Advanced Education in General Dentistry—Rural Track
Advanced Education in General Dentistry—Rural Track
Advance your clinical skills while serving rural communities in New Hampshire. This 12-month residency offers a $60,000 annual stipend.
Build clinical expertise while expanding access to care
Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD)–Rural Track prepares dentists to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care in underserved communities.
Through clinical training, community-based practice, and faculty mentorship, residents gain experience treating patients with complex needs while addressing barriers to oral health care.
Program at a glance
| Program details | Information |
|---|---|
Program start | July 1 |
Program duration | 12 months |
Learning format | In person |
Credential awarded | Certificate |
Annual stipend | $60,000 |
Tuition | N/A |
Program fees | Harvard student health plan (paid by program), facility fee (paid by program), malpractice insurance ($554.84, paid by resident). |
Clinical experience
Residents develop advanced clinical skills through comprehensive patient care, community-based rotations, structured didactic instruction, research, and faculty mentorship while serving rural and underserved communities across New Hampshire.
Residents rotate through a network of affiliated clinical sites that provide experience in a variety of rural and community-based practice settings.
Dental Health Works — Keene
Dental Health Works is an independent nonprofit dental program serving vulnerable and underserved populations in southwestern New Hampshire. Patients include people with mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, complex medical needs, and housing insecurity, as well as immigrants. The practice provides comprehensive dental care to children and adults enrolled in Medicaid.
Schedule: Four days per week, Monday–Thursday, for four months
Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Hoffman
Mid-State Health Center — Bristol
Mid-State Health Center is a federally qualified health center serving more than 11,000 people across 19 rural communities. Its dental clinic offers a discounted fee schedule for patients with low incomes and accepts Medicaid.
Schedule: Three days per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, for four months
Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Perry
Greater Seacoast Community Health — Somersworth
Greater Seacoast Community Health is a network of federally qualified health centers providing primary care, pediatrics, dental care, and other services to more than 16,000 people in New Hampshire and southern Maine. Residents train at its Somersworth dental clinic.
Schedule: Four days per week, Monday–Thursday, for four months
Supervisor: Dr. Whitney Goode
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center — Lebanon
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is an academic medical center serving patients across New Hampshire and Vermont. Residents gain oral surgery experience during their Mid-State Health Center rotation.
Schedule: One day per week, Tuesdays, for four months during the Mid-State rotation
Supervisor: Dr. Rocco Addante
Coos County Family Health Services — Berlin
Coos County Family Health Services is a federally qualified health center serving more than 12,000 patients across 13 communities in northern New Hampshire. Its dental practice serves patients who face long travel distances to care and accepts children and adults enrolled in Medicaid. Residents participate in interprofessional education.
Schedule: One day per month for four months during the Dental Health Works rotation
Supervisor: Dr. Zahra Gulamhussein
Oral Healthcare@Home, Inc. — Manchester
Oral Healthcare@Home provides preventive dental services to homebound patients across New Hampshire. Residents gain experience caring for patients in private homes and group residential settings alongside a certified public health dental hygienist working in collaboration with a dentist.
Schedule: One day per month for four months during the Greater Seacoast rotation
Supervisor: Joan Fitzgerald, RDH
Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center — Nashua
Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center is a federally qualified health center providing medical, behavioral health, and dental care alongside housing and support services. It serves people with low incomes, people experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities. Residents participate in mobile health van operations.
Schedule: One day per month for four months during the Greater Seacoast rotation
Supervisor: Dr. Neha Gupta
Monadnock Perio & Implant Center — Keene
Monadnock Perio & Implant Center is a private periodontal practice owned and directed by Dr. Tae Hyun Kwon. Residents gain exposure to advanced periodontal procedures, including pocket reduction surgery, crown lengthening, biopsies, dental implants, gum and bone grafting, and laser-assisted periodontal therapy (LANAP).
Schedule: Two days per month for four months
Practice director: Dr. TaeHyun Kwon
In addition to clinical training, residents participate in a structured educational program that reinforces evidence-based practice and lifelong learning.
Residents complete:
- Weekly interactive seminars delivered via Zoom
- A faculty-mentored research project
- A scholarly poster presentation
- Periodic in-person educational sessions at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Who should apply?
This program is designed for dentists who want to broaden their general dentistry skills and improve access to care. It may be a good fit if you:
- Enjoy comprehensive general dentistry.
- Are committed to serving underserved populations.
- Value collaborative, team-based care.
- Seek advanced clinical experience in community health settings.
See the eligibility requirements below before applying.
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.
Application overview
Review the additional application requirements specific to this program. For general eligibility, required documents, application fees, and instructions for submitting your application, visit the Advanced Graduate Education Admissions page.
| Admissions detail | Information |
|---|---|
Application deadline | February 1 |
Number of residents accepted | 3 |
Eligibility | Applicants must hold a DDS or DMD from a CODA-accredited dental school by the time of enrollment, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be eligible for New Hampshire dental licensure. |
Licensure | Eligible for New Hampshire dental licensure |
Application service | ADEA PASS |
Application fee | $95 non-refundable |
Ready to apply?
Visit the AEGD–Rural Track listing on ADEA PASS to review program-specific application instructions and begin your application.
Program director
John Anthony Zdanowicz
john_zdanowicz@hsdm.harvard.edu
Program policies & accreditation
Review accreditation information and institutional policies that support your educational experience at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
The Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Rural Track is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
The Commission on Dental Accreditation is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Commission on Dental Accreditation
401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60611-4250
Phone: (312) 440-4653
Website: coda.ada.org
Accreditation of the program does not constitute recognition of any dental specialty status.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine is committed to protecting student privacy in both on-campus and remote learning environments.
To safeguard student information, HSDM provides:
- A unique Harvard ID and HarvardKey account for every student
- Secure access to enrollment, classroom, and student information systems
- Two-factor authentication to protect institutional accounts
- Identity verification during onboarding through government-issued identification and required background screening (CORI)
These measures help ensure that student records, educational resources, and online learning environments remain secure throughout the program.
Explore dental public health
Interested in improving oral health at the population level? Explore HSDM’s Dental Public Health program and its focus on leadership, policy, and research.
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
