Dental Public Health Residency
Dental Public Health Residency
Sangeeta Gajendra, DDS, MPH, MS
Chair, Community Dentistry and Oral Disease Prevention
The Dental Public Health Residency Program (Advanced Certificate) at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health is an intensive postdoctoral training opportunity that prepares dentists to become leaders in population-based oral health.
Our program offers three tracks:
- 1-year Full-Time
- 2-year Part-Time
- NEW: 2-year Full-Time with MPH (DPH/MPH dual program)*
*CODA-approved; seeking NYSDOE approval
Program Highlights
- Didactic and research training in the Department of Community Dentistry, providing clinical care to underserved populations, on the SMILEmobiles, and in community-based clinics. Residents in the DPH/MPH program will also be trained in the Department of Public Health Sciences.
- Field experience in Oral Disease Prevention Programs – Fluoride varnish, grant-funded dental home programs, and others related to public health.
- Multidisciplinary collaborations in smoking cessation, research, and grant writing, with opportunities to work with URMC's Department of Public Health Sciences, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Center for Community Health & Prevention.
What Sets Us Apart
What Sets Us Apart
“I was inspired by the program’s vision, rigor, and its legacy of producing leaders in dental public health. Being selected for the program was one of the happiest and most humbling moments of my professional journey.
Through this residency, I have been able to deepen my expertise in dental public health, strengthen research and policy skills, and expand my ability to design systems-level solutions that improve oral health access and equity.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Gajendra for her mentorship and guidance. Her leadership and unwavering commitment to communities have been instrumental in shaping my journey and growth in dental public health.”
Dr. Prasida Khanal, MPH, BDS
State Oral Health Director
Minnesota Department of Health