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Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
Dianne Smallidge, RDH, EdD, Professor and Dean
Christine Dominick, CDA, RDH, MOcEd, Professor and Associate Dean
Linda D. Boyd, RDH, RD, LD, EdD, Professor and Associate Dean, Graduate Studies
Lori Giblin-Scanlon, RDH, DHSc, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Studies
Professor Jenkins; Associate Professors Giblin-Scanlon, LaSpina, Perry, Smilyanski; Assistant Professors Adams, Libby, McCarthy, Oh, Smethers;
Degree and Certificate Programs
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (Accelerated) Bachelor of Science in Predental/Dental Hygiene Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (Fast Track) Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Completion* Dual Bachelor of Science in Health Science/Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene AS to MS in Dental Hygiene Bridge Program * Master of Science in Dental Hygiene* Master of Science in Dental Hygiene/ Master of Public Health* Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education* *Online programs
In July 2002, the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene (FSDH) became part of MCPHS University. The school was first established in 1916 by the Forsyth brothers as the second dental hygiene program opened in the United States, and today it is the oldest continuously operating dental hygiene program in the country. Students who attend the school, located on the MCPHS Boston or Worcester campus, receive clinical instruction in delete state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinics to enhance delivery of high-quality oral healthcare services to the public.
The FSDH is committed to providing excellence through engagement of students in a diverse learning environment, fostering community partnerships, and advancing knowledge through scholarship and lifelong learning. Forsyth’s degree programs prepare students to be leaders in their professions with career options in dental hygiene education, business, research, public health, administration, and clinical practice. The school embraces a strong sense of responsibility to patients, the community, and the dental hygiene profession as well as to high standards of healthcare ethics.
MCPHS offers dental hygiene students the opportunity to learn in the Dr. Esther M. Wilkins Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic in Boston and the Esther M. Wilkins Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic in Worcester. The Boston facility is equipped with 24 operatories and the Worcester facility has 16 operatories both with digital radiologic imaging technology, intraoral cameras, ergonomic patient and operator chairs, digital panoramic technology, electronic records, and a dental materials laboratory with magnification and flat-screen monitors.
The FSDH offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, a Bachelor of Science in Predental Dental Hygiene, Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, a Dual Bachelor of Science in Health Science/Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (Fast Track), a Bachelor of Science Completion in Dental Hygiene, a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene, a bridge program to a Master of Science degree for associate degree–holding dental hygienists, Master of Science in Dental Hygiene/ Master of Public Health, and a Graduate Certificate in Oral Health Professions Education for individuals with an earned baccalaureate degree and work experience in a dental or dental hygiene setting. Each program has unique outcome objectives designed to fulfill the professional objectives or degree requirements associated with the individual academic needs of dental hygiene students.
Clinical Component
The clinical component of the program is supported by evidence-based information delivered in active learning and seminars. The student learns to assess risk for oral diseases and provide preventive services. In addition, considerable time is spent developing proficiency in dental hygiene procedures for patients of all ages, with a focus on building skills that support specialized care for unique populations. Dental radiology is delivered throughout the clinical portion of the program. The student develops skills necessary for exposing, processing, and interpreting both traditional and digital radiographs. Students will participate in community-based clinical rotations that enhance campus learning experiences. The campus learning experiences and rotations may be scheduled weekdays, evenings and Saturdays. Transportation is not provided to these locations; however, public transportation is available to many extramural sites. As a requirement for graduation and licensure examinations, the student must demonstrate competence by achieving a specified level of performance for each clinical skill and by completing specific patient and service assignments. The student is ultimately responsible for obtaining the patients needed to fulfill these requirements. The student must fulfill all course requirements and competencies each semester to advance within the program.
Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene Policies and Professional Requirements Technical Standards for the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
Observation
Candidates and students must have sufficient capacity to observe in the lecture hall, laboratory, and diagnostic and treatment areas of outpatient and inpatient settings. Sensory skills to perform the procedures of the healthcare profession in which students are enrolled are required. In any case where a candidate’s or a student’s ability to observe or acquire information through sensory modalities is compromised, the candidate or student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to acquire and demonstrate the essential information conveyed in this fashion.
Communication
Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively in both academic and healthcare settings. Candidates and students must show evidence of effective written and oral communication skills and must be able to communicate with patients in order to elicit and impart information.
Motor
The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures is required. Candidates and students must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to properly care for all patients and must be able to perform motor functions with or without assistive devices.
