The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Primary Care and Rural Health is excited to recognize Angela Settle with an Impact Award for her work as a registered dental hygienist at Moab Free Health Clinic.
“For the first 10 years I lived in Moab, I managed a restaurant and did not have access to affordable dental care,” said Angela Settle, a registered dental hygienist at Moab Free Health Clinic. ”That’s why I went back to school. Now, I care for many of my former coworkers.”
Brenda Armstrong nominated Angela Settle for the Impact Award. “Much of Moab’s workforce is employed in the tourism industry, but many lack dental insurance and struggle to visit a dentist,” said Brenda Armstrong, the chair and associate professor of dental hygiene at Utah Tech University. “Angie ensures they don’t have to choose between food, rent, and caring for their teeth.”
Angela has worked and volunteered at the Moab Free Clinic since 2012, serving in various roles. She was the first dental hygienist accepted into the Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program. This program helps healthcare providers repay student loan debt in exchange for their commitment to serve underserved patients. From March to August 2025, Angela served almost 300 uninsured patients.
About the Moab Free Clinic:
Moab Free Health Clinic provides healthcare free of cost to uninsured individuals in Grand and San Juan counties. While Moab is a popular tourist destination, many of the residents in the area face challenges such as high cost of living, lack of dental insurance, or difficulties traveling to other areas to seek care.
About the awards:
Each year, the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health presents Impact Awards to honor healthcare workers on National Rural Health Day, celebrated on the third Thursday of November. Governor Spencer Cox has declared November 17-23, 2024, as Utah Rural Health Week to recognize the contributions of rural providers. For more information about rural health in Utah, visit https://ruralhealth.utah.gov/.