Combined Degree and Specialty ProgramsD.M.D./Ph.D. Program
Program Description
Introduction
Among the existing training programs at the University of Connecticut
School of Dental Medicine (SDM), we offer an integrated dental and
graduate research training program culminating in the awarding of both a
D.M.D. and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science (DSTP). The program was the
first of its type in the United States, and currently has four students
enrolled.
The Combined D.M.D./Ph.D. Program is modeled after a similar combined
degree program for medical students that has been offered by the
University of Connecticut School of Medicine since 1978. The Medical
School program has graduated 29 students with combined M.D. and Ph.D.
degrees. Currently, in the M.D./Ph.D. program, there are 20 students in
the three phases of that combined degree program. The Dental School
program has graduated 1 student with combined D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.
Currently, in the D.M.D./Ph.D. program, there are 4 students in the
three phases of that combined degree program.
Because students enrolled in the SDM take the same basic medical
science program as the medical students for the first two years of the
dental curriculum, and because the Graduate School recognizes the basic
medical science courses as graduate level courses for the Ph.D.
component, it is has been convenient to mirror many aspects of the
medical school combined degree program while still formulating a unique
SDM combined D.M.D./Ph.D. program. The same general tripartite
curriculum has been invoked. The differences between the medical school
and dental school combined programs arise in developing a plan to
complete the unique clinical requirements for the D.M.D. degree.
Achieving adjustments in the various parts of the program has been
expedited by the training history of the SDM and the relationship
developed over the years between the basic science and clinical
departments.
The training experience and accomplishments of the SDM are the
foundation for this new program. The SDM has graduated a total of eight
dentist scientist/clinical scholars as part of an institutional DSA
program, is presently training 3 DSA scholars, and four additional
clinical scholars were trained on individual DSA/PSA awards. Almost all
of these dentist scientist clinical scholars have been associated with
the Oral Biology Graduate Program (OBGP) in the SDM. Ten other
graduates, funded though other sources, and a current roster of twelve
graduate students brings our program training history to a total of
thirty-four trainees since the OBGP was begun. All of the graduated
clinical scholars are funded, productive, and influential contributors
to dental research, education and administration.
The academic atmosphere at the University of Connecticut SDM is one
of universal respect and cooperation between the basic science and
clinical scientists. Because of this collegial environment in which the
highest standards of research and patient care are achieved, devising
programs for our combined degree candidates has been readily
accomplished. Programs are tailored to the students' interests and the
programs, both clinical and graduate, to ensure an efficient and
successful progress through the program.
Because of the universality of oral disease, training at this
institution has emphasized the basic biological problems related to the
oral cavity in health and disease. The organization of a faculty of
basic scientists and dental and medical clinicians into a SDM training
program, the OBGP, has permitted us to offer a full range of
opportunities for students of dental health and disease to participate
in this endeavor. A strong oral biological focus is ensured by the
ongoing course, "Contemporary Topics in Oral Biology", that is mandatory
for our students. In addition, research centers in chemosensory systems,
dental and general clinical research and biomaterials have fostered the
active participation of the faculty in the clinical and scientific
education of clinician scholars. Involvement of our faculty in Health
Center-wide in program projects similarly offers potential resources to
students enrolled in this program.
Because the faculty are engaged in multidisciplinary collaborations,
individually and through research centers and program projects, the
faculty of the graduate faculty is diverse, being drawn from all
segments of the Health Center. Consequently, the programs devised for
our students have reflected a similar breadth and scope of research
projects.
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Objectives and Specific Aims
Objectives
We offer a program that produces highly qualified clinical scholars
competent in both as clinicians and as independent scientists able to
initiate and maintain funded research programs. The presence of these
clinical scholars will improve and enhance the quality of teaching and
research in the nation's dental schools.
