The University of California , San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of San Francisco (USF) have joined together to offer a program in which students can earn DDS and MBA degrees at the same time. Students will get their DDS from the UCSF School of Dentistry and their MBA from the USF Masagung Graduate School of Management. Eleven UCSF dental students have been selected to launch the program, whose goal is to provide dental students with an understanding of fundamental business concepts. Dental students can complete the DDS and MBA within 4 years or can complete the MBA after they graduate from dental school.

“Student response to this partnership has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry.

According to Gary Williams, PhD, dean of the USF School of Business and Management, “We believe that this unique relationship will further engender diversity of interest among USF students, allowing them to interact with men and women of science who will bring a unique perspective to their business coursework.”