UCSF School of Dentistry, Division of Periodontology offers an intensive fellowship in periodontology. It provides research opportunities for collaborating with renowned UCSF faculty and scholars, in one of the world’s leading research and clinical training facilities. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for creative work that lead to published papers. The fellowship is open to graduates of dental schools inside and outside of the United States and Canada that are recognized by the World Health Organization.
Length of the Fellowship
The fellowship is offered for either one 9-month period, or one 12-month period. The fellowship is a full-time academic commitment.
Program Fee
There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $250 USD. You may pay by credit card (MC, VISA, AMEX) - click here. If accepted into the program, the tuition for the nine-month module is $18,000; the tuition for the 12-month program is $24,000. The fellows are responsible for their own living, housing, health insurance and visa expenses related to the program.
Status of the Fellows
Fellows will be categorized as volunteers registered through the Continuing Dental Education Department of the University of California, San Francisco.
International fellows who require visa sponsorship will be required to be supported on the J-1 Student-Non Degree visa. For information on the J-1 Student Non-Degree visa, visit the UCSF International Student and Scholars Office website or email visa@ucsf.edu.
J1 Eligibility Requirements - Applicable to candidates who do not possess permanent resident, a green card, a H-4 or J-2 visa.
Research Opportunities for the Fellowship
- Basic science research in areas including host-bacterial interactions, oral biofilm biology, head and neck cancer carcinogenesis, omics related to the orofacial complex
- Clinical research and evaluation of conditions relevant to clinical periodontology, including topics in implantology, hard and soft tissue regeneration and augmentation, soft tissue grafting, and oral-systemic conditions
- Outcomes assessment
- Laser utilization in periodontology
- Systematic Reviews
- Clinical Trials
Course of Studies
Upon arriving at UCSF, the fellows will meet with the program director and faculty who will specify the schedule of activities. Research opportunities under the guidance of a research mentor are a hallmark of the fellowship program. Fellows also will participate in the graduate didactic program offered by the Division of Periodontology. The academic program runs 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
Elements of the program consist of:
- Research training and experience
- Observation activities in the Graduate Periodontology Clinics during clinic sessions
- Classic literature review with faculty
- Contemporary literature review with faculty
- Treatment Planning Seminars
- Multidisciplinary Implant Conference
- Practice Management Seminars
- Didactic/Seminar courses in Periodontal Surgery and Implantology
Number of Positions
1-3 fellows per module
Program Status
This fellowship program is not accredited by any national or local accreditation body. Upon completion of the fellowship, preceptors will receive a certificate of participation issued by the UCSF School of Dentistry Continuing Dental Education Program. This certificate is not the same as the postgraduate program certificate awarded to full-time postgraduate students in specialty programs as a qualification for recognition by the American Dental Association, nor is it considered in the United States as evidence of advanced study or recognition of specialty training.
Note: Fellowships do not serve as an admissions pipeline or referral source for other School of Dentistry programs. Applicants for DDS, IDP, or other programs receive no special consideration based on participation in a preceptorship. These programs are not intended to prepare individuals to practice a specialty. It is expected that the individuals will return to their practice or country after gaining insights and improving their experience in a specialized area for practice, teaching and patient benefit.
Application Procedure
Note: For applicants who require a J-1 Visa, please note that the start date can vary. For information on the J-1 Student Non-Degree visa, please visit the UCSF International Student and Scholars Office website or email visa@ucsf.edu. J1 Eligibility Requirements - Applicable to candidates who do not possess permanent resident, a green card, a H-4 or J-2 visa.
Applicants will be considered only after all of the following materials are submitted:
- A complete application for admission to the fellowship program - click here
- An official transcript of the applicant's dental education records (if necessary transcribed into English)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons with knowledge of the applicant's skills and potential (scan and upload to online portal)
- A TOEFL score of 550 or computer based score of 213 or internet based score of 79-80 is required of students from non-English-speaking countries. A copy is acceptable. An interview in English may be required. You may request a waiver. Please click here to complete form.
- A non-refundable application fee of $250 for each program you are applying for - click here to pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express)
Admissions Process
The admissions committee considers the following criteria in its decisions:
- Successful completion of dental degree education
- English language proficiency
- Reason for seeking education in periodontics
- Content of letters of recommendation
Additional requirements upon acceptance:
- Submit a complete Immunization Record, including TB test results within the past three months. Forms must be submitted 1 month prior to the start of the program and participants may not start the program until they have been cleared.
- Participants must provide evidence of health insurance that will cover for illnesses in the United States of America which can be in form of a copy of your insurance card
- Proof of full vaccination with US vaccine or WHO approved vaccine and Booster shot. All participants must be fully vaccinated with a US vaccine or WHO-approved vaccine means that the participant is more than 2 weeks after receipt of the final dose in a 2-dose series (like Pfizer or Moderna) or the single-dose vaccine (like Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen). Participants who have not completed the dose requirements of a vaccine, and participants who have not received a WHO approved vaccine are not fully vaccinated. Individuals must also have received a booster shot after the initial series of vaccination in accordance with UCSF policy. https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/vaccines
- Complete and pass a background check. In instances where negative or incomplete information is obtained, the appropriate management and Program Director will assess the potential risks and liabilities related to the position’s requirements and determine whether the individual can continue in the program.
- Comply with UCSF's face covering protocols, as well as other applicable UCSF Event protocols.
- Comply with UCSF travel policy. Most current information on return from international or domestic travel can be accessed at: https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/travel Two-step COVID-19 testing required following international travel: Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals returning to onsite work within 10 days following international travel are required to take and submit an approved COVID-19 test within 24 hours of entering a UCSF facility (before or during first day onsite). A second COVID-19 test is required 3 to 5 days following the first UCSF test. As circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve, UCSF will update its travel guidance in accordance with the latest public health orders. This guidance is effective until further notice
Full-time Faculty Mentors
- Alex Lin, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor
- Yogalakshmi Rajendran, BDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Director Predoctoral Program in Periodontology
- Mark Ryder, DMD, MS, Professor
- Yu-Ting Yeh, DDS, MSD, Assistant Professor
- Gary Armitage, DDS, MS
Incomplete applications will prohibit applicants from moving forward in the application process.
Should you have any questions, contact our CDE Office at cde@ucsf.edu or 415.514.0778.