5-6 Patients Per Day
The ACTS Program facilitates community-based rotations where fourth-year dental students may treat five to six patients each day in partner organizations' health clinics, in urban, suburban, rural and frontier geographic areas.
Advanced Clinical Training and Service (ACTS) Program
The ACTS Program is a community-based service-learning program integrated into the fourth-year dental student curriculum. It is intended to enhance students' preparation for practice via external clinical rotation experiences, integrating clinical and professional skills through hands-on training in a variety of communities and patient populations.
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 ACTS Program, reflecting its lasting impact and influence on professional trajectories.
45 Clinical Sites
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.
50% of the 4th Year
Students spend nearly half their fourth year in ACTS rotations, gaining hands-on experience in a range of practice settings. The number of days in external rotations is among the highest of all U.S. dental schools.
*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.
ACTS Community Impact
19,581 procedures were completed by the DDS Class of 2025
1,943 students completed the ACTS Program (graduates from the Classes of 1986-2025)
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 Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) curriculum.
"The 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. These lessons will stay with me throughout my career, guiding the way I approach both patient care and professional development." - Brandon Halmaghi, DDS '25
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Interested in becoming an ACTS Preceptor?
Mentor the next generation of dentists, support community care and enjoy exclusive benefits. Email [email protected] to learn more.