A World Class Learning Experience 

The UCSF Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health community is a family of dedicated dental professionals, researchers, and community partners focused on addressing some of the most pervasive health issues of our time. 

The UCSF Open Smiles Collaborative builds on the core competencies of both our UCSF Pediatric Dentistry (PD) and Dental Public Health (DPH) programs to prepare dentists like you for leadership positions. Your presence on-site at our beautiful campus in the heart of San Francisco ensures that you will have the time to build meaningful relationships with your entire UCSF team, attend and network at many on-site activities, and complete a research project alongside the personal guidance of members of our UCSF School of Dentistry faculty. 

Over the course of your time with us, we will focus on three of the most pressing oral healthcare priorities: underserved and vulnerable populations, rural training sites, and dental public health.

UCSF Open Smiles meets the needs of California’s diverse population and communities. It targets the deficiencies in the current oral health system, such as a maldistributed workforce, racial and ethnic diversity, and inadequate public health infrastructure in California’s safety net system. Upon completing this collaboration, UCSF DPH and PD graduates will be skilled and inspired to practice in, and deliver care to California’s rural, underserved, and vulnerable populations.