Preserving the pipeline: a model dental curriculum for research non-intensive institutions

Current advanced degree and research training programs no longer attract adequate numbers of students. The present system of dental education severely limits the appeal of these programs due to overcrowded curricula and clinical components that operate in an environment segregated from the academic/research enterprise. To make research-oriented education/training programs more accessible and increase the number of interested students, the culture of dental schools and dental education must change. Programs for future dental researchers and academicians must be supported by curricula that foster an appreciation of research/discovery, an interest in academic/research careers, and the application of biomedical/clinical advances to practice. The Marquette University School of Dentistry has designed a comprehensive new curriculum that supports student research and scholarly activity throughout all four years of dental education. The curriculum minimizes discipline-based courses and is structured into interdisciplinary content tracks that integrate biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences while emphasizing the application of science to patient care. A specific research/scholarly track represents dedicated didactic time that exposes all dental students to material not traditionally included in dental curricula. This track includes mentored research/scholarly experiences at local and national sites that are individually structured for each student. Customized student schedules facilitate participation in these experiences without hardship or penalty. This curriculum structure may serve as a model for research non-intensive institutions seeking to increase student interest in academic and research careers.