Dental Public Health graduate program
The Advanced Education Program in Dental Public Health is for students who possess both a Dental degree and a Public Health degree. Dental Public Health is the science and art of oral health promotion and disease prevention to improve the total health of communities.
About the Graduate Program
The Advanced Education Program in Dental Public Health at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry is an innovative, full-time 12-month program designed to prepare dentists for dental public health practice, as well as the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective community programs. The goal of the Dental Public Health Program at the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry is to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and skills in the practice of dental public health (DPH).
Mission Statement and Objectives
Our training program is tailored to meet each graduate student's career goals but also includes the acquisition of research skills, required didactic instruction, and field experiences including community-oriented inter-professional clinical care.
Education Objectives
- To ensure alignment with the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH) standards and current public health priorities.
- To apply core public health and dental public health knowledge and skills to real- world community settings through participation in supervised public health field experience.
- To provide individualized study plans and structured ABDPH Qualifying Examination review sessions.
- To provide mentored teaching experience in preventive dentistry or public health within pre-doctoral curriculum.
Patient Care Objectives
- To provide community-based dental services for a broad range of populations.
- To promote growth in professional judgment, and ethical decision-making when providing oral health services in public health settings.
- To build collaborations with inter-professional healthcare teams (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or nutrition) to deliver comprehensive oral and general health services.
Research Objectives
- To provide skills in critically evaluating scientific literature and writing, or evidence-based reviews.
- To design, conduct, and produce a written research project on a Dental Public Health topic, suitable for publication or presentation.
Service Objectives
- To engage in community-based oral health service initiatives and professional public health outreach activities.
- To communicate public health findings and recommendations to both lay and professional audiences, and advocate for population-based oral health. Scholarly and travel opportunities may also be available. In addition, this program is designed to fulfill the educational requirements of the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH) examinations.
Resident Responsibilities
Graduate Students who successfully complete the program receive an Advanced Education in Dental Public Health Certificate. The College of Dentistry's Advanced Education Program in Dental Public Health is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
- Develop an individual training plan with their mentor based on prior education and experiences.
- Complete coursework and training in population health, health literacy, and practice transformation.
- Participate in field experiences designed to improve students' understanding of communities.
- Complete at least one research or administrative project in accordance to ABDPH project report format.
- Take the written examination offered by the ABDPH prior to completing the program.
