CDC offers opportunities for dentists interested in public health

Application deadline is Sept. 30

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accepting applications for its Dental Public Health Residency Program, which aims to produce skilled specialists in public health who can work collaboratively with their population health colleagues in an array of multidisciplinary health program settings to achieve improved oral health in their communities.

The application deadline is Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

The program provides four opportunities:
- Gaining experience and skills across all 10 designated competency areas outlined by the American Board of Dental Public Health.
- Gaining skills in the methods of scientific inquiry and research, emphasizing oral health epidemiology and population-based efforts.
- Setting a foundation for future examination and certification.
- Starting a career as a specialist in dental public health.

Two to four qualified dentists are admitted into the CDC's residency program every year, located in Atlanta.

The program starts in July of each year.

Prior to starting the residency program, residents must have the following:
- A dental degree from a U.S. dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation . Applicants who are graduates of a school of dentistry outside the U.S. or Canada must be deemed to have equivalent education.
- A master's degree of public health or comparable degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Courses for the MPH or comparable degree would include biostatistics, epidemiology, health care policy and management, environmental health and behavioral sciences. If the applicant's public health training was completed in an institution outside the U.S., satisfactory completion of two or more years of advanced education in an area related to the practice of dental public health is required.

To apply, visit cdc.gov/oralhealth/about/DPHR-how-to-apply.html.