Dental Public Health Internship Program

  • Program Length: 1 Year
  • Tuition: $29,160 per year
  • Degree/Certificate: Certificate of Completion - Unaccredited
  • Application Deadline: August 1 of the preceding year for program starting on January 1; January 15 for program starting on July 1

Program Information

The Department of Community Dentistry offers a 12-month training program in dental public health. The program is sponsored by the Department of Community Dentistry and directed by a faculty member in the department who is a Diplomate of the American Board for Dental Public Health with the assistance of a cadre of competent faculty members. The program will commence either on July 1 or January 1. The program will be tailored to suit each individual's credentials and career aspirations. The program is not eligible for financial aid. For additional information about the program, please contact dentalph@case.edu.

Program Objectives

The components of the internship program include: 1) didactic instruction in dental public health including research methods, 2) opportunities to observe oral health promotion activities, and 3) visits to public health agencies.

Admission Procedure

Candidates must have a dental degree from an institution accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation or an equivalent degree; international dental graduates are also eligible to apply.

An applicant with a DMD/DDS degree or its equivalent is eligible to apply. An application must be received with a $145.00 non-refundable application fee. Application deadlines are: January 15th for the program starting on July 1st of the same year, and August 1 of the preceding year for the program starting on January 1st of the following year. All applications should be submitted through PASS.

Overview of the Program

The selected candidate will participate in didactic coursework tailored to his/her career objectives that will encompass research methods, scientific communication, preventive dentistry, health promotion, public health administration, and oral health care systems. Each candidate will have the opportunity to observe the department's experiential learning programs: the Healthy Smiles Sealant Program in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Family First program. Each candidate will attend bi-weekly meetings with the program director and/or program faculty members. A formal quarterly evaluation by department faculty members will be an inherent part of the program. Once a candidate completes the program satisfactorily, the fellow will be awarded a certificate of completion: Graduate Internship.

Following is the list of the primary faculty members of the program and their respective expertise:

Name Department/Title
Catherine Demko, PhD Epidemiology
James Houston, DDS General Dentist
James Lalumandier, DDS, MPH (Diplomate, ABDPH) Dental Public Health
Suchitra Nelson, PhD Epidemiology
Sena Narendran, BDS, DDPH RCS, MSc (Residency Director & Diplomate, ABDPH) Dental Public Health & Epidemiology
Kristin Victoroff, DDS, PhD Behavioral Sciences
Kristin Williams, DDS, MPH Dental Public Health

There is no financial aid given to students enrolled in the internship program. International students must submit a letter of "proof of support" at the time of the application to the program. Applicants must establish that they have available financial resources sufficient to complete the program without any interruption. All on-campus work-study employment for international students must be cleared by the individual program director and the University Office of International Students.

For additional information about the program, please e-mail dentalph@case.edu or call (216) 368-1311.

General Application Guidelines

  • Admission requires the DMD/DDS or equivalent degree from an accredited institution.
  • A "B" average or ranking in the upper third of the graduating class.
  • Passing grades in the National Dental Board Examination(s) OR Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores at the 75th percentile or better.
  • Only complete PASS applications will be reviewed.
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the PASS application is complete.

All applicants must submit the following materials:

  1. Completed PASS application
  2. Non-refundable application fee of $145.00
  3. Photograph (optional)
  4. International students must also submit a letter of financial support

Additional Requirements:

Applicants who have graduated from a non-English speaking dental school and for whom English is not their first language must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). We do accept a score reported from IELTS in lieu of a TOEFL score. In order to be admitted, the applicant must score above one of the following minimum scores:

     TOEFL Internet-Based Test: 108
     IELTS Test: 8

The TOEFL identification number for Case Western Reserve University is: 1105

The Department code for the School of Dental Medicine is: 38

For more information, contact:
Dr. Sena Narendran
Phone: 216.368.1311
Email: sxn100@case.edu