In addition, we provide a program that is tailored to each individual
trainee, while maintaining a focus in the oral biological sciences
through seminars, courses, clinical research centers and collaborative
research activities. In that regard, our training is multidisciplinary
in scope and composition. The mix of clinical programs and research
opportunities provides a dynamic and stimulating training environment in
which the clinical scholars come to appreciate the overall
inter-relationships of biomedical science and clinical dentistry.
Specific Aims
The specific aims of our DST program are to:
- enroll a total of six DSTP trainees, during the five years of the
grant, in a combined program leading to the simultaneous awarding of a
D.M.D. and a Ph.D. degree;
- provide an integrated basic science, graduate research and dental
school curriculum and clinical program that will build on and enhance
the talents and dental backgrounds of the DSTP trainees;
- ensure that the curriculum and program is sufficiently flexible to
permit advisory committees to construct programs specific to each
trainee while maintaining a biological research focus and clinical
identity for each clinical scholar's overall program;
- exploit our interdepartmental faculty from both schools who
provide a broad range of research opportunities in a variety of
multidisciplinary collaborations and settings;
- provide opportunities to apply basic science research methods to
clinical problems; and,
- continue our efforts to recruit women into the program and to
increase our efforts to enroll minority individuals.
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Admissions
The admissions process for the combined degree program is a two step
process and does not link acceptance to both programs. A candidate
indicating interest in the combined program is first considered for
acceptance into dental school. Consideration for graduate school
admission occurs after acceptance into the dental school; failure to be
admitted to the graduate school portion of the combined program does not
jeopardize acceptance into the predoctoral program of the SDM.
Candidates
We seek individuals who have the potential and strong desire to become
fully independent scientists and academic dentists who, as a consequence
of their interest and training, can make substantial contributions to
the resolution of clinical problems of interest to dental medicine and
fundamental problems of oral biology. Such individuals, in addition to
being excellent students, should possess the following attributes:
initiative, intelligence, perseverance, maturity, creativity,
collegiality and cooperativeness. These candidates should manifest a
strong understanding of and commitment to the rigors of developing
strong independent research programs and the attributes of a career in
academic dentistry rather than private clinical practice. Evidence of
previous research experience during pre-baccalaureate studies will be
advantageous as this manifests an understanding of and a feeling for the
real work of experimentation with attendant frustrations and rewards.
The DSTP trainees will devote 100% of their time to their combined
D.M.D./Ph.D. programs. The mix of effort with the three main components
of basic science education, clinical education and research will
necessarily vary with the individual student and specific program since
we stress individually tailored programs. Journal club and seminar
presentations in a broad range of topics related to oral biology are
integral components of our DSTP programs since the mission of this
program is to educate future faculty and scholars for dental education.
Admissions Process
Our process requires that the applicant be accepted sequentially by the
SDM Admissions Committee for entry into the predoctoral D.M.D. program,
the Graduate School and, then, the DSTP Advisory Committee. Each member
of the Advisory Committee has the opportunity to screen the completed
applications and the committee collectively determines who shall be
interviewed. Those invited are interviewed by members of the Advisory
Committee generally at the time they are interviewed by the SDM
Admissions Committee. The Committee then meets to discuss the
evaluations and by majority vote of a quorum (2/3 of membership present)
determines who shall be accepted and appointed to the DSTP, if there are
multiple candidates for the DSTP positions.
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Detailed Program Description
The Combined Pre-D.M.D./Ph.D. Program Plan
The combined D.M.D./Ph.D. program is the tripartite model modified after
the medical school's successful program. The first two years of basic
sciences study and the research requirements mandated by the graduate
school are the same in both programs. The third phase is specific to the
SDM requirements to complete the D.M.D. degree and to maintain research
activity during the final phase of the program.
There are several aspects of the curriculum at this SDM that permit
efficient use of curricular time and structure to construct a combined
D.M.D./Ph.D. program. First, the intense basic science curriculum offers
a firm background in biomedical sciences for these trainees. Our
performance in the NBDE Part I (always in the top three in the country)
attests to the excellence of this program.
