Dental Public Health
Dental Public Health
Train to promote population oral health, reduce disparities, and advance interdisciplinary solutions in healthcare systems and policy.
Advance public health leadership on a path that works for you
The Dental Public Health (DPH) program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine prepares oral health leaders to improve population health through research, policy development, prevention strategies, and community-based care.
Degree pathways include Certificate, Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc), and Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) options for dentists pursuing careers in clinical public health, academic research, health services leadership, and policy.
Residents develop expertise in disease surveillance, program evaluation, health services research, and the integration of oral and systemic health. All pathways meet the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the American Board of Dental Public Health specialty examination.
A Rural Track option is available for eligible U.S. applicants and includes full tuition support and a living stipend.
Program pathways at a glance
| Program options | Duration | Who's it for/eligibility | Credentials earned |
|---|---|---|---|
DPH Certificate (full time) | 2 years | Dentists with an accredited MPH or equivalent. | Certificate in Dental Public Health |
DPH Certificate (part time) | 3 years | Dentists with an MPH; public health experience strongly preferred. | Certificate in Dental Public Health |
DPH Certificate–Rural Track | 2 years | Dentists with an MPH; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; CODA-accredited dental degree; committed to rural health service and NH licensure. Tuition covered + small stipend. | Certificate in Dental Public Health |
MMSc + DPH Certificate | 3 years (minimum) | Dentists without an MPH who want a master’s degree in Oral Biology or Dental Education with a concurrent DPH Certificate. | Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) + DPH Certificate |
DMSc + DPH Certificate | 4 years (minimum) | Dentists preparing for academic or research careers, with doctoral-level coursework, qualifying exams, and a dissertation. | Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) + DPH Certificate |
Which pathway is right for you?
Whether you already hold an MPH or are seeking advanced academic training, HSDM offers four flexible options:
- Already hold an MPH? Choose the two-year full-time Certificate or the three-year part-time version.
- Interested in funded rural fieldwork? Explore the DPH–Rural Track, with tuition coverage and a stipend.
- Need an MPH or higher degree? The MMSc and DMSc options provide advanced academic pathways.
- Preparing for an academic or research career? The DMSc integrates public health and doctoral-level scholarship.
Explore each pathway
The following sections provide detailed descriptions of each DPH pathway, outlining curricular components, eligibility criteria, clinical or research requirements, and degree-specific expectations.
Overview
The DPH Certificate (FT/PT) prepares dentists for leadership roles in academia, research, health policy, and community-level oral health programs. Coursework builds core competencies in epidemiology, health systems, and program administration.
Key features
- Didactic coursework in core public health and DPH competencies
- Field experience aligned with resident interests
- May transition into the MMSc or DMSc degree pathways
- International applicants welcome
Eligibility
- Master of Public Health (MPH) or approved equivalent
- Dental degree (non-CODA degrees accepted)
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status not required
- New Hampshire dental licensure not required
MPH requirement
Certificate pathways require an MPH or approved equivalent. Applicants without an MPH may pursue an MMSc + Certificate or DMSc + Certificate combined track.
Overview
A federally funded, two-year full-time Certificate focused on rural oral health leadership through clinical service in New Hampshire.
Benefits
- Full tuition coverage
- Small living stipend
- Clinical service addressing gaps in rural oral healthcare
- Prepares residents for the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH) examination
Eligibility (Rural track only)
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Graduate of a CODA-accredited dental school
- Successful completion of the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE)
- MPH or equivalent degree
- Eligible for New Hampshire dental licensure
Note: The DPH–Rural Track is distinct from the AEGD–Rural Track program.
Overview
The Master of Medical Sciences in Dental Public Health includes advanced coursework plus a substantial research component.
Key features
- Completion of all DPH Certificate competencies
- Advanced coursework in public health
- Thesis based on original research
- May be done as MMSc alone or as MMSc + Certificate (for those without an MPH)
Research and scholarly work (MMSc)
- Required thesis based on original research
- Research areas include epidemiology, oral–systemic health, health policy, AI ethics, rural health, and more
Eligibility
- Dental degree (international degrees accepted)
- MPH or equivalent (or may earn concurrently within the program)
- U.S. citizenship/permanent residency not required
Overview
The highest academic degree offered in DPH, designed for dentists pursuing academic research, advanced leadership, or policy-focused careers.
Key features
- Completion of Certificate competencies
- Advanced coursework
- Qualifying exams
- Dissertation-level research
- Thesis defense
Research and scholarly work
- Dissertation research under faculty mentorship
- Thesis defense on a significant contribution to the field
- Research areas include epidemiology, health systems, oral–systemic health, AI ethics in oral health, and workforce development
Eligibility
- Dental degree (international degrees accepted)
- MPH or equivalent (may be completed concurrently in a DMSc + Certificate combined pathway)
- Epidemiology and research methods
- Social determinants of health and dental public health practice
- Program administration and health policy
- Oral health services delivery systems and financing
- Opportunities for exposure and hands-on training in the application of artificial intelligence within dental public health
Requirements for U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, CODA-accredited dental degrees, and New Hampshire licensure apply only to the federally funded DPH–Rural Track. All other DPH pathways welcome international applicants and accept non-CODA dental degrees.
Program details and academic policies
Year 1 (Degree tracks)
Core coursework at HSDM and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Year 2 (All tracks)
Supervised DPH residency focusing on community, state, or national health policy and program administration, meeting American Board of Dental Public Health requirements.
Year 3 (MMSc/DMSc)
Continued residency and public health research at HSDM in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Forsyth Institute, and other Harvard departments.
Year 4 (DMSc only)
Research completion, qualifying exam, and doctoral thesis defense.
Apply now
To apply to the Dental Public Health program, review the application requirements and follow the steps below.
- Application deadline: January 15
- Program start: June 29
- Cost of attendance: Varies by program. The Rural Track is stipend-based with tuition assistance; other AEGD pathways are tuition-based. See tuition and fees.
Due to F-1 visa restriction, please be aware that HSDM visa processing is not available for part-time programs.
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.
TOEFL Requirements
Applicants who only have international academic degrees must demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. See requirements and waiver criteria.
Additional information
- A non-refundable application fee of $95 is required. Pay here.
- Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree is required to apply to the Certificate Only track in Dental Public Health but not required for the MMSc or DMSc degrees.
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).
Ready to advance oral health in rural communities?
Program director
Chukwuebuka Ogwo
Chukwuebuka_Ogwo@hsdm.harvard.edu