Between a doctorate in public health sciences with a concentration in health management and policy and a doctorate in dental surgery, assistant professor Giang Vu already has several notable accolades. Now, he has secured a competitive honor from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will add board certification in dental public health to the list.
Vu, who teaches in the College’s School of Innovation and Community Education of Global Health Management and Informatics, was recently accepted into the CDC’s two-year Dental Public Health residency program. Dental public health is one of 12 dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Through this advanced training program through CDC, Vu is getting a head start on becoming board certified in that specialty.
The CDC program is a combination of residency and fellowship, and Vu will gain more experience and learn skills in all ten designated dental public health competency areas. This program has a strong focus on health management, health outcomes surveillance and health policy for oral health. He will have access to world-class experts in dentistry and public health, as well as CDC resources such as the most current data and links to other institutes such as the National Institutes of Health. It’s the oldest federal dental health residency program—and a highly selective one, as Vu is one of only two fellows selected this year.
Vu will receive approximately $35,000 in annual funding to complete the part-time program over two years. The hybrid schedule allows him to do most of his work from home, but CDC will provide travel to conferences and in-person events several times a year.
“I am very excited and proud to receive this scholarship,” says Vu. “The program is extremely competitive and the people who apply for this program are not only in the United States but also from all over the world. This will advance my career in health management, health policy and informatics. This company is not about money for me; it’s about training, networking opportunities and advantages when applying for grants in the future.”
After completing the program, Vu hopes to obtain board certification in dental public health and become a diplomate in the field. Fellows take the first part of the exam before completing the program.
“The opportunity to train with CDC is very prestigious,” says Vu. “The faculty is extremely supportive. They check in on you every week to make sure you have everything you need for your success in the program.”