All-around life cycle of dentist-scientists

Dual-degree dentist-scientists (Doctor of Dental Surgery – Doctor of Philosophy, DDS-PhD, or Doctor of Dental Medicine – Doctor of Philosophy, DMD-PhD) are the essential workforce for fulfilling the research mission of a dental school, uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between clinic and research. The making of a dentist-scientist is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process requiring a long-term institutional commitment and investment. DDS-PhD and certificate – PhD programs are powerful platforms for fostering promising future dentist-scientists. After postdoctoral training, dentist-scientists who wish to embark on a full-time research career typically start as a tenure-track faculty member of a research-intensive university. This article will briefly discuss the career trajectories of dentist-scientists in academic institutions.