Advanced Clinical Training and Service (ACTS) Program

Program Overview

The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CUSDM) offers a community-based service-learning program that’s integrated into the fourth-year dental student curriculum. This curriculum operates within the Advanced Clinical Training and Service (ACTS) Program and is intended to enhance a dental student’s clinical, professional, and psychological preparation for practice via external clinical rotation experiences. The ACTS Program stimulates the development of integration of clinical and professional skills through hands-on training in controlled, but challenging clinical environments while sensitizing students to health disparities and the needs of diverse populations.

Scope & Importance

The ACTS Program facilitates community-based rotations where fourth-year dental students may treat five to six patients each day in one of the program’s partner organizations' health clinics. These affiliated health clinics are located in urban, suburban, rural, and frontier geographic locations.

• The ACTS Program works with 23 partner organizations providing more than 45 affiliated clinical sites throughout Colorado and is supported by a dedicated team of more than 75 dental faculty preceptors. These preceptors—experienced clinicians appointed as adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CUSDM)—provide faculty coverage and mentorship to dental students during their clinical rotations.
• CUSDM dental students spend nearly 50% of their fourth year participating in clinical rotations at ACTS-affiliated sites, gaining valuable hands-on experience in diverse practice settings. The number of days students spend in external clinical rotations ranks among the highest of all U.S. dental schools, reflecting CUSDM’s strong commitment to community-based education.
• While housing is provided for dental students rotating at designated “distant” clinical sites (approximately three distant rotations per student are required), transportation and meals are the responsibility of the dental student.

This model is a true win-win as dental students will participate in transformative educational experiences, patients gain access to high-quality, life-enhancing oral health care, and surrounding communities benefit from improved access to essential dental services.

Life-Changing Education

Current dental students and alumni consistently highlight the ACTS Program as one of the most impactful and rewarding academic-clinical experiences within the CUSDM Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) curriculum.

Overall, this ACTS Program helped me grow in many ways. It refined my technical skills, deepened my empathy, and enhanced my ability to connect with and advocate for underserved populations. I left this rotation not only as a better clinician, but also as a more compassionate and culturally aware individual. These lessons will stay with me throughout my career, guiding the way I approach both patient care and professional development.– ACTS student provider

The ACTS program is an essential component of our education, and I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in such a valuable and impactful experience. – ACTS student provider

I have loved, loved, loved working with the school, the students, and you all! - ACTS preceptor

Preparing for Practice

ACTS clinical rotations foster learning opportunities for dental students to:

• Experience a higher patient volume during the ACTS Program compared to the school-based clinical setting, enhancing exposure to diverse clinical scenarios.
• Collaborate with dental assistants and interdisciplinary dental teams at most ACTS clinical training sites, enhancing teamwork and communication skills.
• Strengthen clinical competencies, judgment, and confidence while improving efficiency in delivering high-quality care to patients with varied medical histories and backgrounds.

• Enhance professionalism and critical thinking abilities, supporting effective collaboration with healthcare teams and the delivery of person-centered care.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the economic and environmental determinants of health, contributing to a more holistic approach to patient care.

Following their participation in the ACTS Program, many students report a shift in their career aspirations. While initially planning to enter private practice after graduation, the program inspired them to explore alternative paths to serve and give back to their communities. Notably, nearly one-third of the dental faculty preceptors are alumni of the CUSDM-ACTS Program, reflecting its lasting impact and influence on professional trajectories.