Whether a prospective dental student or just beginning to consider a dental career, this week-long, commuter program for undergraduate college students will introduce you to the field of dental medicine. You will gain hands-on experience in the type of preclinical coursework encountered in dental school, attend lectures, and learn about the dental school admissions process. The program will include:
- Lectures from renowned Penn Dental Medicine faculty.
- Hands-on classes in state-of-the-art simulation and advanced simulation labs that mimic a dental care environment and give you the experience of what it is like to drill a tooth or place a restoration. Participants will also complete restorative dentistry procedures in the simulation labs.
- Informational session with members of the Admissions Office.
- Question-and-answer lunch with current students, who will field questions ranging from “how to prepare to apply to dental school”, “what schools did you apply to”, to “what it is like to attend dental school.”
Why attend?
- Gain a better understanding of dentistry and whether it is the right career choice for you.
- Be better prepared for the first years of dental school.
Course Dates
June 23-27, 2025
Course Fee
$300 (due first day of program)
Application
The application period for summer 2025 is now closed.
There are 25 spots for the course. There are no requirements to attend this course other than being in good academic standing in your current undergraduate program. To apply:
- Complete this Introduction to Dentistry Summer Course Application »
- Submit application and required documents: Dr. Beverley Crawford, Penn Dental Medicine, 240 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, PDMPathways@dental.upenn.edu 215-898-2940.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to attend.
- Once you have completed the Clinic Visitor Waiver Packet and have all required copies of immunizations, please submit here.
- Failure to submit all required documentation mandated by the waiver application may delay the start of your observation.
- For any questions/ concerns once your application is submitted, please email: PDMPathways@dental.upenn.edu
The University of Pennsylvania’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) is a month-long, full-day, full-immersion experience on campus for select juniors and seniors from Philadelphia Public and Charter high schools. SMP is administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, with funding from the Office of the Provost. The program provides classroom instruction, one-on-one sessions with professors, and tours of labs and other facilities. It also includes intensive SAT preparation (provided by Kaplan), writing workshops, and instruction in personal finance.
- Once you have completed the Clinic Visitor Waiver Packet and have all required copies of immunizations, please submit here.
- Failure to submit all required documentation mandated by the waiver application may delay the start of your observation.
- For any questions/ concerns once your application is submitted, please email: PDMPathways@dental.upenn.edu
The Penn Rising Scholar Success Academy (PennRSSA) is our free college preparatory and career exploration program for all students across the Philadelphia area: public, suburban, private, charter, and parochial. PennRSSA launched in July 2020 as the Rising Senior Summer Academy, a direct intervention to address pandemic-related disruptions to education in our city. Through our three rigorous and engaging programs (Summer Academy, OpenRSSA, and PennSCAPE), PennRSSA has served over 5,000 students across Philadelphia and seeks to serve over 10,000 students by the end of the academic year 2026.
The Student National Dental Association (SNDA) Impressions Program is composed of a series of one-day workshops geared towards educating undergraduate college students about careers in dentistry. The Impressions Program consists of lectures and hands-on activities, which expose students to a typical dental school curriculum. Students are also introduced to various dental procedures and the application process, in addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities. At the conclusion of the program, students will be familiar with the hosting dental school (Penn Dental Medicine) and have information that can make them stronger dental school applicants.
The Penn Residency Education Preparation and Support Programs (PREPS) primary objective is to increase the number of students applying to specialty programs here at Penn Dental Medicine. This program partners with Howard University College of Dentistry and Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry but accepts applications from all interested dental students. It will provide funding in the form of free board and some meals, to students, who have demonstrated an interest in visiting residency programs at PDM. By relieving some of the financial burden and providing mentorship, it is expected that our specialty programs will attract some of the best and brightest. A secondary objective is to recruit post-doctoral students who, after completing their residency, can become full time faculty. At Penn Dental Medicine, a tenant central to the core mission of the school is to nurture a unified humanistic environment where all individuals are valued, respected, and empowered.
This program welcomes dental students to spend one week with the graduate residents in University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine specialty clinics. Students can attend lectures in Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontic, Orthodontic, Periodontic, Pediatric and Endodontic specialties. Housing in student dorms is provided for one week.
- Once you have completed the Clinic Visitor Waiver Packet and have all required copies of immunizations, please submit here.
- Failure to submit all required documentation mandated by the waiver application may delay the start of your observation.
- For any questions/ concerns once your application is submitted, please email: PDMPathways@dental.upenn.edu
Contact
Beverley A. Crawford, DDS
Javita Lee RDH, PHDHP, BS
Penn Dental Medicine
240 S. 40th Steet
Philadelphia, PA 19104
PDMPathways@dental.upenn.edu
215-898-2940