Advanced Education in General Dentistry—Rural Track
Advanced Education in General Dentistry—Rural Track
Serve rural communities in New Hampshire and earn a $50,000 stipend.
Expand your clinical expertise while expanding access to care
Earn a certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)—Rural Track from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. This 12-month, HRSA-funded postdoctoral program prepares dentists to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care in underserved rural communities across New Hampshire.
Through advanced clinical training and community-based practice, residents strengthen skills in complex case management while gaining experience in population health, cultural competency, and interdisciplinary care delivery.
Participants receive a $50,000 stipend and graduate prepared for clinical leadership roles serving vulnerable and rural populations while supporting workforce development in New Hampshire.
What you need to know: Admissions at a glance
| Admissions detail | Information |
|---|---|
Application deadline | February 1 |
Number of residents accepted into program | 3 |
Program start | June 29 |
Program duration | 12 months |
Learning format | In person |
Degree/certificate earned | Certificate only |
Application fee | $95 (non-refundable); pay online |
Tuition | N/A |
Program stipend | $50,000 per year |
Program fees |
*The facility and health fees are paid by the program, except for the malpractice insurance. |
Who should apply?
Candidates must
- Hold a DDS or DMD degree from a CODA-accredited dental school
- Demonstrate a commitment to advancing oral health in rural communities
- Be eligible for dental licensure in the state of New Hampshire
Why I chose the Rural Track
I had the privilege of working with community health organizations, where I experienced firsthand the transformative power of outreach and service. These experiences have had a profound impact on me, both professionally and personally. It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose this path—to make a difference where it’s needed most.
Apply now
To apply to the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)—Rural Track program, review the application requirements and follow the steps below.
- Application deadline: February 1
- Cost of attendance: N/A; stipend-based program
Checklist
- Pay non-refundable $95 application fee.
Required documents for submission through the ADEA PASS application system:
- Personal Statement
The personal statement should be a maximum one-page, single-spaced essay outlining why you wish to join the program and why you are a strong candidate. - Supplemental essay
In addition to the personal statement, HSDM requires a supplemental essay (maximum 3,000 characters, including spaces) responding to the following prompt: “Tell us about a time when you engaged in a difficult conversation with someone whose perspective differed from your own. Were you able to find common ground? If so, how? If not, what were the primary barriers?” - CV/Resume
- Dental School Transcript
- All College Transcripts
- Transcript Evaluation (if applicable)
- Institutional Evaluation Form
- Professional Evaluation Form 1
- Professional Evaluation Form 2
- Professional Evaluation Form 3
- Official TOEFL Scores*
- Official NBDE/INBDE scores (NBDE/INBDE scores are required prior to matriculation but not at the time of application; recommended but not required for international candidates.)
Review TOEFL waiver and requirements.
Additional information
- A non-refundable application fee of $95 is required. Pay here.
- Applicants must hold a DDS or DMD from a CODA-accredited dental school by the time of enrollment
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident and eligible to hold a New Hampshire dental license.
Evaluation guidelines
- The IEF is required and may come from a postdoctoral program or research advisor (e.g., a PI).
- At least one PEF must be from your most recent academic director or employer (if applicable).
Program details and academic policies
Residents will rotate through several sites, gaining experience in rural healthcare environments:
- Dental Health Works (Keene)
- Mid-State Health Center (Bristol)
- Greater Seacoast Community Health (Somersworth)
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon)
- Coos County Family Health Services (Berlin)
- Oral Healthcare@Home, Inc. (Manchester)
- Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center (Nashua)
- Monadnock Perio & Implant Center (Keene)
- Weekly seminars via Zoom
- Research project and poster presentation required
- Occasional in-person sessions at HSDM and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Accreditation
- The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) 12-month program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
- CODA is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Contact CODA:
- Phone: (312) 440-4653
- Address: 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300, Chicago, Illinois 60611-4250
- Website: coda.ada.org
- Accreditation of the program does not constitute recognition of any dental specialty status.
HSDM has multiple measures in place to protect student privacy, both on campus in the classroom, and in a remote learning environment. These practices protect all students regardless of their mode of instruction.
- Each student is provided with a unique Harvard ID number and Harvard key login, and provisioned unique accounts for different systems used at the school for enrollment, classroom participation and accessing student records.
- Access to these accounts is additionally protected by two-factor authentication, which ensures that only the student to whom the account has been assigned can access the account, using a registered personal device.
- Student identity is verified during the onboarding process by presentation of a government ID and through a CORI.
Ready to expand your impact beyond the clinic?
Consider HSDM’s Dental Public Health (DPH) program, which offers multiple pathways to develop leadership, policy, and research skills that advance community oral health.
AEGD - rural track program news
Explore the latest stories and updates on how the AEGD – Rural Track program is improving dental care in rural New Hampshire.
Rural dental residency program receives a lifeline from donor organizations
When federal funds to HSDM’s rural residency program went unpaid, a coalition of regional partners stepped up to secure the program’s future.
Rural dental residency program in New Hampshire created a pipeline of young dentists to serve in remote areas
The state’s most vulnerable dental patients are now at risk as federal funding for the program goes unpaid
Bridging the dental workforce gap in New Hampshire
HSDM Secures $3 Million Grant to Expand Dental Public Health in Rural Areas
Program director
John Anthony Zdanowicz
john_zdanowicz@hsdm.harvard.edu