Public policy is playing a growing role in shaping dentistry. Now, dentists have an opportunity to learn more with the DDS/Online Advanced Certificate in Public Health (CPH) Program at the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry and College of Global Public Health (CGPH). Dental students can complete both the DDS degree and the certificate program within 4 years. NYU calls the program one of a few of its kind in the United States.
“We are extremely pleased to introduce our new DDS/CPH program, which offers dental students the opportunity to gain added expertise in providing effective health solutions,” said Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, the Herman Robert Fox Dean of NYU Dentistry. “The 2 disciplines, dentistry and public health, are naturally complementary as both seek to improve the health of the public.”
Courses in the online advanced certificate program are offered each semester, including the summer, so DDS students won’t require additional time beyond their 4-year dental curriculum to graduate with the dual program option. CPH courses include epidemiology, global issues in social and behavioral health, global health policy and management, biostatistics for public health, and global environmental public health.
“With this new program, dental students now have the opportunity to gain essential knowledge and training in core public health concepts that will enhance their ability to develop more efficient healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and make a positive difference in people’s lives in global communities,” said Bertolami.
“This unique online certificate underscores the multidisciplinary nature of CGPH,” said Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, dean of CGPH. “We’re excited to team up with our Faculty of Health partner, NYU Dentistry, to maximize the benefits of sharing resources developed here to be accessible at other NYU schools.”
The DDS/CPH program is open to prospective dental students who express an interest in public health training and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. DDS students may begin taking online CPH courses as early as the summer semester of their first year.
“This new dual program option is an additional example of steps NYU College of Dentistry is taking to be at the forefront of transforming dental education in order to best meet the needs of tomorrow’s dentists and the public they will serve,” said Andrew I. Spielman, DMD, PhD, MS, NYU College of Dentistry’s associate dean for academic affairs.
“Because online technology makes this course so accessible for our College of Dentistry students to take, they can gain invaluable public health perspectives developed here at CGPH without the costly burden of doing an extra year to take the course in person,” said Joyce O’Connor, DrPH, MA, the program’s director at CGPH.
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