UNMC will begin offering a dual Doctor of Dental Surgery/Master of Public Health degree, with the first official cohort of DDS students expected to enroll in the MPH program beginning summer 2026.
The dual degree is being offered through the UNMC Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health at a time when dentists and health professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of oral health on the overall health of a community.
“This degree will ensure that the next generation of dentists have the skills they need to integrate public health concepts into their own practices,” said Nicole Kolm-Valdivia, PhD, assistant dean for academic affairs at the UNMC College of Public Health.
Yun Saksena, DMD, associate dean for education at the UNMC College of Dentistry, said the new degree makes sense for UNMC because many of the college’s dental graduates go on to practice in underserved rural areas. In fact, the school has traditionally been among the top in the country for graduates practicing in rural areas.
The degree has been designed so UNMC dental students can get an MPH more affordably and quickly, timing the public health courses so both degrees can be completed in four years.
“They’re learning about public health then, understanding how to assess and manage public health in those settings,” Dr. Kolm-Valdivia said. “They begin to understand population health science and how it applies, understand how to approve the effectiveness of public health opportunities. Because this is a dual degree, the dental courses and clinical rotations provide a more efficient way to complete those public health credits.”
Dental students and prospective students have been asking for a dual DDS/MPH degree for some time, Dr. Saksena said, and the two UNMC colleges have been working on the collaboration since 2019.
“It’ll be exciting,” Dr. Saksena said. “The need is great, and this can make a tremendous difference.”
In the past, she said, DDS students who have completed the MPH or certificate program usually go into pediatric dentistry. But the degree can make a difference for all dentists, even those in private practice.
“Students will have foundational public health skills,” Dr. Kolm-Valdivia said. “Having that knowledge gives them an understanding of what’s preventing people in their community from receiving regular oral health care.” It positions students, she added, to advocate for policy changes or community strategies that would improve oral health at the population level rather than only individual patient care.
DDS students will take the MPH classes online, to allow for maximum flexibility in already-busy schedules. Because some DDS classes cover similar material, dual credit is given, reducing the number of separate credit hours for the MPH.
The dual degree will provide a competitive boost, too, both agreed.
Dental students will work with Dr. Saksena to chart their MPH pathways – the degree offers seven different concentrations – so they can complete both degrees successfully.
Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry, said the dual degree was one of his priorities when he became dean in fall 2023.
“When I applied for my position at UNMC, one of the key initiatives I discussed during my interview was the need for a DDS/MPH program,” he said. “We made it a priority to move it forward. I’m thrilled to see this vision realized, as the dual degree will equip our dental students with critical public health skills that will enhance patient care and improve oral health outcomes at the community level.”
Ali S. Khan, MD, MPH, dean of the UNMC College of Public Health, agreed.
“A joint DDS/MPH degree is a natural, as oral health is essential for overall health and quality of life,” he said.