Pitt Offers Dental Informatics Program

Pittsburgh, pA:  November 15, 2011- The University of Pittsburgh is seeking applicants for MS, PhD, and postdoctoral positions for its training program in dental informatics. These programs provide training in a cutting-edge discipline which is focused on the application of computer and information science to improve dental practice, research, education, and management.  A full scholarship, stipend, and health insurance are being offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to eligible individuals.

Dental informatics is a relatively new field with significant potential for affecting the future of dentistry.  The program is based on the premise that information technology has the potential to help dentistry improve individual and general oral health systematically and consistently. Advances in the integration, miniaturization, and sophistication of computer technology, as well as innovations in digital imaging, signal processing, data visualization, and human factors design can fundamentally improve the delivery of dental care.

The Center for Dental Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine provides training to individuals from a variety of backgrounds (DDS, DMD, MD, computer science, etc.).  Students conduct innovative research on human-computer interaction, reuse of clinical data for research, evidence-based dentistry, electronic dental records, decision support, and teledentistry.  The program is highly multidisciplinary and can lead to unique career opportunities in software development, information technology management, academic teaching and research, and consulting. 

Applications for these positions are currently being accepted; the program starts in August 2012.  For more information, go to: http://di.dental.pitt.edu/postgrad.php, or email Titus Schleyer, DMD, PhD, at titus@pitt.edu