Dentists and Doctors for Tomorrow

applying to DDFT

Dentists and Doctors for Tomorrow is a 2.5 year academic program at the College of Micronesia-FSM’s national campus in Palikir, Pohnpei. The program starts in July of each year. DDFT staff begin recruiting applicants in February each year by visiting both the private and public high schools in all four states of the Federated States of Micronesia. High performing high school students who will be graduating that year are invited to apply to the program. We also welcome recent graduates from high school, those who are already studying health sciences at COM-FSM, as well as those who are working in the health field but want to go on to become a dentist, doctor, or allied health provider. If you believe you have the drive and dedication to be part of DDFT, then we encourage you to contact us through this website and we can provide more information on how you can apply directly. Please keep in mind that you will need to be accepted to both the DDFT program and the College of Micronesia-FSM.

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what are you looking for in a DDFT applicant?

DDFT is a challenging program. We are preparing you to be to attend dental, medical, and allied health programs at our partner universities in Fiji. Because of this, our standards are high. We want the best to become the dentists and doctors of tomorrow, because we know that Micronesia deserves the best healthcare providers and leaders it can get. So, if you are interested, you should be a high achieving high school graduate who has good grades and a drive to help your fellow Micronesians. You can be graduating this year, or you could have graduated a few years ago. You could be working in the healthcare industry in Micronesia, or even attending COM-FSM in another program, and looking for more challenges and opportunities. You should have an interest in the human body, science, health, and the social problems facing Micronesia today, like obesity and diabetes. You should like working with other people, and working in teams, including serving as a team leader at times. You should have a positive attitude, and the willingness to get along with people from many different backgrounds. You should want to stretch and expand yourself as you learn new skills, like being a leader. You should have a spirit of adventure, and be wiling to live in Fiji for five years following graduation so that you can complete dental, medical, or allied health school. You should be willing to return to Micronesia to help your fellow Micronesians. But most of all, you should believe in yourself and your ability to make the world a better place. If you have these characteristics, then reach out to apply.

applying to DDFT and the dental assistant program

Our partnership with Penn Foster College means that you can graduate not only with your associates degree from DDFT, but you can also graduate with your dental assistant certificate. The Penn foster dental assistant program can be completed while you are enrolled in the DDFT program, and we encourage you to do so, since it will help you be better prepared for further education in Fiji. But it will also allow you to work as a dental assistant after you graduate and before you move to Fiji. Or, if you aren’t ready to make the move to Fiji quite yet after graduating, it means that you can start a fulfilling career in oral health right here in Micronesia. You can always apply to go to Fiji later to study to become a dental hygienist, dental therapist, of even a full dentist. For those who are accepted into the DDFT program, there is no need to also apply to the dental assistant program separately. DDFT staff can enrol you directly with Penn Foster once your DDFT studies have begun. Keep in mind that enrolment in the dental assistant program is not required to graduate from DDFT, but it is encouraged to make you the best healthcare provider you can be.

applying only to the dental assistant program

Our partnership with Penn Foster means that you can complete the dental assistant certificate on its own even if you are not enrolled in the DDFT program. To be enrolled in the freestanding dental assistant program, you must be currently working in the oral health field in a government run oral health clinic in the USAPI. We have several start dates per year. If you are interested, you must be nominated by your director of oral health. We generally have waitlists for this very popular program, so if you want to be part of a future cohort, please talk to you supervisor today. Successful graduates of the dental assistant training program may be eligible for enrolment in a future DDFT cohort, or if they have the proper background, may be eligible to apply directly to Fiji National University to study dental hygiene and dental therapy. Dental assistants are an important part of the healthcare team, and we encourage eligible candidates to apply.