Howard Kim, D.D.S., is the regional dental director at Via Care Community Health Center in East Los Angeles. With more than a decade of clinical and administrative experience, he holds a dental degree and a master’s degree in craniofacial biology from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, and a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles. A former private practice clinician turned community health advocate, Dr. Kim has held numerous leadership roles, including co-chair of the Dental Roundtable at the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, 2025 president of the Los Angeles Dental Society, California’s District 13 representative on the ADA New Dentist Committee, and a delegate to the House of Delegates of both the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association.
Student loans quietly shape many of the biggest decisions in a dentist’s life: where we work, how much we work and when we feel financially ready to buy a home or start a family. Yet repayment and forgiveness rules are complex, constantly changing and easy to postpone dealing with.
For me, postponing wasn’t an option. As a father of two young daughters and someone preparing to buy a home, I needed a clearer understanding of my student loans and the changes ahead. That’s why I attended a webinar hosted by the American Dental Association and Laurel Road. Loan experts broke down what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for current and future borrowers, including how repayment options may change and how Public Service Loan Forgiveness applies to dentists.
My takeaway from the session was that there are still many options for paying back your loans. I was unsure about the Repayment Assistance Plan, so the webinar answered my questions about this future repayment plan.
My goal isn’t just to manage debt, but to understand it well enough to make confident decisions as policies continue to evolve. That led me to schedule a free consultation with Laurel Road, where I took a deeper look at Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
As a regional dental director at a nonprofit health center, it was reassuring to confirm the key eligibility requirements: working at least 30 hours per week for a qualifying employer, holding Direct Loans and being enrolled in a qualifying plan. This validated my situation, and I felt more confident in my decision to stick with Public Service Loan Forgiveness while also continuing to monitor any student loan changes so I can be ready to adapt to another plan if my career or workplace changes.
I’m grateful that being part of the ADA community keeps me connected to resources that help. When it comes to student loans, staying informed and engaged truly feels like the smartest move we can make.
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