Advancing the educational training of dental educators: review of a model program

Very few dental educators have formal pedagogical training, and the availability of degree-granting programs for dental educators is very limited. A joint D.D.S.-M.A. program for predoctoral students and a Ph.D. program for faculty members have been established at Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine in conjunction with the Graduate School of Education, Teachers College. Six students have completed the joint degree program, five are currently enrolled, and an additional three have taken courses at Teachers College without pursuing a degree. One faculty member has completed the Ph.D. program, and one is enrolled. This article describes the details of both programs and discusses preliminary outcomes. The model described here may serve as an example for other dental schools that may choose to implement degree programs in education for dental educators.