Intellectual
Candidates and students must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize. Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of healthcare professionals, requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates and students must be able to read and understand medical literature. In order to complete the specific Health Sciences program, students must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion in healthcare problem solving and patient care.
Behavioral and Social Attributes
Candidates and students must possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the healthcare team is essential. The ability to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice, flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, and concern for others are all required.
Students interested in dental hygiene or medical imaging and therapeutics (diagnostic medical sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, or radiography) are required to meet technical standards specific to each program. Students should read the technical standards specific to the program they are interested in completing.
Basic Cardiac Life Support
Each student must be certified by an approved Basic Cardiac Life Support for Healthcare Providers course prior to beginning the fall semester of the first clinical year. Certification must remain current throughout the program.
Licensure
The student who successfully completes the academic and clinical components of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Predental/Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, or Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program will be eligible to take licensure examinations. Successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a state or regional clinical examination are necessary for licensure. MCPHS provides education to students in accordance with the regulations set forth by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in
Dentistry. MCPHS may not be able to provide the education and/or certification necessary for eligibility for licensure in every state jurisdiction. The student is responsible for determining eligibility requirements for dental hygiene licensure in the jurisdiction in which they plan to practice and to obtain any additional education necessary for licensure in that jurisdiction.
Policy for Reentry and Content Validation after Nonprogression or Leave of Absence
Students attempting to return from nonprogression in the professional curriculum or leave of absence must be cleared to return to classes by their Academic Dean and the Office of Student Affairs (if a medical leave of absence).
Students who are not continuously enrolled in the sequence of undergraduate FSDH professional clinical courses for a period of two semesters or more must validate clinical knowledge and skills before they may reenroll in FSDH professional clinical courses. Validation testing will consist of competency testing to assess clinical and radiography skills related to direct patient care. Program faculty will provide guidance as to what competencies, content, and skills the student needs to review prior to testing, but it is the student’s responsibility to prepare for the testing. Students must pass validation testing at a minimum competency level of 75% in order to be eligible to reenter the FSDH professional clinical curriculum. Students may also opt to retake DHY 209/209L POC 1/Pre-clinic and DHY230/230L Radiology instead of undergoing validation testing.
A student who is unable to pass the validation testing at the 75% level will be given the option of retaking DHY 209/209L Process of Care I/Pre-clinic and DHY 230/230L Radiology. If a passing grade is obtained through validation testing or successful completion of DHY 209/209L and DHY 230/230L, the student may reenter the FSDH program on a spaceavailable basis. If the student does not pass the validation test and does not reenroll or pass DHY 209/209L and DHY 230/230L, they will be dismissed from the program.
Reentry into the FSDH program is subject to clinical placement availability. (NOTE: There is no guarantee placement will be available at the student’s desired time of return.) This policy applies to all undergraduate dental hygiene programs.
Progression into Professional Phase of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - Boston
Accelerated BSDH Students: The minimum passing grade of C in Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 110 / BIO 210), Chemistry (CHE 110 / CHE 210), and Microbiology (BIO255) and an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 are required to progress into the fall of Year II (professional phase) of the program.
Predental BSDH Students: The minimum grade of C in BIO 151, 152, 110, 210, 255 and CHE 131, 132, and an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to progress into the Fall of Year III (professional phase) of the program.
Students who achieve the minimum passing grade of C in , but do not meet the minimum cumulative GPA for their respective cohort, may enroll in DHY 202 Dental Anatomy and DHY 204 Head and Neck Anatomy in the Year II/III fall semester but may not enroll in other professional courses.
If DHY 202 and 204 are completed with C or better grades and a minimum cumulative and professional GPA of 2.5/3.0 are attained, the student may progress into the remaining Year II/III fall semester professional courses the following fall semester. This will result in a change in the year of graduation.
Students who do not meet the minimum grade and GPA expectations at the end of the first year or after attempting DHY 202 and DHY 204 will be dismissed from the program.
Dismissal from Program
Three grades below C in any combination of DHY courses results in dismissal from the program.
Progression within the Professional Phase of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
To progress within the didactic and clinical phase of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program, students must achieve a final grade of C or better (> 75%). Obtaining a final grade below C in any professional course results in the student’s having to repeat the course. Progression through the program will be delayed (i.e., the student will be on nonprogression status) because most professional courses are offered only once per academic year. A dental hygiene student may be placed on nonprogression status only once during his or her tenure in the Forsyth Dental Hygiene program. A student who receives a second nonprogression status in a subsequent semester will be dismissed from the dental hygiene program.
