TRACK III
INTEGRATED DDS/PhD DEGREE

Overview: The new DDS/PhD program offered in Track III of UT-TORCH offers an integrated dental and graduate research program that leads to the simultaneous awarding of a DDS and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. The primary objective is to build a program that combines the best in scientific and clinical dental education to produce highly qualified clinician scholars. UT-TORCH will graduate fully competent dental clinician scientists who can contribute fundamental knowledge in biomedical sciences to studies of clinical relevance. Such clinical scholars will be capable of initiating and maintaining funded research programs in dental schools and will strive to continually enhance the quality of research and teaching programs. Although the DDS/PhD program is unique, it is modeled after the MD/PhD program sponsored by the UTHSC-H Medical School. This program has graduated 50 highly successful clinician scientists since 1982 and effectively interfaces the research and clinical programs at UTHSC-H and MDACC. The environment for training of clinician scientists on campus has thus proven to be dynamic and stimulating.

Basic Scheme for the DDS/PhD Program: The program will take, on average, 7 years to complete and will require trainees to commit a 100% of time. Without compromising the standards of either program, the projected 7 year time period integrates the best in didactic, scientific and clinical education with investigational research conducted under the direction of established UT-TORCH faculty mentors. The proposed scheme for the DDS/PhD has the following advantages:

• Trainees are exposed to a thoroughly integrated curriculum from the time of enrollment until graduation, thus allowing progress in didactic, research and clinical areas at a similar rate.
  - For example, in Year 1 when the focus is on completing the majority of the Core Basic Sciences Curriculum (PhD and DDS) trainees will spend one afternoon a week learning basic restorative techniques in a preclinical laboratory course- DEPS 1614 Operative Dentistry1. In Years 3 and 4 when trainees are intensely engaged in dissertation research, one afternoon session will be devoted to DDS courses DENS 1651/2 Foundational Skills for Clinic I/II. Similarly, in Years 5, 6 and 7 when the focus is on dental didactic and clinical competencies, trainees will retain involvement with dissertation work and other PhD core activities. This style of integration of the two curricula allows for the early and uninterrupted ‘imprinting’ of trainees as clinician scientists thus conditioning them for academic life on this track. Core and enrichment activities are placed throughout the curriculum to provide opportunities to apply basic science research methods to clinical problems and visa versa.
• The integrated program offers an uncompromised sequence of learning that effectively prepares students to progress in a stepwise fashion and to perform well in National Board, (pre)clinical competency and PhD candidacy examinations.
• As far as is possible, blocks of courses are maintained as offered in the individual DDS program to allow for a user-friendly and realistic time line for completion.
• The highly progressive and integrated Graduate School (PhD) Program and a modern competency-based DDS Curriculum were distinct advantages in the planning of the DDS/PhD program.
• To accommodate the individual needs of each trainee and to ensure successful progress through all phases of the program, the DDS/PhD program is designed to be highly flexible. Programmatic flexibility is built around a strong core curriculum to best serve the educational needs of students from diverse backgrounds
  - Three program paths are offered. Trainees can either enter the program in the summer preceding Year 1; after two years of dental school or after two years of completing the PhD in Biomedical Sciences Program.
• The Director and Steering Team will be in direct communication with the DDS/PhD committee (described below) to ensure that a balance is maintained between the two programs and that training experiences foster a true interest in dental research and academics.

The DDS/PhD program is organized into three phases that are described with rough time line guides below (please refer to the Sample DDS/PhD Program curriculum that follows):

• Phase I: Focus on Basic Science Curriculum and Learning Operative Dentistry Skills
  (Years 1 and 2 - PhD = 60%; DDS = 40% that includes DDS courses)
  • Complete three laboratory tutorials in the summers preceding and following the first year to allow trainees an early exposure to bench research techniques and to facilitate their early selection of mentors and projects. The selection of tutorials will be guided by the Director who serves as track coordinator in consultation with the Steering Team.
  • Complete the PhD Core and Area-Specific Courses (exception- Oral Biology) and the DDS-Specific Basic Sciences eg. Anatomy (Head & Neck), Biochemistry, etc that are required for Part I of the National Boards.
  • Select a graduate program, DDS program and PhD program advisor and advisory committee.
  • Choose dissertation topic at the start of Year 2 and spend time in PhD mentor’s lab for GS000520 Research in Biomedical Sciences credit and to obtain preliminary data for PhD thesis proposal.
  • Fully complete preclinical technique and related didactic courses eg. Dental Anatomy and Operative Dentistry to build manual skills.
  • Participate in integrative and interdisciplinary activities including one UT-TORCH Grand Research Rounds.
  • Pass National Board Part I examination.
• Phase Two: Focus on PhD dissertation and enrichment courses, maintain and learn new preclinical dental skills
  (Years 3 and 4 – PhD = 90%; DDS = 10%)
  • Begin PhD dissertation work in laboratory of PhD mentor.
  • Complete Core Oral Biology Curriculum.
  • Attend Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series and participate in one UT-TORCH Grand Research Rounds.
  • Attend scientific meetings and present data if possible.
  • Spend 4 hours/ week completing additional DDS didactic courses. Maintain and learn new preclinical dental skills by completing Foundational Skills for Clinic I and II.
  • Study for and complete PhD Candidacy Exam that includes a section on Oral Biology topics by the end of Year 3.
  • Meet regularly with DDS/PhD Advisory Committee with oral presentations of progress on PhD dissertation project.
• Phase Three: Focus on finalizing PhD dissertation and completing DDS clinical didactic courses and competencies
  (Years 5 and 6 – PhD = 30%; DDS = 70%; Year 7 – PhD = 20%; DDS = 80%)
  • Maintain graduate school status and continue dissertation work; analyze data.
  • Complete core courses that focus on developing skills as an academic researcher.
  • Formal research presentation to the advisory committee once every six months.
  • Defend PhD dissertation either by the Fall or Spring semesters of Year 6 and turn in dissertations.
  • Complete DDS clinical didactic courses and pt-based competencies by working closely with DDS Program Advisor.
  • Pass National Board Part II examination in the Spring of Year 7.
  • Pass Clinical Mock Boards and State Board (WREB) Licensing examinations.
  • Prepare papers for publication and submit a career plan to DDS/PhD committee that includes plans for furthering research development through NIDCR Career Development ‘K’ Awards and application for faculty positions receive a DDS degree and a PhD

Sample DDS/PhD Program with emphasis on Genes and Development (ENTRY IN YEAR 1)

Institutional Support for Additional Years of Study: While the program is designed for completion in 7 years the possibility that a eighth may be required to complete requirements cannot be ruled out. UT-TORCH is committed to funding for the eighth year if needed through stipends from the GSBS or from individual mentors.

Candidate Supervision and Evaluation: All students, regardless of point of entry, will be first guided by the UT-TORCH Program Director (also the Track III Coordinator), who will assign two interim DDS/PhD advisors: a DDS academic program advisor who is a dental clinical faculty (this is routine for all DDS students) and the other a UT-TORCH dental faculty mentor. The latter faculty will be replaced by a primary research mentor but may stay on as member of the DDS/PhD advisory committee. The committee will assist the student in balancing clinical and didactic activities and will oversee the student's progress through individual program requirements. Grading systems for the DDS/PhD will be as described for the individual programs with students expected to maintain an average GPA of 3.0. Trainees will be evaluated continually and those whose performance does not meet the minimum standards of either program will be first placed on probation and then asked to withdraw by the Deans of both programs. The two DDS/PhD advisors and the UT-TORCH Director will be authorized to access student grades online and reports will be submitted to the Steering Team at the end of each semester.

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