Secondly, the curriculum consists of preclinical dental courses
concentrated in the last part of the second year. This reduces the
competition of time with the basic science curriculum and provides an
intense exposure just before entry into the clinic at the beginning of
the third year. This arrangement permits our combined-degree trainees
freedom to pursue the biomedical science preparation without excessive
competition from the preclinical courses. Lastly, the number of hours of
preclinical education at the SDM is far less than that experienced at
other schools further traducing the strain of negotiating both aspects
of the program. Entry in to Phase three (see below) is similarly
expedited by this arrangement.
Phase One: The First Two Years: The Basic
Science Curriculum
All dental students participate with the medical students in the basic
medical science (BMS) program as provided by the faculties of the
medical, dental and graduate schools. The Graduate School recognizes and
credits the basic medical science courses. The combined degree students
are held to a higher standard of academic performance than the medical
or dental students. Grades awarded are based on performance of the M.D.
class in the BMS program, and on performance of graduate students in
other graduate courses. The courses taken are listed below.
Year 1: Fall Semester
MEDS 401-40: Organ Systems I: 5 credits
MEDS 404-40: CMPS-A: 2 credits
DENT 461: Oral Histology: 2 credits
MEDS 497-44: Journal Club: Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology:
Audit
Year 1: Spring Semester
MEDS 402-40: Organ Systems II: 6 credits
MEDS 405-40: CMPS-B: 2 credits
DENT 460: Cariology & Introduction to Periodontology: 2 credits
MEDS 497-44: Journal Club: Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology:
Audit
Additional Courses to Fulfill Language Requirement
Biostatistics/Epidemiology
Social & Behavioral Science
Human Genetics
During the summer between the first and second year of phase one,
summer research/laboratory rotation is mandatory for these trainees.
Year 2: Fall Semester
MEDS 407-40: Mechanisms of Disease-A: 6 credits
MEDS 408-40: Mechanisms of Disease-B: 5 credits
DENT 415: Contemporary Topics in Oral Biology I: Audit
MEDS 497-44: Journal Club: Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology:
Audit
Year 2: Spring Semester
MEDS 409-40: Mechanisms of Disease-C: 5 credits
MEDS 410-40: Mechanisms of Disease-D 6 credits
DENT 416: Contemporary Topics in Oral Biology II: Audit
MEDS 497-44: Journal Club: Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology:
Audit
The D.M.D./Ph.D. student will enroll in two years of Contemporary
Topics in Oral Biology, and will enroll in Graduate Seminar (Skeletal,
Craniofacial and Oral Biology Journal Club) throughout the remainder of
the course of study. Additional courses will be taken as needed during
years 3 and 4 to satisfy the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in
Biomedical Sciences/Oral Biology. The clinical practicum to satisfy the
requirements for the D.M.D. degree will be taken during years 5-7.
In addition, during Phase one, the DSTP trainee will take the full
complement of preclinical dental courses with the exception of Operative
Dentistry in the second year. This course requires demonstration of
manual skills. If this course is taken in the usual sequence and then is
interrupted by Phase two for two or three years, the laboratory exercise
and practice will have to be repeated. Thus, it was considered prudent
to delay this course until entry into the clinical phase of the dental
curriculum is imminent.
Grading
Grading of D.M.D./Ph.D. students in specified sections of the BMS I
and BMS II Curricula taken for Graduate School credit is shown below:
the reference group is the MD class, which serves as the reference group
for all Ph.D. students in the Health Center.
- A D.M.D./Ph.D. student must have scored at least 1 standard
deviation above the mean of the evaluation group in order to receive a
grade of A- or better.
- A D.M.D./Ph.D. student scoring near the mean of the evaluation
groups shall receive a letter grade of B. Scores between the mean and
1 standard deviation above the mean would be assigned grades of either
B or B+.
