Special Study Programs

UF College of Dentistry

DMD/PhD Program

The DMD-PhD joint degree program was established in 2012, and designed to train future leaders in academic research to tackle clinical disorders related to oral health. One key aspect to the program is that students undergo their PhD training while working part-time to complete their fourth year of dental school, allowing the student to fully develop and maintain all clinical skills.

Blue test tubes

We additionally have an increasing number of study opportunities for people who aren’t registered as students to work with the college in various ways.


For Dentists

Internship

An educational experience that lasts one year and includes direct patient care. Internships are open to any dentist (U.S./International) with a dental degree; topics can be either general dentistry or dental specialties.
Contact: The academic department sponsoring the internship and Continuing Education.

Fellowship

An educational experience that lasts one year and includes direct patient care. Fellowships are open to any dentist with a dental degree (U.S./International) and specialty training. The topic is a special-interest area in your specialty.
Contact: The academic department sponsoring the fellowship and Continuing Education.

Mini-residency

A custom-study program that lasts less than one month that may or may not include direct patient care. Mini-residencies are intended for dentists with a dental degree (U.S./International), topics could be either general dentistry or dental specialties.
See a listing of departments that currently offer mini residencies
Contact: The sponsoring academic department (department is responsible for customizing program) and Continuing Education.

For Dentists and others with Terminal Degrees

Preceptorship

An educational experience that lasts between one month and a year. No direct patient care is included in this experience. Preceptorships are intended for dentists with dental degrees and others who have earned a terminal degree (U.S./International). Topics can be either general dentistry, dental specialties or research topics.
Contact: The academic department sponsoring the preceptorship (department is responsible for customizing program) and Continuing Education.

For Dental Students

Externships

A one to two week (it can vary), customized educational experience for dental students currently enrolled and in good standing at U.S.-accredited colleges of dentistry or foreign schools with UFCD formal affiliation agreements. Direct patient care is not included in this experience.
Contact: The academic department sponsoring the externship (department must coordinate externship with specialty program director) and Office of Education.

For those Interested in Dentistry

Volunteer/Shadowing

An observational experience involving no direct patient care in the clinical settings sponsored by UFCD. Two options are available: a semester-long commitment through the Shands Volunteer Center or a short-term option through the Clinical Affairs Office.
Contact: UF Health Volunteer Center for semester-long program and for shorter experiences visit our Shadowing Experiences web page.

For DMD Graduates (of the UF College of Dentistry)

DMD Remediation

A custom-educational program of varying length that is open to UFCD graduates who have earned a DMD degree, but failed licensure exam in Florida; involves direct patient care.
Contact: Office of Education and Continuing Education.

For Florida-Licensed Dentists

Board of Dentistry Mandated Remediation

A custom-education program of varying length that is open to Florida-licensed dentists who require BOD mandated remediation; this program may involve direct patient care.
Contact: Continuing Education.

The University of Florida is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider and a member of the Association for Continuing Dental Education.