For the past five years, under the guidance of Dean Norris, Dr. Mehta has been working to establish an ongoing International presence for Tufts Dental School. Recognizing that the power of the internet and video conferencing techniques, the changes in International Dental Education and the need for Tufts to stay in the forefront of Dental Education, the following collaborations have been established.
On this page:
Dental Distance Education
Continuing Education
Collaborations by Country
Dental Distance Education: MS degree
Beginning in September 2005, the Dental School launched an MS degree through a long distance learning format. This three year program adheres to the same standards and requirements as all other Masters degrees. Students in the initial group are in the area of Craniofacial Pain. The first year will be dedicated to coursework including Craniofacial Pain, statistics, epidemiology, review of scientific literature and technical writing. The last two years will be dedicated to thesis work. In addition to the Masters degree they will receive a one year fellowship in Craniofacial Pain. Seven (7) candidates from India, Italy, Canada and the United States are currently enrolled.
Continuing Education
- Continuing education programs presented to dentists and at dental meetings in the following countries: France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark, England, Canada, Greece, Columbia S.A., Monaco, Saudi Arabia, India and China. Individual lectures follow.
- Previous C.E. distance education programs developed and delivered to the following dental groups: Austrian, Japanese, Indian
Collaborations by Country
China
Tufts Dental School trip to China in 2006:
In June 2006 Dr. Mehta, Dean Norris and a contingent from Tufts Dental School was hosted in Shanghai by Fudan University for an International Symposium. A formal collaboration agreement was signed. Ongoing commitments to research, continuing education, International Distance Education and hands-on courses have been discussed. Fudan University has invited Tufts Dental back for another symposium in 2007.
Invitation to the 5th Chinese Conference of TMD and Occlusion:
Dr. Xu-Chen MA, DDS, PH.D. Associate Dean, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology and Center for TMD, Peking University School of Stomatolgy, invited Dr. Mehta to attend the 5th Chinese Conference of TMD and Occlusion in Wuhan City, September 2004. Unfortunately there was a schedule conflict and Dr. Mehta was unable to attend. Future collaborations are being discussed.
India
Collaboration with SDM Dental College in Dharwad India
Tufts Dental School has signed an agreement with SDM to investigate collaborations in research, continuing education and creating an advanced standing IS program. A visit to SDM with Dr. Mehta and Dean Norris in 2005 has led to ongoing discussions and meetings. Dean Rao of SDM has visited Boston and we have put into place collaborative teams of SDM faculty with Tufts faculty each discipline and they are presently working on collaborative opportunities.
Collaboration with University in Mumbai India with D.Y. Patil Dental School
Dr. Mehta has been asked to be a consultant to D. Y. Patil University in Mumbai on the development of a TMJ Craniofacial clinic in Mumbai. Ongoing discussions include collaboration on research, continuing education and curriculum development.
2006 International Board of Overseers Meeting in India:
Dr. Mehta went with the Tufts group to India and represented the Dental School in a formal signing of the collaboration with SDM Dental School and with the D. Y Patil University on Mumbai.
Hong Kong
Following our discussions and MOU last year in Hong Kong, the first collaborative meeting is being decided on and a date in January 2009 for follow up has been determined.
A visit with Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea has resulted in an agreement to send students in an exchange between the two dental schools. Also, Donkook University in the south on Korea has also agreed to a collaboration of student exchange as well as research programs. The first student exchanges are being organized.
United Arab Emirates
Collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah in UAE
Tufts is in the process of negotiation a collaboration with the government Ras Al Khaimah government for collaboration in Continuing Education, a clinical treatment facility and specialty postgraduate education and population based health initiatives.
Austria
Collaboration with University of the Danube:
For the past five years the Craniofacial Pain Center has had a relationship with the University of the Danube. Dr. Mehta has worked with Dr. Rudy Slavicek of the University of the Danube and Dr. Sadao Sato of Kanagawa Dental College in Japan to offer an International course on the Functionally Disturbed Mastication. Using a combination of on-site and video conferencing teaching. This large International collaboration has helped hundreds of students from Japan, Europe and the United States achieve a Masters from the University of the Danube.
Costa Rica
General Cooperation agreement with the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT)
An agreement was reached between ULACIT and the Craniofacial Pain Center to "promote research, instruction and cultural diffusion" between the two institutions. Negotiations for collaborations are currently underway. Two students from Costa Rica have spent time at the Craniofacial Pain Center as the first group in the student exchange program.
Italy
Ongoing Continuing Education courses in Craniofacial Pain organized by Drs, Mehta and Fraulini:
For the past 10 years, Dr, Mehta and Dr. Nino Fraulini of Italy had organized CE courses in Craniofacial Pain for Dentists of the Bologna area. In 2001 35 dentists came to Boston to participate in a 3-day CE course. Dr. Mehta and other faculty of the Craniofacial Pain Center have been invited to Italy to teach there numerous times. The relationship is ongoing and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is known and respected in Italy for these courses.
Greece
International Alumni Conference in Athens May 2005:
The Greek relationship to Tufts Dental School is well founded. Many students come from Greece every year. In 2004 Athens University hosted the Tufts International Periodontal Alumni Reunion. Dr. Mehta was one of the featured speakers- the event was of special importance as the chairmen of Periodontology at both of the Greece's Dental Schools had been students of Dr. Mehtas when they were at Tufts.
Japan
Hosted faculty of Tokyo Medical and Dental University April 5th-April 7th 2004:
Tokyo Medical and Dental University sent three of its faculty: Dr. Shiro Mataki, Dr. Kojo Araki and Dr. Jun Tsuruta to spend three days at the Craniofacial Pain Center to observe. It was very successful and further exchanges on clinical education are currently being discussed.
Canada
IS Advanced Standing in Canada
In July 2004, Dr. Norris was contacted by Mike Navadi of Analytical Solutions in Canada to discuss the feasibility of an IS program in Canada. Earlier of discussions of the possibility of a program in India, have reinforced the International interest in programs like this.
