The rapid advancement of dental science in South Korea, often referred to as “K-Dentistry,” highlights the grow- ing importance of research-driven dental education and workforce development. Despite the increasing demand for dental healthcare services due to aging populations, the domestic training system for dentist-scientists re- mains insufficient compared to its medical counterpart. Physician-scientist training programs, particularly the MD-PhD model, have successfully integrated clinical practice with biomedical research, providing a valuable framework for developing dentist-scientist training programs (DDS-PhD). However, previous efforts to establish DDS-PhD programs in South Korea have faced significant challenges, including high tuition costs, a lack of insti- tutional support, and the tendency of graduates to enter private practice rather than research. This article reviews domestic and international physician-scientist training programs and research trends to propose a structured framework for training dentist-scientists. By benchmarking successful MD-PhD and DDS-PhD models from lead- ing countries, we aim to identify key strategies for fostering interdisciplinary research, strengthening financial and institutional support, and enhancing collaboration between universiti...