Dental Clinical Specialty/Ph.D. Program Description
Overview
The combined Ph.D./advanced clinical training program is
designed to develop outstanding clinician scientists in basic
biomedical, behavioral and clinical oral health research.
Dentists undertake five-seven years of intensive study involving
three integrated phases:
(1) a basic science component which includes both didactic
and laboratory experiences at the Ph.D. level;
(2) a supervised research program employing either a basic or
clinical science approach to studying an oral health problem;
and
(3) advanced clinical knowledge and skills development in
either a recognized dental specialty or other equivalent dental
clinical discipline.
At the conclusion of the program, the appointee will obtain
the Ph.D. degree and be board eligible or certified in a dental
clinical specialty. Newly trained clinicians are selected and
appointed to this program by the program director. Throughout
the course of their study and research, appointees are
supervised closely by mentors who have recognized basic research
and clinical training experience. A prospective candidate must
have a D.D.S., D.M.D. or an equivalent degree but need not have
started postgraduate clinical training.
Eligibility
Appointees must have a dental degree. Women and
underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
We seek individuals who have the potential and strong desire
to become fully independent scientists and, 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 undergraduate and/or first
professional training is heavily weighted in admission decisions
for this manifests an understanding of and a feeling for the
real work of experimentation with attendant frustrations and
rewards.
Students will devote 100 percent of their time to their
combined certificate/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 clinical and Ph.D. programs since the mission
of this program is to educate future faculty and scholars for
dental education.
Support
University of Connecticut Health Center Graduate Fellowships
are available on a competitive basis. Currently these provide a
tuition waiver, an annual stipend of $27,000 for 2008/2009, and
health insurance. These fellowships are available only for the
Ph.D. portion of the training. |
