments of the community are all being considered. The Patriot National-sponsored services will impact a wide range of patients, including those with special needs and developmental disabilities.

The College offers dental services throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale with clinics at its main campus in Davie, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, and Oakland Park. CDM is partners with the nonprofit Women In Distress to provide dental services to battered women.

"We are honored to receive this donation from Patriot National Insurance Group, which will help improve access to care for many people," said Robert Uchin, D.D.S., Dean of the College of Dental Medicine. "Our collaboration with Patriot will make a positive impact and lead to more smiles in our community."