- A D.M.D./Ph.D. student scoring 1 standard deviation below the mean
shall receive a letter grade of C. Scores between the mean and 1
standard deviation below the mean would be assigned a grade of B of
B-.
- A D.M.D./Ph.D. student scoring below the deficiency score shall
receive a letter grade of F. Scores between the deficiency score and 1
standard deviation below the mean would receive grades of C or D.
- Grading of D.M.D./Ph.D. students for the remaining portions of the
BMS and clinical curricula will be on the pass-fail system used for
students in the D.M.D. program.
The National Board Dental Examination is taken in the summer of the
second year. By the end of the second year a graduate program has been
selected, entry into a graduate program has been approved and a major
advisor selected (this may be done earlier but not later than the end of
the second year).
Phase Two: Full Time Graduate School Activities:
Additional Coursework/Research Training for the Ph.D. Degree
In Phase two, the trainees take a leave of absence from the SDM to enter
the Graduate School graduate programs as full time students to fulfill
the requirements of the graduate school and the specific graduate
programs selected for their research training. These requirements are
prescribed by the Graduate School and are common to all doctoral-level
programs at the University of Connecticut. In addition, there are
program-specific requirements unique to each of the seven areas of
concentration. These programs offer a Core Curriculum of graduate
courses in addition to the basic medical science courses completed in
years 1 and 2 during Phase one. The specific program requirements can be
found in their respective homepages. However, trainees in the combined
program in consultation with a major advisor, the advisory committee and
the DSTP Advisory Committee, arranges a flexible program suited to the
background, training needs and mandated requirements of the Graduate
School and the specific graduate program.
Seminars, Journal Clubs and the Oral Biology Core curriculum are
available to keep the DSTP involved in current biomedical/clinical
dentistry issues. For trainees who have elected a graduate program area
of concentration other than the OBGP, Contemporary Topics in Oral
Biology is still required. Informal meetings and seminars will be
arranged to provide the DSTP trainees contact with more advanced role
models for their future career goals and with an identity in the SDM.
Phase Three: Completion of Didactic and
Clinical D.M.D. Degree Requirements
In Phase three, the trainee will enter a status of "Continuous
Registration" in the Graduate School which holds the trainees' status as
bone fide degree candidate in the Graduate School but permits work on
the D.M.D. requirements.
During the end of Phase two, the trainee will take the necessary
preclinical courses (e.g., Operative Dentistry) or remedial preclinical
work to bring their clinical skills up to the level necessary to
undertake patient care which begins in the SDM at the beginning of the
third year of the dental curriculum.
The third and fourth year of clinical training at the SDM is a
continuum that is monitored on a frequent cycle of meetings by the
Academic Performance Committees III and IV. A series of published
competencies, numerical, and behavioral requirements have been
established to monitor progress toward graduation.
Supplemental Research Activity
Because the clinical phase is more flexible in terms of scheduling
patients and related activities, this program will require continued
involvement with research and continued activity beyond that necessary
for the Ph.D. dissertation.
This supplemental research activity will be accomplished in the
laboratory in which the thesis research was performed or in other
laboratories on a quasi post-doctoral arrangement. The need to present
and publish the results of thesis research, to generate pilot data for
grant applications, and to submit applications for funding beyond the
training period make this requirement essential to the future
performance of these trainees. We strongly support this activity as well
as the following intellectual pursuits.
- Supplemental Course Work
During this time, courses in Scientific Writing and Higher Education
Teaching Methods will be highly recommend to these trainees. Both of
these courses are currently being offered, are taken by DSA and post-D.M.D.
certificate students and accrue additional graduate credit. Active
participation in Journal Clubs, Seminars and In-Service training at
the SDM is also encouraged.
- Institutional Support for Additional Years of Study
Phases two and three remain the most unpredictable components of this
program. A seventh year is a certainty and a eighth year a very likely
possibility. Our experience recently has shown that the requirements
for a Ph.D. can be completed in three years. This has occurred twice –
once with a foreign student (despite initial language difficulties)
and a DSA candidate (despite additional clinical responsibilities).
