Pathway Programs
It’s not too soon to get hands-on experience in the dental arts. The OHSU School of Dentistry offers programs for students considering or preparing for a career in dentistry.
For high school and college students:
- Dental Explorers
Next cohort begins Autumn 2025
For college students:
- Summit Dental Education Immersion
Now accepting applications for Summer 2025 - CHEM 199: Aspects of Dentistry
Winter term 2025 - Wy’east Dentistry
Post-baccalaureate program
Summit Dental Education Immersion
For college students.
Summit is an intensive four-week residential immersion program designed to give you a true-to-life taste of the experience of attending dental school. It’s a unique opportunity to burnish your dental school application and understand what it takes to undergo the rigors of a DMD program.
- You’ll learn from real dental school faculty, staff, and students.
- You’ll take real tests covering real dental program material.
- You’ll receive invaluable insight about how to approach your dental school application, your education, and your professional career from people who have been there.
- On the final day of the program, you’ll receive a personalized assessment of your preparedness to enter dental school, and advice regarding your next steps.
Summit 2025 takes place June 23 through July 18 on the OHSU School of Dentistry campus in Portland, Oregon. We’ll be accepting applications through January 31.
Note: In order to be eligible for Summit, you’ll need to have completed Organic Chemistry II by the time the program meets in June 2025.
Dental Explorers
For high school and college students.
OHSU’s Dental Explorers program provides a general understanding of what a career in dentistry is about. Participating high school and college students have been very enthusiastic about their experience. Many of them have gone on to attend dental school.
Monthly two-hour sessions are held at the School of Dentistry, with an emphasis on hands-on activities. The first hour includes a lecture from dental school faculty from a variety of disciplines. The second hour is a laboratory experience. Current dental students organize the monthly meetings and act as mentors.
- Dental Explorers 2024–2025 course schedule
- Location information: The Robertson Life Sciences Building
More information about Dental Explorers
Sign up to receive news about Dental Explorers 2025–26:
CHEM 199: Aspects of Dentistry
A Portland State University course for undergraduate college students.
A career exploration course offered by Portland State University and the OHSU School of Dentistry and taught by School of Dentistry faculty. This pass/no-pass course gives students an opportunity to attend faculty lectures, participate in hands-on activities and meet with current dental students.
CHEM 199 is held in the 25 spring term. Register through PSU.
Wy’east Dentistry
Wy’east Dentistry is a post-baccalaureate pathway program for American Indian and Alaska Natives who are pursuing a career in dentistry.
The pathway is a partnership with the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence and the OHSU School of Dentistry. The program:
- Builds upon scholars’ knowledge in core topic areas through rigorous coursework and DAT preparation.
- Amplifies scholars’ strengths and resiliencies by imparting tools, skills and resources that facilitate academic and personal self-efficacy and success.
- Promotes scholars’ sense of cultural connectedness and community through immersion in a rich Indigenous community and cultural activities.