First Integrated D.M.D./Ph.D. candidate selected

Scott Harden has been selected as the first candidate to enter the University of Florida College of Dentistry integrated D.M.D./Ph.D. program.

Harden, who just completed his third year of the D.M.D. program, will focus for the next four to five years on an ambitious course of study and research, and will earn a combined D.M.D. and Ph.D. that integrates the D.M.D. education with a comprehensive Ph.D. in the College of Medicine’s Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences. This dual degree program allows Harden to establish both a clinical and research identities, ultimately allowing him to pursue an academic career that applies modern research methods to clinical problems.

We are really pleased that Scott has chosen to follow this educational path and are proud to have him as our inaugural student,” said David Culp, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Oral Biology. “Scott has already shown himself to be up to this challenge and we are looking forward to watching his accomplishments over the next four years and beyond in his career.”

UF College of Dentistry Integrated D.M.D./Ph.D. Program

The program is designed to minimize redundant basic science and research coursework to reduce by one to two years that is needed to earn both degrees. A typical program takes about seven to eight years. Students undertake coursework in the D.M.D. curriculum for the first three years to provide a foundation in the basic sciences with exposure to the clinical setting and current dental treatment strategies. After applying to the integrated dual degree program and being accepted, students begin formal Ph.D. training in year four with increasing emphasis over time, but still maintain a foothold in the clinical arena by working an average of two half-days each week in the TEAM clinics.

For more information about the program, visit the Integrated D.M.D./Ph.D. webpage.