Residency program - Pediatric Dentistry - Virginia Commonwealth University

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Help support the department

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Pediatric Dentistry has a need for philanthropic support. Donations allow the chair and program director the flexibility to provide for the department where state funds fall short, especially during times of budget cutbacks. The effect of your gift is limitless; your donation will maintain the excellence of our students, faculty, research programs, community service and patient care within the department.

Pediatric Dentistry Annual Fund

The Pediatric Dentistry Annual Fund provides unrestricted support to all areas of the department. Your commitment to this fund will strengthen the department helping in areas where the need is the greatest. Unrestricted gifts provide the flexibility to address immediate needs and unbudgeted opportunities.

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Faculty Excellence in Pediatric Dentistry Fund

In 2006, the VCU Department of Pediatric Dentistry established the fund to recognize faculty members for their academic achievements. The Nunnally Charitable Lead Trust was the fund’s founding donor with an initial gift of $250,000.

portion of the fund is awarded annually to a fulltime faculty member in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry who has significantly advanced the mission of the VCU Department of Pediatric Dentistry in improving the oral health of children.

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Pediatric Dentistry Residents Endowment

The Pediatric Dentistry Residents Endowment was initiated by Arthur Mourino, professor emeritus in the VCU School of Dentistry. Virginia's pediatric dentists, School of Dentistry alumni and friends of the school generously matched Mourino's original pledge.

Mourino created the fund to help bolster VCU's School of Dentistry Pediatric Residency Program and make it more competitive. The fund provides critical resources for residents, such as educational materials, research support, enhanced stipends, attendance at regional and national conferences and sponsorship of lectures or continuing education courses by renowned speakers.

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Parking and Directions

Overview

The advanced education program in Pediatric Dentistry offers the student a comprehensive 24-month course of study in clinical and didactic pediatric dentistry. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for limitation of practice to the specialty of pediatric dentistry and examination by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Students completing the program earn a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master of Science in Dentistry (M.S.D.) degree. Students must complete the requirements for the master’s degree prior to being awarded the certificate. The program in Pediatric Dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

APPLY TO RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The program emphasizes a diversified educational experience. The program places emphasis on all phases of pediatric dentistry including:

Preventive dentistry
Restorative
Endodontics
Periodontics
Trauma
Oral surgery
Orthodontics
Sedation and hospital dentistry

The program enables the student to provide comprehensive oral health care for the wellbeing of children, the medically compromised and children with special health care needs. There is extensive use of various treatment modalities for pain control and behavioral management, such as sedation, analgesia and general anesthesia. Research experience is gained through completion of an individual research project and required master’s thesis.

Students also participate in undergraduate clinical teaching and supervision.

Each resident will complete a one-month rotation in general anesthesia and a two-week rotation in pediatric medicine. Residents will also spend time on rotations in the Center for Craniofacial Care managing patients with cleft lip and palate and other acquired or congenital craniofacial conditions, hemophilia and oncology, and oral pathology. Residents take emergency calls on a rotating basis in the Pediatric Emergency Department of VCU Medical Center.

Additional experiences include:

Seminars are held in pediatric dentistry, orthodontic diagnosis and treatment, treatment planning, growth and development, cephalometric analysis, pediatric dentistry literature review, and behavior guidance. Formal courses in biostatistics, principles of pediatrics, pediatric advanced life support, head and neck anatomy, neurodevelopmental disabilities, leadership seminars, basic sciences, and clinical core courses are required.