Passport to Dentistry Program

One of the major challenges faced by the dental profession today is the recruitment of qualified dental school applicants who are capable of serving the nation’s future oral healthcare needs. The Passport to Dentistry Program has been designed to provide potential dental school applicants the opportunity to explore the world of dentistry as a career option. Through a challenging combination of academic and experiential activities participants will gain insight and a greater appreciation for the dental profession.

The program consists of a series of seminars, lectures, and directed laboratory exercises, including:

Oral Health and Disease: An Overview

The presentation explores the importance of the oral cavity and its role in contributing to the richness of our human experience. The seminar focuses on the importance of the oral, dental and craniofacial tissues and their relationship to oral and systemic health.

Current Issues in Oral Health Care

The seminar discusses the first ever Surgeon General’s report “Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General.” Topics focus primarily on dental caries and other oral diseases and their impact on society. Discussions also address the profound and consequential oral health disparities within the U.S. population.

Preparing for a Career in Dental Medicine

Introduction and Overview to Dental Careers and Specialties
Students are introduced to the rewards and challenges of a career in dental medicine. Topics include options available to dental professionals as well as the scope of dental practice.

The Application Process
Students are presented with step-by-step guidelines for applying to dental schools. Topics discussed include: letters of recommendation, personal statement, interviewing skills, the computerized application process, application timelines, optimizing non-academic accomplishments, and selection of schools.

DAT Preparation
In order to help better prepare for the DAT students are provided with a synthesis of strategies and approaches designed to help focus and organize their study efforts. Sessions address the essential elements of multiple choice examinations, the format of multiple choice questions, and tactics specific to computerized tests. An overview, study outline, and key strategies are presented for the Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning Tests.

The next session is scheduled for mid-May, 2010. Dates to be announced.