However, these were unusually capable persons. The SDM is committed to
funding for the eighth year should this become necessary.
The Proposed DSTP Time Table
This time table is offered as a rough guide to the major events in the
DST Program. The program will be tailored to the needs of the trainee,
the interests and requirements of the specific graduate program, and the
clinical education of the trainee
First Year
- Complete the first-year basic medical science and dental science
course work.
- Select a graduate program.
- Choice of major advisor and advisory committee.
- Choice of dissertation topic (if possible).
Second Year
- During the summer, before year two, complete a laboratory
rotation.
- Complete year-two of the basic science curriculum and dental
course (except Operative Dentistry).
- Part I National Dental Board Examination.
Third Year
- Plan of study devised and approved.
- Choose dissertation topic, if not already done.
- Language examination taken and passed or alternate area of study
completed.
- Schedule and complete General Examination.
- Dissertation prospectus submitted and approved.
- Present seminar on background of proposed dissertation and plan of
work.
- Begin dissertation work.
Fourth/Fifth Year
- Formal research presentation to the advisory committee once every
six months.
- Dissertation work continues.
- Seminars on dissertation work.
Fifth/Sixth Year
- Dissertation research completed.
- Dissertation written.
- Dissertation read and approved.
- Oral Examination.
- Operative Dentistry taken and preclinical skills evaluated and
remediated.
Sixth-Eighth Years
- Complete clinical requirements for the D.M.D. degree.
- Maintain supplemental research and course work activity (See
Section E.3.c above).
- Prepare manuscripts and research proposals.
- Award both D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.
Candidate Supervision and Evaluation
Supervision
All students, regardless of the specific combination of programs,
are assigned an interim or temporary advisor (DSTP-PD) and an advisory
committee (DSTP Advisory Committee) upon matriculation. It is the
committee's responsibility to assist the student in developing the best
mix and balance of clinical and didactic activities and oversee the
student's progress through the program requirements.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated differently in the three essential components
of their programs. In the graduate courses taken under the auspices of
the graduate school, they are evaluated from performances on
examinations, seminar and journal club presentations and laboratory
exercises and are graded on a four point (A = 4.0/credit). Students are
evaluated against the performance of the M.D. students in BMS courses
taken for graduate credit, and are evaluated against graduate students
in other graduate level courses. Students are expected to maintain at
least a B (3.0) average; a student falling below that average will be
evaluated by the advisory committee to determine if the student should
be allowed to continue in the program. Graduate students are not allowed
to take undergraduate courses for credit on a pass/fail basis. In
addition some graduate courses may be evaluated on a pass/fail basis in
certain courses so designated by the Executive of the Graduate School.
The grade average is calculated without consideration of an S (pass)
grade in pass/fail courses while a U (fail) is averaged in as an F (0).
The School of Dental Medicine evaluates students in those courses
taken to complete the clinical requirements (not for credit in the
Graduate School) on a pass/fail basis. For students (such as DSTP
trainees) enrolled in the combined D.M.D./Ph.D. programs, two
transcripts are developed; one by the School of Dental Medicine and the
other by the Graduate School. In addition, the clinical program faculty
independently evaluates the students clinical progress along with the
other students. However, the expected rate of progress of the
combined-program student may vary depending upon the current mix of the
student's activities in the basic science, graduate and clinical
components of their program. Hence, the trainee's advisory committee
will be able to evaluate progress in all three phases of the program in
the context of the plan of study the committee has approved for that
student.
The trainee's advisory committee shall evaluate continually the
student's performance. Any student whose performance does not meet the
minimum standards of the Graduate School may be asked by the Dean to
withdraw. However, the committee may insist on more than minimum
scholastic standards and may take other factors into consideration in
deciding whether or not to recommend to the Dean that the student be
permitted to remain in the combined degree program.
