Postdoctoral Training in General, Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene - Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) currently provides oral healthcare education and service to diverse and underserved populations for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and rural northern New England including the State of Maine. The combined efforts of TUSDM’s Department of Public Health and Community Service, through its Advanced General Dentistry (AEGD/GPR) Programs in collaboration with the Department of Pediatric Dentistry (PEDO) provide excellence in pre and post-doctoral training experiences and service through the second largest dental education institution in the country. Considered a leader in clinical care, research and community service, TUSDM is partnered with primary care medical providers and community agencies to share its mission and to develop and test new training models in clinical training that will prepare post-graduate dentists to provide care for populations of high risk and need. To continue its legacy as a leader in teaching and oral health delivery innovations, Tufts University firmly supports quality education and team based didactic and clinical experiences proposed in this project for its faculty, post-doctoral resident trainee’s, primary medicine partners, dental and allied healthcare workforce to prepare them for successful careers in dentistry in order to provide care for high need vulnerable populations as defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The major goal of this project to increase the number of primary care dentists working in community-based organizations serving rural and underserved communities. The project objectives to accomplish this is to expand and enhance TUSDM AEGD, GPR and PEDO Post-Doctoral Training Programs. The project will continue to work with community-based and rural areas to create new and enhance resident training experiences that will prepare them to provide oral health care to people from disadvantaged backgrounds with complex dental conditions. The project will include existing and create new formal partnerships TUSDM with primary care medicine, federally qualified health centers, and oral health special population centers to improve access to care. Project efforts will embrace the integration of medicine and dentistry, cultural competency and oral health literacy appropriate services training for quality dental care over a lifespan for underserved populations with complex needs. Faculty development strategies include new and enhanced curricula to address quality recruitment and retention of talent, for excellence in post-graduate teaching and best practices in patient care. Evaluation mechanisms for program objective assessment, impact and ideal outcomes will be integrated throughout the project period.
