D.D.S./Ph.D.

DDS/PhD combined training is available for students committed to an academic or research career in dentistry and dental research. This is a 7 year program combining the DDS curriculum with a Ph.D. in Oral Biology.

Goals

• Educate committed individuals for future academic positions in a manner that provides the best possible dual training and minimizes debt load.
• Students will have an opportunity to have continued clinical practice so there is no break in use of clinical skills.
• Students finishing this program will be prepared to go into clinical specialty training after completing their PhD. This will prepare them for faculty positions and give an excellent opportunity to connect their research training and clinical experience.

Features

• Keeps normal dental curriculum intact for years 1-4 (Plan 1) or years 1-3 (Plan 2)
• Takes advantage of already existing SURF program for entering student and the first year.
• Additional course work in summers during SURF program and year 4 (Plans 1 & 2).
• Spread 4th year clinical experience over years 4-5 (Plan 2).
• DDS to be conferred in spring of year 4 (Plan 1) or 5 (Plan 2).
• Clinical experience to continue in years 5-7 via Intramural Practice or other arrangement.
• Financial support available, details will be arranged each year.

Funding

• Students may be eligible for funding by an NIH training grant beginning the 1st or 2nd year. This provides a stipend and partial tuition costs.
• Students are encouraged to apply for an individual DDS/PhD fellowship through NIH. The best timing would be submission of the application in February of the second year (after two research rotations which have resulted in the choice of a mentor) for funding beginning the 3rd year.

Curriculum

Year 1

Summer: SURF Research (rotation 1) & Biostatistics
Acadmic Year: Dental Curriculum

Year 2

Summer: SURF Research (rotation 2) & Molecular Biology
Academic Year: Dental Curriculum

Milestone: Identify PhD mentor

Year 3

Summer: Dental Curriculum & National Boards (Part 1)
Academic Year: Dental Curriculum

Year 4

Summer: Dental Curriculum & National Boards (Part 2)

Academic Year:
(Select one of two routes)

1. Normal Dental Curriculum (inc. PhD class)
2. 50% clinical DENT/50% PhD Coursework

Year 5

1. PhD Coursework & Research
2. 50% Clinical DENT/50% PhD Coursework

Milestones:

1. DDS - spring
2. WREBoards - sum
3. End of year 4 (Plan 1)
4. End of year 5 (Plan 2)

Year 6

Academic Year: Ph.D. Research & Clinical Practice

Milestones: Ph.D. General Exam & WRBoards

Year 7

Academic Year: Ph.D. Research & Clinical Practice

Milestone: Ph.D. Defense

Application Procedure

• Applicants must be classified as a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Complete a Graduate School online application for the combined program. The application can be found here.
• Complete all other admission requirements for both the DDS and the Ph.D. programs.
• The deadline for the Ph.D. application is November 1.
• The DAT and the GRE general test are both required for all concurrent degree applicants. Plan to take the GRE exam early so that the results can be available at the time of application review.

Courses

Contacts