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Dental Medicine

  • Joint Program
  • Career Prep

The Dental Medicine Program

Saint Vincent College has an affiliation agreement with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. It is an early acceptance program in which students spend four years at Saint Vincent College (Phase I) and four years at LECOM School of Dental Medicine (Phase II). Admission to Phase I requires a high school grade point average greater than or equal to 3.5, an SAT score (critical reading plus math) of at least 1200 and an interview by the chairperson of the Preprofessional Health Committee. 

Curriculum Requirements

  • Requirements for Dental Medicine at Saint Vincent College

    Students may major in any subject at St. Vincent College but must complete the following courses in the semesters specified. No fewer than 15 credits may be taken in any semester.

    Freshman Year

    Fall Semester
    BL 150 General Biology I - 3 credits
    BL 151 General Biology I Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 101 General Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 103 General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit
    MA 108 Calculus I- 4 credits 

    Spring Semester 
    BL 152 General Biology II - 3 credits
    BL 153 General Biology II Lab - 1 credit
    CH 102 General Chemistry II - 3 credits
    CH 104 General Chemistry II Lab - 1 credit

    Sophomore Year

    Fall Semester
    BL 208 Cell Biology - credits
    BL 209 Cell Biology Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 221 Organic Chemistry I - 3 credits
    CH 223 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 credit

    Spring Semester
    BL 224 Mammalian Physiology - 3 credits
    BL 225 Mammalian Physiology Laboratory - 1 credit
    CH 222 Organic Chemistry II - 3 credits
    CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab - 1 credit

     

    Junior Year

    Fall Semester
    PH 111 General Physics - 3 credits
    PH 113 General Physics Lab - 1 credit

    Spring Semester
    PH 112 General Physics II - 3 credits
    PH 114 General Physics II Lab - 1 credit

    Senior Year

    Fall Semester
    CH 251 Proteins and Metabolism - 3 credits

    LECOM also recommends that student complete the following courses:
    BL 220, 221 Comparative Anatomy with Lab - 4 credits
    BL 212, 213 Microbiology with Lab - 4 credits
    BL 214, 215 Molecular Genetics with Lab - 4 credits
    BL 242, 243 Histology with Lab - 3 credits

    Students may apply for provisional acceptance to the LECOM School of Dental Medicine beginning January 1 of their senior year in high school and no later than February 1 of the sophomore year in college. Matriculation to LECOM (Phase II) requires completion of the above coursework; an overall grade point average greater than or equal to 3.4; a science grade point average greater than or equal to 3.2; and DAT scores typically greater than 18. Additionally, students must earn a recommendation for admission to dental school from the Preprofessional Health Committee. Shadowing (>100 hours) in a clinical dental setting is highly recommended.  

  • Prerequisites

    • Completion of High School Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Pre-Calculus.
    • A Minimum of 1100 SAT Score (prior to March 2016) and 1170 (beginning in March 2016) in math and verbal reasoning.

Program Highlights

Statistics

Following are the admissions statistics and schools attended for students who graduated from Saint Vincent College during the past five years.

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM # MATRICULANTS/# APPLICANTS % ACCEPTED
Medicine (Allopathic/Osteopathic) 36/39 92%
Dental 6/6 100%
Optometry 4/4 100%
Veterinary 5/6 83%
Other (e.g. PT, PA, Pharm, Chiro, Podiat) 19/19 100%
 
Total 70/74 95%

Dental Schools Attended

University of Pittsburgh
Temple University
West Virginia University
University of California at San Francisco
Virginia Commonwealth

Student Learning Outcomes

  • To broadly and effectively educate students in the theory and practice of science for success in the health and allied health professions.
  • To empower students with the skills and knowledge of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics necessary to form a broad scientific foundation as preparation for admissions exams, and for application in the health and allied health professions.
  • To specifically prepare undergraduate students for study in allopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, dental medicine, osteopathic medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine.
  • To specifically prepare undergraduate students for study in allied health fields including nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and physician assistant graduate programs.

 

Experiential Learning Prepares Students For Success

Gregory Bisignani, M.D., and Carl Hasselman, M.D., clinical professors at Saint Vincent College, describe their teaching laboratory periods in the Liberatore Human Anatomy Laboratory, a gift of Ralph and Donna Liberatore. The laboratory is used by undergraduate students for the study of human anatomy and physiology, facilitated by cadaveric dissection. The lab is also used by external clients for surgical training and demonstrations. Students observe and assist with demonstration surgeries, an opportunity Hasselman has described as a “huge step forward in preparing undergraduates for medical school.”