DMD Program
DMD Program
Experience a world-class dental education and unmatched opportunities at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Join a dynamic community where you'll have exceptional opportunities to learn and grow in a DMD program that emphasizes case-based learning and one-on-one mentorship.
Experience world-class dental education, unmatched opportunities
At Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), dentistry is viewed as a specialty of medicine. Our program emphasizes the vital connection between oral and overall health, with students learning alongside Harvard Medical School (HMS) peers to gain a broad, integrated education.
Why choose HSDM?
Havard School of Dental Medicine considers dentistry a specialty of medicine with a curriculum that fully integrates oral and general health to achieve patient-centered comprehensive care.
- Engage in a term-based, case-based learning format that fosters critical thinking and the development of lifelong learning skills important to healthcare providers.
- Be a part of a highly interactive small-group learning environment.
- Gain exposure at major affiliated hospitals in the Boston area, such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, as part of clinical rotations.
- Work with faculty who serve as teachers, advocates, and mentors.
- Be assessed by a pass/fail grading system, and experience a high level of collaboration and support.
- Enjoy a vibrant, diverse community and the chance to participate in organizations that support your extracurricular interests and future careers.
Curriculum overview
HSDM’s DMD curriculum offers a comprehensive education, blending a strong foundation in basic sciences with hands-on clinical training. Students gain a deep understanding of both medical and dental concepts, exploring a variety of dental specialties while delivering patient-centered care.
The Pathways curriculum fosters independent learning and critical thinking through innovative methods like flipped classrooms and team-based activities. Early clinical exposure and research opportunities further prepare students to connect oral and overall health in transformative ways.
Year 1
Foundations in medicine
The curriculum at HSDM starts with essential medical subjects, including anatomy, biochemistry, and immunology, taught by faculty from the Harvard Medical School. The curriculum begins with Foundations, preparing students to begin the study of organ systems in Integrated Human Pathophysiology I.
Students also engage in a longitudinal clinical course, The Practice of Medicine, where they learn patient communication, physical exams, and teamwork. HSDM students spend Wednesday mornings in the Teaching Practices clinic as part of the Practice of Medicine course. This hands-on experience introduces dental students to primary care practices and highlights the link between oral and systemic health, aiming to reshape patient care with a focus on integrated health.
Next, students spend a month on social and population sciences like healthcare policy, clinical epidemiology, and medical ethics, providing a broad understanding that will be built upon throughout medical school. During this time, students also begin Scholarship in Oral Health, a longitudinal course providing students with the opportunity to meet researchers, select a research project, and begin work on it. The pre-clerkship curriculum then returns to the focus on organ systems through Integrated Human Pathophysiology II and III.
Following a short break at the end of IHP III, students come to HSDM for Principles of Oral Health, introducing them to dental anatomy, cariology, and the various dental disciplines.
All HMS and HSDM courses are Pass/Fail.
Year 2
Integrated oral health foundations
Following Principles of Oral Health, students have several weeks of dedicated time for their research projects before returning to the medical school for Immunity in Defense and Disease, integrating microbiology, autoimmune and allergic diseases, and the mechanisms of disease; Mind, Brain, and Behavior, integrating neurobiology, anatomy, and physiology with the clinical facets of neurological disease; and Bridges I, a clinical skills course.
After these courses, students are housed at HSDM full-time. They engage in Oral System Sciences, including head and neck anatomy, craniofacial development and genetics, oral microbiology, and oral pathology and radiology, concurrent with Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. Students also participate in the Emergent Clinical Experience, rotating through the hospital-based and in-house dental clinics and observing clinical treatment by residents and faculty in the various dental disciplines. Year 2 concludes with Treatment of Active Disease, during which students begin to provide patient treatment in the Teaching Practice.
Year 3
Clinical training and patient care
The Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) introduces students to hands-on patient care, building on the observational rotations from the first two years. Key courses include Final Restorative Treatment, Treatment of the Child and Adolescent, and Advanced Surgical Treatment. Students learn to apply classroom knowledge to clinical practice, developing skills in patient management and care, including management of patients with special needs.
During this time, students refine their preclinical and clinical skills in a supportive environment with close faculty interaction. Clinical training involves a small-group practice at the Harvard Dental Center, where society directors act as clinical mentors, guiding students through treatment planning and patient care. Additionally, courses on dental healthcare delivery and ethics provide insight into dental practice management and ethics.
This structure ensures a smooth transition from theoretical learning to practical application, emphasizing comprehensive care and professional development.
Year 4
Advanced clinical training and specialization
In the fourth year, students apply the skills they mastered in Year 3 across various clinical settings. They continue to provide comprehensive care at the Harvard Dental Center's Teaching Practice, learning advanced techniques like esthetics, implant therapy, and pain management. This year includes required clinical rotations, an externship, and elective opportunities to broaden their experience.
Students are evaluated on their overall academic, clinical, and professional achievements, with a focus on completing patient cases and presenting them to faculty and peers.
Comprehensive care rotation
During a three-month rotation, students at HSDM perform advanced procedures in prosthetics, esthetic dentistry, and implantology.
General dentistry rotation
Students spend eight weeks at a Veterans Affairs hospital or community health center, gaining experience by treating diverse patients under faculty supervision.
Elective rotation time
Students have the flexibility to use elective time to pursue honors research, explore specialties at other dental schools, or participate in international community health experiences
Research project
At HSDM, research is a key part of dental education. All DMD students are required to engage in a research project before graduation, starting in Year One with support from the Office of Research to choose a mentor and project.
For more details, download the DMD Research Guidebook.
HSDM’s comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip students to become holistic dentists. I am excited by the opportunity to be part of such a forward-thinking solution.
