Expanding smiles across borders: How Ohio State’s Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program brings global oral health learning to life

When it comes to advancing oral health worldwide, Danielle Rulli, RDH, MS, DHSc, program director of Ohio State’s online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene (MSDH) program, knows that education and compassion can make a global impact. 

For more than a decade, Rulli has been partnering with colleagues at Tokyo Medical and Dental University — now the Institute of Science, Tokyo — to strengthen access to dental care for underserved populations in Japan. Her international collaboration is not just transforming lives abroad; it’s also shaping how students at Ohio State learn about and engage with global oral health. 

Building international partnerships in dental hygiene 

Rulli’s work in Japan began unexpectedly. “My daughter has practiced a traditional Japanese martial art for many years,” she recalls. “When she was 13, her dojo traveled to Japan for training. Not wanting to watch six to eight hours of martial arts every day, I connected with a colleague at Tokyo Medical and Dental University and was lucky enough to have a visit organized.” 

During that first visit, Rulli presented on dental hygiene education in the United States and learned firsthand about Japan’s approach to oral health care delivery. “Things really clicked with some of the people I met, and it naturally evolved from that point on,” she says. 

Since then, she has been visiting and collaborating with her Japanese colleagues for over 10 years, facilitating student and faculty exchanges and helping expand access to care through home-based oral health services. 

Delivering smiles where they’re needed most 

One of Rulli’s most memorable moments came during her most recent trip in June. “I had the opportunity to go with a colleague and his team as they delivered dental care to a 95-year-old woman at her home,” she says. “They were doing a denture delivery, and the whole process had been conducted through these home visits. The fact that people can qualify for oral health care to be provided at home is amazing to me.” 

She notes how this contrasts with challenges in the U.S., where access to oral health care can be limited. “Being able to meet people where they are and provide home visits would be an enormous game changer,” she adds. “We have such an access problem in the U.S., and seeing these solutions in action is incredibly inspiring.” 

Turning global experience into student opportunity 

Rulli’s international experience has become a foundation for the MSDH curriculum. “In today’s health care reality, it’s really important for students to have a more global perspective on health care delivery,” she explains. “It helps them become better providers and educators, and equips them to make impactful changes within their sphere of influence.” 

To give students this global perspective, the program now offers two new elective courses: 

• DENT 5798.01 – Exploring Global Oral Health 

• DENT 5798.02 – Global Oral Health Field Experience 

These courses provide students the opportunity to travel to Japan, immerse themselves in dental education and oral health care delivery, and even participate in faculty and student exchange programs with the Institute of Science, Tokyo. 
Learn more about this Global Initiative program →  

Study abroad and global outreach opportunities

Through the College of Dentistry’s new Global Initiatives program, MSDH students have the opportunity to participate in the Japan global initiative, which is designed to immerse students in dental hygiene education and oral health care delivery abroad. While the Japan experience prioritizes students in the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program, it is also open, when space allows, to RDH-BS completion students, undergraduate dental hygiene students, and other students within the College of Dentistry. 

In addition to the Japan program, MSDH students may also apply for outreach experiences in Guatemala and Brazil, expanding opportunities to learn from diverse health systems and communities around the world. These experiences help students gain cultural competency, broaden their understanding of oral health delivery, and strengthen the leadership and advocacy skills they bring back to their own professional settings. 

“Any opportunity to broaden their perspective on oral health care and education will better prepare students to be leaders and advocates,” Rulli says. “A more global understanding is humbling—it reminds us that the way we do things may not always be the best way, and that we can always do better.”  

Empowering students to lead and innovate 

Ohio State’s online MSDH program is built for licensed dental hygienists who want to advance their careers as educators, researchers, and leaders in oral health. 

“The required thesis, internship, and elective courses give students the chance to take a deep dive into their area of interest,” Rulli explains. “If a student wants a more immersive experience in advocacy, public health, or another sector of oral health care, we work with them to make that happen.” 

Faculty in the program are nationally and internationally recognized, connecting students to a global professional network that supports their academic and career goals.  

A global perspective for a local impact 

For Rulli, global outreach and education go hand in hand. “Once your eyes are opened to the potential of doing the same thing differently, you never look at it the same again,” she says. “It makes the world smaller and reminds you that even on the other side of the planet, people have the same needs and challenges. That broader knowledge and perspective equips you to lead and facilitate change.” 

Ready to take the next step? 

Ohio State’s online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program empowers hygienists to expand their reach, elevate their expertise, and create change—locally and globally. The MSDH program offers the flexibility, support, and academic rigor to help you advance your career and make a meaningful impact.

Whether you’re passionate about clinical practice, public health, or education, Ohio State can help you get there. Connect with an advisor today or start your Master of Science in Dental Hygiene application. Your future advancement the dental hygiene field awaits!