For the DSTP Clinical Scholars, the PD collects the evaluations from
each pertinent advisory committee and presents these findings to the
DSTP Advisory Committee at one of its two annual meetings. This
Committee upon consideration of the student's progress recommends by
majority vote whether a student shall be continued as a DSTP Clinical
Scholar for the succeeding academic year.
General Examination
The general examination shall be taken after completion of the basic
supporting course work, satisfaction the foreign language requirement,
naming of the permanent committee and submission of the plan of study.
In most of the areas of concentration in the biomedical sciences,
students have completed their laboratory rotations prior to taking the
general examination. The examination may be oral, written or both at the
discretion of the particular program, and may occur in stages, e.g., a
written general followed by a more specific oral. The examination is
under the jurisdiction of the advisory committee and all members must be
present during any oral component.
The examiners shall include at least one faculty member representing
each of the major areas included in the examination (usually not
exceeding five in number). All participating faculty will be invited to
submit questions and to evaluate answers, but the final decision as to
whether or not the student has passed the examination shall rest solely
with the advisory committee unless the members of the Graduate Faculty
in a student's field of study vote to assign this authority to an
examining committee.
Dissertation Prospectus
A prospectus is prepared before the work directly pursuant to the
dissertation is well underway. The prospectus is submitted to the chair
of the appropriate area review committee at least six months prior to
the filing of the dissertation at the Graduate Records office. The
prospectus must be approved by the Executive Committee at least three
months prior to the filing of the dissertation.
Candidacy and Dissertation Preparation
A student becomes a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree
upon passing the general examination, completing all required course
requirements, fulfilling any language requirements and having the
prospectus accepted by the Executive Committee. The Graduate School
sends each successful student a letter of candidacy.
Final Examination
The final examination must be oral and under the jurisdiction of the
advisory committee. It shall deal mainly with the field of the
dissertation. No fewer than five faculty members including the advisory
committee must be present.
Decision as to whether a candidate has passed, conditionally passed,
or failed the examination rests solely with the advisory committee,
which shall take into account the opinion of other participating faculty
members and other experts. The official report is sent to the Graduate
Records office and the student is then eligible to apply for the degree
through the same office. Conferral of degrees is done by the University
three times each year, August 31, December 31 and during general
university commencement ceremonies in May of each year.
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Doctoral Programs in Biomedical and
Behavioral Science
The majority of DSTP trainees choose Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral
Biology as their area of concentration. Occasionally, a student will
elect to do research in an area that is not offered by the Oral Biology
Graduate Faculty. Current trainees have elected Immunology and
Developmental Biology (which has strong ties to the Oral Biology
Program). Each program is a bone fide graduate program and emphasizes
the wisdom of maintaining programmatic flexibility built around a core
curriculum to best serve the educational needs of individual students
from diverse backgrounds. All programs listed are currently active and
have substantial track records in graduating independent scientists.
These programs accept qualified undergraduate students and dentists as
graduate students.
Behavioral Science Graduate Program (UConn Storrs)
The purpose of the program is to provide doctoral level graduate
education for dental students and dentists in the behavioral sciences.
It will thus help develop a cadre of dentists with advanced clinical
specialty education and full academic qualifications to become
independent scholars in the behavioral sciences. As faculty members of
dental or other professional schools, the graduates will be carrying out
research in the important interdisciplinary area of dental sciences and
behavioral sciences, as well as educating undergraduate and graduate
level students in this field.
The students will enter a course of study leading to the Ph.D. in one
of the following: Economics, Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology.
Students will enroll in a program of graduate study in one of these
departments in the main campus of the University of Connecticut at
Storrs. They will fulfill all regular requirements of the graduate
department for the Ph.D., including the completion of a doctoral thesis.
Thus, on completion of studies, each of the graduates will be qualified
as a professional in dental medicine as well as in one of the behavioral
sciences.
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