DDS/PhD programs and my candidacy?

[Dentalkid434]

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[UCLAzy]

why? you want to remain in academia and practice AT BEST 1 full day a week? you want to make significantly less than your peers? if yes, go for it.

 

[UltimateHombre]

From my understanding... there is not huge competition for DDS/PhD programs. Definitely not to the degree of MD/PhD programs...

I would call up the individual schools listed in your other thread and ask them yourself if you would be a good candidate.

 

[Polk]

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[UCLAzy]

many schools have you complete PhD work before moving on to dental school to deter this. nih also funds a maximum of 60%, and while that might not have to be paid back the part funded by the school (if any) will have strings attached. if you're passionate Bout it, its a great deal. if not, your time is better spent doing other things. others are right though..dental schools often don't fill their funded slots for this type of program

 

[thewobblytooth]

I wouldn't suggest anyone do it for the money. Michigan is one of the few, if not the only, 100% fully funded programs. Dean Polverini has always been a champion of our dual degree program. Most people will never understand why you'd ever pursue this route. If you have a real passion for research and enjoy aspects of dentistry (working with patients, etc) I think you're looking for the right program. I wouldn't say that the program isn't competitive, but not many students know they exist and go into dentistry with the sole purpose of opening up a private practice, having a comfortable living, and freedom to do whatever you want 👍. If you have no interest in science, then this program is obviously not for you. If you do enjoy research, then you should consider programs like Michigan.

 

[UCLAzy]

i have much respect for you andragon but its misleading to say michigan is one of the few that fully funds it. the only school i came across that did not offer full funding was UCLA, and that was because they dont cover anything in addition to the 60% from the training grant (for DDS years. phd is covered). all of the other schools i talked to that had a T32 claimed that they would provide the 40% not covered by NIH thru either dean's funding or some other internal mechanism. even UCSF, which does not have the T32 currently, said the funding would be taken care of by an F30 grant (which in my opinion, is more useful than just riding on the T32 in terms of career preparation) combined with other scholarships

fwiw, ymmv, etc

 

[thewobblytooth]

That is true. There are a variety of funding mechanisms that our students apply for but one difference is that even if we cannot secure those grants, the budget has been established so that we already have that tuition covered. So for us to obtain an f30 saves our department money, giving us credibility as a clinician scientist, versus putting pressure on us to secure that findings on our own. And yes, securing that f30 is critical to becoming faculty at dental schools across the nation and paves the way for us to be awarded k and r grants. For instance, some schools require their students to pay for the first two years of tuition or something along those lines. For us, we are covered from day one. So realistically we do want to obtain f30 grants to show prospective employers that its possible for us to get bigger awards. I should clarify next time and thanks for clearing that up. I didn't want to get into it because it was complicated, as you thoroughly explained. Thanks!