Institute of Graduate Dental Biosciences

The Institute of Graduate Dental Biosciences at Jefferson will be the first of its kind in the field – an innovative graduate program designed to offer healthcare providers and scientists specialized, next-generation training in dental education, research and clinical practice. By equipping those in the medical field with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to teach new generations of dentists, the program will serve as an invaluable faculty pipeline for the growing number of dental schools around the world.

A Transdisciplinary Model

Leveraging Jefferson’s collaborative infrastructure and comprehensive academic offerings, the Institute will feature a transdisciplinary educational model that reaches across colleges, specialties, and professions to expose enrollees to the latest, most advanced technologies, procedures, and breakthroughs in a variety of fields. In doing so, the Institute will better prepare graduates to anticipate and adapt to the changing needs and innovations of 21st century health and dental care.

Degree Offerings

The Institute will offer a catalog of degree options for aspiring dental scientists, covering a comprehensive range of subspecialties unmatched by any other academic medical institution, including:

MS/PhD Plus Dental Specialties

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (pilot program)
  • Dental Public Health*
  • Endodontics*
  • Orthodontics*
  • Pediatric Dentistry*
  • Periodontics*
  • Prosthodontics*

New Programs/Degrees

  • PhD/MS in biomedical sciences
  • Certificate in facial pain treatment and diagnosis*
  • Nurse Practitioner in oral and maxillofacial surgery*
  • Fellowship programs in subspecialty areas*

* future programs

Core Training Areas

  1. Educator/Pedagogy. Program enrollees will learn core teaching skills – such as curriculum and course design, student engagement, assessment, and scholarship, to name a few – as well as best practices to thrive as modern dental scientists.
  2. Research Training. Enrollees will receive rigorous training in the methodological principles and best practices of modern medical research. Potential research areas include biochemistry, regenerative medicine, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, and population health, among many others.
  3. Dental/Surgical Specialty Training. Enrollees will work alongside nationally recognized experts to gain comprehensive, hands-on experience with the latest treatments, techniques, and innovations in the field.