Externship Program

What are Externships?

During the fourth year, students participate in a distinguishing component of the curriculum: a 10-week required extramural experience. The externship rotation exposes students to alternative clinical settings and different modes of treatment and instruction and to the needs of a variety of patient populations. Students choose from extramural sites that are affiliated with the School, most located in the New England region.

The externship plays a vital role in the curriculum by providing students with an opportunity to enhance their clinical, interpersonal, and patient management skills in a more independent setting. Students develop a professional relationship with their externship preceptors who provide instruction, support, and guidance throughout their extramural experience.

What types of externship placements are available?

Extramural settings include military installations, Veterans Administration Hospitals, neighborhood health centers, and major medical centers located throughout the United States. Each site has at least one preceptor, who functions as teacher and clinician while supervising the student’s overall experience. During their externship, students strengthen their skills in clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, patient and practice management, and emergency care as well as provide a complete range of restorative dental services to patients.

Elective Externships

The elective externship program offers fourth-year pre-doctoral students an opportunity to pursue an intensive educational experience of one or two weeks in length. Upon approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs, students can use this time to visit post-doctoral programs of interest to them, or voluntarily participate in an international outreach program providing dental care for people in underdeveloped and impoverished regions of the world. Please refer to the following stories from these Elective International Missions.

• Guatemala
• Mexico
• Nicaragua

Have questions or comments?
Contact Global & Population Health at:

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Global and Population Health
560 Harrison Ave, 3^rd Floor, Suite 300
Fax: 617-358-6604