Dr. Sang E. Park, Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences and Associate Dean for Dental Education, is committed to ensuring that dental education at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) prepares students for careers as dental practitioners while meeting the needs of its patients. Dr. Park has been instrumental in several curriculum redesigns, including the introduction of the Case Completion clinical curriculum in 2009. The most recent efforts of the Curriculum Redesign Task Force for the class for 2027 included a restructuring of the preclinical and biomedical curriculum, a strengthening of research components, and engagement of the Scholars in Dental Education program to ensure the curriculum reflects the needs of students and the values of the institution. 

In the Spring of 2023, a new curriculum redesign effort considered HSDM students’ recommendations. A day-long Curriculum Hackathon captured the voices of predoctoral students from across various class years. Students were assigned to four groups and asked to create their ideal curriculum which they presented to faculty judges at the end of the Hackathon. The students were expected to align their program design with the school’s mission and goals and to take certain barriers to change into consideration (for example accreditation requirements).... Read more about Incorporating student voices into curriculum redesign efforts