The College of Dental Medicine, one of the first dental schools in the nation to become fully integrated with a research university in a world-renowned medical center, has origins dating to 1852. The College offers the D.D.S. degree as well as postdoctoral specialty education and dual degrees, including the M.B.A., the M.P.H., and a Ph.D. and M.A. in Biomedical Informatics, with other schools of the University. The College is the major source of oral health care for the northern Manhattan area and offers that care at a reasonable cost. Special populations, including those with complex medical histories, are served through the College’s clinics. Seventy-five students are enrolled in each class in the four year pre-doctoral curriculum. The students share much of the first two years of the P&S curriculum; this strong biomedical base serves well to support the medically oriented clinical years of the curriculum. Approximately 96% of the D.D.S. students continue into postdoctoral education. Only 2 of the 56 other U.S. dental schools approach that percentage, a measure of the strong medical orientation of the curriculum. The student body is rich in its diversity; 50% are women, all minorities are well represented, and a significant number of matriculating students hold advanced degrees, e.g. M.D., Ph.D., M.A., etc.

Finally, the College has a long tradition of excellence in research. D.D.S. and specialty-certificate candidates are encouraged to be active participants in on-going clinical and basic science research within the Columbia University Medical Center.