A Milestone Worth Smiling About
The Malchow Bright Smiles for Life Orthodontics Program is celebrating an exciting milestone:
its first patient has successfully completed orthodontic treatment.
The program was created following the establishment of the Malchow Orthodontic Endowment
Fund at Med Center Health Foundation. Made possible by a remarkable $1 million gift from
retired Bowling Green orthodontist Glenn Malchow, DDS, the fund provides quality orthodontic
care for children from families with financial need in Warren and surrounding counties.
Through the endowment, eligible patients can receive a complete orthodontic treatment plan,
including braces, at no cost to their families. Dr. Ryan Wiesemann, Dr. Jay Lawless and their
wonderful teams generously provide their orthodontic services at a discounted cost, allowing
the program to serve even more children.
Dr. Malchow, a Franklin, Kentucky, native who practiced orthodontics in Bowling Green for many
years, understands the need firsthand.
“Giving children a good start for their dental care is incredibly important for their overall
health,” Dr. Malchow said. “Bowling Green has been good to me, and I want to give back by
helping the children who need help the most.”
The Malchow Bright Smiles for Life Orthodontics Program launched in 2024, with five children
beginning their orthodontic journeys at no cost to their families. The program recently
celebrated an exciting milestone as its first participant completed orthodontic treatment,
reflecting its continued commitment to transforming lives—one smile at a time.
Orthodontic care can improve far more than a child’s dental health. A healthy smile can build
confidence, inspire hope and positively affect a child’s well-being for years to come.
Med Center Health Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Malchow for making this life
changing program possible. We also thank Dr. Ryan Wiesemann, Dr. Jay Lawless and their
dedicated teams for partnering with the Foundation and generously providing their services at a
discounted cost. Their support helps us reach more children throughout the community.
For the program’s first graduate, and the many children who will follow, the future is looking
brighter. Currently there are 25 (?) children receiving orthodontic care through the program.
Applications are reviewed and selected quarterly by a committee.
Application and Selection Process available HERE.