DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF NEW JERSEY EXECUTIVE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS DENTAL PROFESSION SERVICE AWARD

PARSIPPANY, NJ (September 16, 2003) – D. Scott Navarro, D.D.S., vice president of professional services and dental director for Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, recently received the Dr. Israel (Sonnie) Shulman Award for Meritorious Service from the American Association of Dental Consultants (AADC).

Dr. Navarro is a past president and program chair of AADC, an organization comprised almost entirely of dentists who serve as consultants to dental insurance carriers. The primary purpose of the organization is to educate and inform its nearly 400 national and international members. The Shulman Award, which has been granted only three times in the past, recognizes AADC members for outstanding contributions to the organization, and for exhibiting behavior of being a mentor and a guiding light.

"Dr. Navarro, as past president of AADC, as chair and developer of the Certification Program, for his insight and authorship of position papers, and for being the dental consultant's consultant, certainly qualifies for this award," says AADC President Dr. Ed Schooley, dental director of Delta Dental Plan of Iowa."

"Dr. Navarro is one of a kind," Dr. Schooley adds. "Having worked with him on a number of projects and teams, he seems to have inexhaustible energy and commitment to doing a best-in-class job in anything he touches. Dr. Navarro has often independently championed efforts within AADC and is responsible for where it is today. He has left his mark! I am pleased that he has been recognized in this manner."

Dr. Navarro, who received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Michigan and his master's degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, recently celebrated his sixth anniversary at Delta Dental. His primary responsibilities include dentist network development and contracting, dental policy, professional relations and serving as a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association Dental Policy Committee. Dr. Navarro is also a media spokesperson for the company and has been quoted extensively in both local and national publications.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.