Dental Public Health
Dental Public Health
Train to promote population oral health, reduce disparities, and advance interdisciplinary solutions to improve health systems and policy.
Advance public health leadership on a path that works for you
Dental public health focuses on preventing disease, improving access to care, reducing health disparities, and strengthening oral health systems at the population level. Students gain advanced training in epidemiology, health policy, research methods, program evaluation, and community engagement while working alongside faculty who are shaping the future of oral health.
Whether you are seeking specialty certification, graduate education, or doctoral-level research training, the program offers flexible pathways that prepare graduates for leadership roles in academia, government, healthcare organizations, and public health agencies.
What does training look like?
Students combine graduate coursework with research, field experiences, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout the program, they develop the skills to evaluate community health needs, design evidence-based interventions, conduct population health research, and translate scientific findings into policies and programs that improve oral health outcomes.
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
Whether you already hold a Master of Public Health degree or are seeking advanced graduate education, the Dental Public Health program offers multiple pathways to meet your professional goals.
| Program options | Duration | Who's it for/eligibility | Credentials earned |
|---|---|---|---|
DPH Certificate (full time) | 2 years | Dentists with an accredited U.S. MPH or equivalent. | Certificate in Dental Public Health |
DPH Certificate (part time) | 3 years | Dentists with a U.S. MPH; public health experience strongly preferred. | Certificate in Dental Public Health |
DPH Certificate–Rural Track | 2 years | Dentists with a U.S. 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 a U.S. 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.
How to Apply
Applications to the Dental Public Health program are submitted through the ADEA PASS application system.
Review the Advanced Graduate Education Admissions page for application requirements, required documents, transcripts, standardized testing, English language proficiency, and admissions policies.
Dental Public Health program requirements
In addition to the general admissions requirements, applicants to the Dental Public Health program should note the following.
Requirement | Information |
Application deadline | January |
Program start | June/July |
Certificate pathway | Requires an MPH or equivalent graduate public health degree. |
MMSc and DMSc pathways | An MPH is not required for admission. |
Rural track | Additional eligibility requirements apply. Refer to the pathway description. |
Part-time pathways | F-1 visa sponsorship is not available. |
Dental Public Health supplemental essay
Submit 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?
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.
Ready to advance oral health in rural communities?
Program director
Chukwuebuka Ogwo
Chukwuebuka_Ogwo@hsdm.harvard.edu