Enhancing Training
The UCSF Open Smiles Collaborative expands the experiential learning of UCSF Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health dentists in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Key curricula elements of this segment of your training include:

Oral Health Integration

Adding clinical training sites for PD dentists at the Petaluma Health Center near the heart of Sonoma’s world-famous wine country, and La Clinica de Raza, in Vallejo, California, just over the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. These clinical training sites serve predominantly low-income, underserved children.

Integrating oral health into primary care pediatrics during well-child visits. This element of the curriculum is taught and led by Dr. Susan Fisher-Owens, a pioneer and leading researcher in the emerging field of medical dental integration. DPH and PD trainees lead workshops for the clinical team on oral health topics. Presentations have been developed and presented by trainees on the following oral health topics: 

  • Data on the efficacy of fluoride use
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Education and Referral 
  • Systemic Disease Impacts on Oral Health 
  • Sealants 
  • What do say when parents ask about orthodontia 

Quality Improvement

Developing community-based quality improvement (QI) projects for PD and DPH trainees. This program is taught and led by Dr. Cristin Kearns, DMD, MBA, a leader in implementing quality improvement programs in healthcare systems. QI projects are chosen by the trainees based on their interests.

Here is a list QI projects for the academic year 2023-2024: 

Here is a list QI projects for the academic year 2022-2023: