diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
index 5d44899981e..d4839bb486d 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {MdDialogContainer} from './dialog-container';
 
 
 // TODO(jelbourn): resizing
-// TODO(jelbourn): afterOpen
 
 // Counter for unique dialog ids.
 let uniqueId = 0;
@@ -30,11 +29,14 @@ export class MdDialogRef<T> {
   /** Whether the user is allowed to close the dialog. */
   disableClose = this._containerInstance._config.disableClose;
 
+  /** Subject for notifying the user that the dialog has finished opening. */
+  private _afterOpen = new Subject<void>();
+
   /** Subject for notifying the user that the dialog has finished closing. */
-  private _afterClosed: Subject<any> = new Subject();
+  private _afterClosed = new Subject<any>();
 
   /** Subject for notifying the user that the dialog has started closing. */
-  private _beforeClose: Subject<any> = new Subject();
+  private _beforeClose = new Subject<any>();
 
   /** Result to be passed to afterClosed. */
   private _result: any;
@@ -44,6 +46,16 @@ export class MdDialogRef<T> {
     private _containerInstance: MdDialogContainer,
     public readonly id: string = `md-dialog-${uniqueId++}`) {
 
+    // Emit when opening animation completes
+    RxChain.from(_containerInstance._animationStateChanged)
+      .call(filter, event => event.phaseName === 'done' && event.toState === 'enter')
+      .call(first)
+      .subscribe(() => {
+        this._afterOpen.next();
+        this._afterOpen.complete();
+      });
+
+    // Dispose overlay when closing animation is complete
     RxChain.from(_containerInstance._animationStateChanged)
       .call(filter, event => event.phaseName === 'done' && event.toState === 'exit')
       .call(first)
@@ -75,6 +87,13 @@ export class MdDialogRef<T> {
     this._containerInstance._startExitAnimation();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets an observable that is notified when the dialog is finished opening.
+   */
+  afterOpen(): Observable<void> {
+    return this._afterOpen.asObservable();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Gets an observable that is notified when the dialog is finished closing.
    */
diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
index 845297a0924..70c09652081 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,21 @@ describe('MdDialog', () => {
     dialogRef.close();
   });
 
+  it('should emit when dialog opening animation is complete', fakeAsync(() => {
+    const dialogRef = dialog.open(PizzaMsg, {viewContainerRef: testViewContainerRef});
+    const spy = jasmine.createSpy('afterOpen spy');
+
+    dialogRef.afterOpen().subscribe(spy);
+
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    // callback should not be called before animation is complete
+    expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    flushMicrotasks();
+    expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
+
   it('should use injector from viewContainerRef for DialogInjector', () => {
     let dialogRef = dialog.open(PizzaMsg, {
       viewContainerRef: testViewContainerRef