University of California San Francisco
General Practice Residency (GPR)
The UCSF General Practice Residency is an intensive, CODA-accredited, 12-month training program that prepares general dentists to manage medically complex and special-needs patients in both outpatient and hospital settings. Beginning July 1 each year, residents gain advanced clinical, hospital, and interdisciplinary experience while developing the skills to provide comprehensive patient care across all disciplines of dentistry.
Why choose the UCSF GPR?
- Comprehensive training in hospital-based and outpatient dentistry for medically complex and special-needs patients
- Rotations across leading clinical facilities including UCSF, Laguna Honda, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- Intensive surgical and medical integration with rotations in oral surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine, orofacial pain, and oral medicine
- Cutting-edge exposure to oncology care, intraoral scanning, and 3D printing
- Community and teaching opportunities with service to underserved patients and mentorship of predoctoral students
- Strong career outcomes with eligibility for licensure in California and other states accepting residency-based licensure
Program overview
Residents spend approximately 90% of their time in direct clinical care, complemented by courses in research methodology, emergency simulation, and hospital medicine. Rotations include general dentistry, oral surgery, dental oncology, orofacial pain, anesthesia, and internal medicine. Residents also participate in on-call rotations, interdisciplinary rounds, and community outreach clinics.
Upon successful completion, graduates receive a certificate of graduation and are eligible for California dental licensure and other states that accept licensure by residency.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted through ADEA PASS and require participation in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program. Four residents are accepted annually.
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To be eligible for admission to the General Practice Residency program, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Hold a DDS or DMD from a CODA-accredited dental school
- Submit NBDE Part 1 & 2 or INBDE scores via ADEA PASS
- Current dental students may apply without scores but must submit passing results by January 1
- Taking the ADAT not required
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Submit your application through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS) application. Include personal essay, CV, official dental school transcripts, unofficial undergraduate/graduate transcripts, three PASS evaluation forms, dean’s evaluation, and required scores.
Register with the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program to obtain a match code number and submit a rank order list.
Pay the $60 nonrefundable UCSF processing fee through the UCSF application fee portal.
If you have international coursework: submit a course-by-course evaluation by ECE or WES. A WES ICAP report fulfills both evaluation and transcript requirements.
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The admissions committee reviews all complete applications. Selection is based on GPA, NBDE scores, Professional Evaluation Form (PEF), personal essay, class rank, and interviews. Strong consideration is given to applicants committed to hospital-based dentistry and aligned with program goals.
UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories in the selection process. -
Interviews are conducted in person from early to mid-November. Invitations are sent directly by the program.
Core rotations
General dentistry (6 months)
Includes sub-rotations in Dental Oncology at Mission Bay (3 months) and Laguna Honda Hospital (3 months), with comprehensive care for oncology patients and inpatient residents with complex medical or neurological conditions.
Oral & maxillofacial surgery (3 months)
Training across Moffitt Long Hospital, UCSF Parnassus, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, with experience in extractions, trauma call, and inpatient consultations.
Auxiliary rotations
Two-week rotations in oral medicine, orofacial pain, anesthesia, and general medicine, providing experience in diagnosis, patient management, and hospital integration.
Clinical training sites
With clinical facilities that integrate cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary care, UCSF offers residents an unparalleled environment for advanced training in both routine and complex cases.
Salary, benefits, and policies
- Stipend & allowances: Annual stipend of $71,760 plus $1,233 monthly for two hospital rotations.
- Leave: 15 days of paid vacation/sick leave, with restrictions during anesthesia and medicine rotations.
Loan Forgiveness: Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness with employment verification.
- Moonlighting: Outside professional activities require program director approval and are granted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Liability Coverage: Malpractice insurance provided by the University of California.
Teaching and community engagement
GPR residents serve as clinical mentors for dental students and participate in community service events across San Francisco. Collaborations include providing oral health services at the Mabuhay Health Clinic and other outreach programs that expand care to underserved populations.
Meet our faculty
Our faculty are leaders in hospital-based dentistry and oral surgery, offering residents mentorship across a wide range of clinical and academic experiences.
Our residents
Residents in the UCSF GPR program gain extensive clinical experience in hospital and outpatient settings while advancing their skills through interdisciplinary training and community service.
Have questions about the General Practice Residency?
Contact the Postgraduate Programs Office of Admissions and Outreach