The ECU SoDM Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists

Preparing Tomorrow's Dentists logo

Application for our Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists Summer Program 2025 is now OPEN. The PTD Summer Program will take place Monday, June 2 – Wednesday, June 4 (Current Undergraduate Students Only) and Monday, June 9- Wednesday, June 11 (Post Baccalaureate Students Only). This year’s program is a commuter (non-residential) program and will take place over the course of 2 1/2 days on the campus of East Carolina University in Ross Hall.  All students who are aligned with the mission of ECU-School of Dental Medicine, who are from North Carolina and interested in learning more about dentistry are strongly encouraged to apply.

There is a $20 non-refundable application fee and space is limited. Visit PTD Application to apply. 

Application deadline for is 5pm on April 11, 2025. If you have questions or need additional information, please email us at reflectdmd@ecu.edu. 

Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists

The ECU School of Dental Medicine established its Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists program in 2013, in collaboration with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the Old North State Dental Society. Initially funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as an ADEA Pipeline Program, the program aims to develop activities to enhance students’ awareness of the dental profession, and to ultimately increase the number of students seeking to pursue a career in dentistry in North Carolina. The Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists programming provides a pathway for future dentists who intend to serve patients from underserved communities and rural areas across the state of North Carolina, in alignment with the mission of the School of Dental Medicine.

Over the years, the School of Dental Medicine has established several Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists programs for both high school and college age prospective students.

PTD: Summer Program

The PTD Summer Program spans several days in Ross Hall, on the Health Sciences campus of ECU. Features include: an overview of the first year in dental school; hands on laboratory experiences; opportunities to interact with dental students in the clinical setting; seminars in time management and test taking skills, personal statement review, and a variety of additional programming. The ultimate goal of Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists is exposure to the profession of dentistry, enhancing the desire for dentistry and to further assist prospective students on their path to the profession of dentistry.

PTD: Professional Development Workshop

The Professional Development Workshop is a one-day program, held in various locations across the state of North Carolina. It provides a unique opportunity for college-age North Carolinians to engage in discussion with dental students, dentists and participate in hands on laboratory experiences.

PTD: Going Pro

PTD: Going Pro is based on the premise that successful athletes embody non-cognitive traits such as grit and leadership, that will enable their success in fields beyond sports.  This program provides an opportunity for well trained and highly motivated athletes to explore dentistry as a profession that will leverage unique skills and abilities. Participants engage in conversation and activities with current dental students and alumni who are former college athletes.

Citation:

Let’s Get Real with College Athletes About Their Chances Of Going Pro
Angela Farmer

PTD: Dental CSI

The PTD Dental CSI program exposes high school students surrounding ECU’s Community Service Learning Centers to the profession of dentistry.  Understanding that high school students are likely undecided regarding their long term goals, this program introduces participants to dentistry as a potential career option while underscoring the importance of oral health as an integral part of general health. PTD: Dental CSI provides a potential pathway to the future enables the participants to envision how they can transform their own communities.

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