School of Dental Medicine


Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Program Purpose


The purpose of the ECU School of Dental Medicine DMD program is to develop leaders who possess the knowledge, skills, values and experience to provide outstanding dental care to underserved and rural communities. The educational program focuses on comprehensive patient-centered care, the application of public health principles, clinical and oral medicine to provide evidence-based primary oral health care.


Learning Outcomes


Clinicians with Foundational Knowledge

In assuring alignment with the foundational knowledge of the basic sciences, first-year students will be engaged in weekly assessments mapped from the 20 content modules comprising course content.

Health Care Team

Graduate dental professionals will be able to function as a leader of a primary care health team and collaborate with other health care providers.

Professionalism

Professionalism: Graduate dental professionals will be able to demonstrate the professionalism associated with the field of dentistry.

Independent Competent Clinicians

DMD students will demonstrate competency in clinical reasoning and physical hand skills.

Intraprofessional and Interprofessional Collaboration

Graduate dental professionals will recognize the importance of intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration focusing on the overall well-being of the patient through patient centered care.

Problem-solving and Treatment Planning

In the foundational application of the clinical reasoning skills before entering clinical treatment on live patients, first-year and second-year students will be deemed competent during the simulated problem-based and case-based tasks given during the D1 year. There are two components. (1) Group Participation during Problem-Based Learning Sessions and (2) Individual Case SOAP Note with Personal Reflection.

Research

Graduate dental professionals will execute research activities supporting evidence-based oral health care and concentrating on such areas as new treatment methods, health inequalities, health disparities, and the social determinants of health.