Postdoctoral Dental Public Health (PH)

• SDM PH 763: Bioethics and Law
  Introduces models of applied ethics used within the field of dentistry. With lectures, case studies, and class discussion, students engage in identification and analysis of ethical dilemmas. Topics include professional responsibility and ethical principles, the doctor-patient relationship, the dentist and the community, and ethical conduct in science. 1st sem.
• SDM PH 780: Geriatrics and Gerontology Seminar
  An in-depth analysis of current issues in our aging population, including demographic profiles, long-term care, financial considerations, and case discussions. Articles from current literature will complement the information discussed in the seminar. 2nd Sem.
• SDM PH 803: Biostatistics
  Designed for master's and doctoral students. Introduces the concepts and techniques of biostatistics used in dental research and referred to in dental literature. Emphasizes the fundamentals of statistical logic and presents the basic principles of experimental design, statistical inference, and probability. Examples from current basic sciences research, survey research, and clinical trials augment the presentation of statistical theory. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 804: Applied Statistical Analysis in Dental Public Health
  Prerequisite: SDM PH 803 or graduate level biostatistics. In-depth application of statistical concepts using publicly available datasets to develop a hypothesis, analyze data and produce a manuscript. The course focuses on the analysis of oral health related data, and includes a detailed discussion of estimation techniques, regression and correlation, analysis of covariance, and survey methods. Analyses are performed with SAS statistical analysis software available through the Boston University Office of Information Technology. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 806: Environmental Health
  This introductory course to the field of environmental health provides an overview of major environmental issues and their influence on the practice of dentistry. Students will better understand how alterations to our environment impact human health and the health of the biosphere, the multifactorial process of decision-making surrounding risk and regulations, potential exposures and mitigation approaches specific to the dental field, and possible environmental advocacy roles for dental public health providers. 1st sem
• SDM PH 808: Health Care Management and Finance
  This course is designed to acquaint students with the basic concepts of health care administration, emphasizing financial administration. The course provides an overview of basic principles of accounting and financial management and their applications. The students will analyze problem sets that represent a practical application of financial administration principles as discussed in the course. These exercises will lay the analytic foundation for a final case study on a specific financial oral health issue. Topics covered include cost benefit and cost effective analyses, and break-even analyses using data provided by the instructor. 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 810: Fundamentals of Dental Public Health
  This course presents a comprehensive view of dental public health. Through lectures, class discussion, and exercises, students will investigate the core public health functions and become familiar with the concepts of surveillance, dental indices, access and systems of care, oral health disparities, social determinants of health, and public policy. In completing their final project, students will develop the practical skills needed for population-based public health programing such as needs assessment, writing goals and objectives, implementation planning, program evaluation, creating logic models, budgets, and timelines.
• SDM PH 812: Oral Epidemiology
  This course will provide the student with 1) the principles of epidemiology, relating these principles to the diseases of the oral cavity and 2) demonstrate the designs for clinical and community-based studies. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to understand the strengths and limitations in the design of such studies. 1st sem.
• SDM PH 821: Dental Public Health Literature Review
  This course is intended to provide a formal introduction to the scientific method as applied to dental public health. This biweekly course provides an overview of the major principles and methodology associated with the critical review and appraisal of important published literature in dental public health and public health. Students will present and lead discussions for articles in topics that are scientifically innovative, update our knowledge, or controversial, or which are landmark papers in the field. 1st sem.
• SDM PH 822: Dental Public Health Literature Review
  For second year students: building on the epidemiology, biostatistics, and literature review skills obtained in the first year of training, students will demonstrate their ability to determine study methodology validity and to identify ways to improve the study design in the papers presented in class. They will exhibit these skills through frequent class discussion participation and demonstrate improved proficiency in their presentation skills. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 823: Dental Public Health Literature Review
  For third year students: In this advanced course, students will take a primary leadership role in class by incorporating their skills obtained in advanced DPH and SPH courses to promote deeper class discussions about advanced statistical analyses and study methodology in the literature through proficient presentations. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 872: Dental Public Health Policies, Programs and Advocacy
  This course provides students with an overview of current concepts and programs in dental public health and their relationship to the four major dental public health competency areas: health policy and administration, health promotion and disease prevention, delivery systems, and research. The course will familiarize students with various approaches to meeting the oral health needs of high risk populations on the local, national, and international levels. Real world examples are given, stressing the importance of effective communication, policies, programs and advocacy. 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 888: Seminars in Dental Public Health
  Boston University and the Boston area are centers for world renowned innovative public health and medical research. The goal of this course is to expand the students' exposure, knowledge, and skills to areas outside of those they would encounter in a traditional dental school setting. Students attend seminars where they can learn from and interact with other students, residents, and faculty/researchers, in both the dental public health and public health spheres. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 889: Seminars in Dental Public Health
  In the second and third years the students will expand their exposure to the latest concepts and methodology in the dental public health/public health arenas. This allows students to continue to build their research skills, and to aid them in conducting scientifically rigorous research in the dental public health field. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 890: Seminars in Dental Public Health
  In the second and third years the students will expand their exposure to the latest concepts and methodology in the dental public health/public health arenas. This allows students to continue to build their research skills, and to aid them in conducting scientifically rigorous research in the dental public health field. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 892: Dental Public Health Grand Rounds
  In a seminar format, this course provides a forum for discussion and synthesis of important dental public health topics with an emphasis on preparing students to challenge the American Board of Dental Public Health examinations. In this course, graduate student and faculty participants will review key topics covered in published public health literature. The bi-monthly meeting will consist of a critical discussion surrounding dental public health emerging topics, encompassing policy, health care reform, workforce issues, oral epidemiology and the practice of dental public health. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 893: Dental Public Health Grand Rounds
  For second year students: building on the knowledge and skills acquired in SDM PH 892, students will lead discussions and present summaries of dental public health topics. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 894: Dental Public Health Grand Rounds
  For third year students: in this advanced level of Dental Public Health Grand Rounds, students will take on the added responsibility of selecting topics together with the course director and leading multiple sessions independently. 1st and 2nd sem.
• SDM PH 900: Directed Study in Dental Public Health
  Directed study in Dental Public Health. Variable Credits.
• SDM PH 911: Public Health Project
  Students attain public health, primary care, or public health policy and administration experience through placement at one of several extramural sites. Experience may be correlated with the student's research topic.