Program Overview

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Introduction to the DMD Program

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) offers a world-class dental education with unmatched opportunities. The DMD program emphasizes case-based learning and one-on-one mentorship, providing students with exceptional opportunities to learn and grow.

Experience World-Class Dental Education

At HSDM, dentistry is viewed as a specialty of medicine. The program emphasizes the vital connection between oral and overall health, with students learning alongside Harvard Medical School (HMS) peers to gain a broad, integrated education.

Why Choose HSDM?

HSDM considers dentistry a specialty of medicine with a curriculum that fully integrates oral and general health to achieve patient-centered comprehensive care. Key features of the program include:

• Engaging in a term-based, case-based learning format that fosters critical thinking and the development of lifelong learning skills important to healthcare providers.
• Being part of a highly interactive small-group learning environment.
• Gaining exposure at major affiliated hospitals in the Boston area, such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, as part of clinical rotations.
• Working with faculty who serve as teachers, advocates, and mentors.
• Being assessed by a pass/fail grading system, and experiencing a high level of collaboration and support.
• Enjoying a vibrant, diverse community and the chance to participate in organizations that support extracurricular interests and future careers.

Academics

The DMD curriculum offers a comprehensive education, blending a strong foundation in basic sciences with hands-on clinical training. Students gain a deep understanding of both medical and dental concepts, exploring a variety of dental specialties while delivering patient-centered care.

Curriculum Overview

The Pathways curriculum fosters independent learning and critical thinking through innovative methods like flipped classrooms and team-based activities. Early clinical exposure and research opportunities further prepare students to connect oral and overall health in transformative ways.

Year 1

Foundations in Medicine

The curriculum at HSDM starts with essential medical subjects, including anatomy, biochemistry, and immunology, taught by faculty from the Harvard Medical School. The curriculum begins with Foundations, preparing students to begin the study of organ systems in Integrated Human Pathophysiology I.

• Students engage in a longitudinal clinical course, The Practice of Medicine, where they learn patient communication, physical exams, and teamwork.
• HSDM students spend Wednesday mornings in the Teaching Practices clinic as part of the Practice of Medicine course.
• This hands-on experience introduces dental students to primary care practices and highlights the link between oral and systemic health, aiming to reshape patient care with a focus on integrated health.

Year 2

Integrated Oral Health Foundations

Following Principles of Oral Health, students have several weeks of dedicated time for their research projects before returning to the medical school for:

• Immunity in Defense and Disease, integrating microbiology, autoimmune and allergic diseases, and the mechanisms of disease.
• Mind, Brain, and Behavior, integrating neurobiology, anatomy, and physiology with the clinical facets of neurological disease.
• Bridges I, a clinical skills course.

Year 3

Clinical Training and Patient Care

The Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) introduces students to hands-on patient care, building on the observational rotations from the first two years. Key courses include:

• Final Restorative Treatment
• Treatment of the Child and Adolescent
• Advanced Surgical Treatment

Year 4

Advanced Clinical Training and Specialization

In the fourth year, students apply the skills they mastered in Year 3 across various clinical settings. They continue to provide comprehensive care at the Harvard Dental Center's Teaching Practice, learning advanced techniques like esthetics, implant therapy, and pain management.

Comprehensive Care Rotation

During a three-month rotation, students at HSDM perform advanced procedures in prosthetics, esthetic dentistry, and implantology.

General Dentistry Rotation

Students spend eight weeks at a Veterans Affairs hospital or community health center, gaining experience by treating diverse patients under faculty supervision.

Elective Rotation Time

Students have the flexibility to use elective time to pursue honors research, explore specialties at other dental schools, or participate in international community health experiences.

Research Project

At HSDM, research is a key part of dental education. All DMD students are required to engage in a research project before graduation, starting in Year One with support from the Office of Research to choose a mentor and project.

Conclusion

HSDM's comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip students to become holistic dentists, providing a forward-thinking solution in dental education. The program's emphasis on case-based learning, one-on-one mentorship, and research opportunities prepares students for a successful career in dentistry.