D.M.D./Ph.D. Dental Medicine Scientist Training

The Dental Scientist Training Program (DSTP), also known as the D.M.D./Ph.D. program, is one of only 13 such programs supported by a National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Health training grant. It is also financially and administratively supported by the Colleges of Dental Medicine and Graduate Studies. The program is designed to facilitate the development of superior students into individuals who can provide the innovative leadership required in oral health sciences. The integrated program provides the training for the attainment of both the D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Accordingly, the program seeks to incorporate the best qualities of the dental and graduate programs into a cohesive whole and to foster exceptional training in both clinical and research areas.

The DSTP consists of faculty members drawn from both basic and clinical sciences departments. The program directors with internal and external steering committees are responsible for the operation of the program. The primary purpose of such an administrative structure is to guide the Dental Scientist Training Program and its participants toward the highest quality of intellectual curiosity and the accomplishment of academic excellence. 

The DSTP is an integrated program with both the D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees conferred upon a student at the very end of the program, and only upon successful completion of the program.  The curriculum is essentially the same curriculum for the D.M.D. and the Ph.D. programs, just integrated.  Since DSTP students begin with the first year of D.M.D. training, they begin the dental school didactic curriculum in June, ahead of traditional Fall academic year start dates. DSTP students begins with 1 year of dental school, followed by 3-4 years of research, and then the final 3 years of the dental school curriculum. This paradigm helps students concentrate on their research and/or clinical work for better retention and offers a more satisfactory blend of academic and patient experiences. Additionally, dental students need continuity in their clinical training to maintain the skills acquired during their 2nd year of preclinical, laboratory-based dental classes. To stimulate and promote integration of the basic research skills and interests likely to be acquired during the years of PhD training, we provide 2 opportunities for DSTP students, during the clinical training, to gain knowledge about and actively participate in clinical and translational research through the Month in the Research Nexus and the Translational Sciences Clinic. DSTP students differ in the amount of time needed to complete their training; the average – based on 10 graduates to date – is 8.1 years.  

Curriculum

Year 1, Summer

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	10.5
Semester Total		10.5

Year 1, Fall

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	23.5
Semester Total		23.5

Year 1, Spring

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	25.5
Semester Total		25.5

Year 2, Summer

CGS 720	Laboratory Rotation	4
CGS 721	Laboratory Rotations	4
### 970	Research	3 - 6
Semester Total		11 - 14

Year 2, Fall

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
CGS 768	Techniques & Experimental Design	2
### 970	Research	3 - 6
Semester Total		6 - 9

Year 2, Spring

CGS 772	Learning From the Literature	2
CGS 770	Principles Practices & Professionalism	2
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
### 970	Research	3 - 6
	Dissertation
Semester Total		8 - 11

Year 3, Summer

### 970	Research	3 - 6
Semester Total		3 - 6

Year 3, Fall

CGS 817	Designing Rigorous Research	1
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
CGS 700	Intro to Biostatsistics	4
### 970	Research	3 - 6
	Any additional department specific requirements
Semester Total		9 - 12

Year 3, Spring

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
### 970	Research	3 - 6
	Dissertation	8-11
Semester Total		15 *

Year 4, Summer

	Dissertation	15
Semester Total		15

Year 4, Fall

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
	Dissertation	14
Semester Total		15

Year 4, Spring

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
	Dissertation	14
Semester Total		15

Year 5, Summer

	Dissertation
Semester Total		15

Year 5, Fall

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
	Dissertation	14
Semester Total		15

Year 5, Spring

MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Science Seminar Series	0.5
	Dissertation	14
Semester Total		15

Year 6, Fall

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	27
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		28

Year 6, Spring

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	25
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		26

Year 7, Summer

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	12
Semester Total		12

Year 7, Fall

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	17
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		18

Year 7, Spring

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	27.5
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		28.5

Year 8, Summer

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	9.5
Semester Total		9.5

Year 8, Fall

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	14.5
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		15.5

Year 8, Spring

	Reference D.M.D. Curriculum	28
MCBP 745	Topics in Oral Health Sciences	0.5
MCBP 747	Oral Health Sci Seminar Series	0.5
Semester Total		29

Curriculum Total

368-383+

 * In Dissertation years, total credit hours for each semester must equal 15.