Program Description
The Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (OMFP) Advanced Education and Residency program consists of two tracks: one track for applicants who have graduated from an accredited US or Canadian dental school, which is federally funded, and one track for those who have graduated from an approved international dental school, which is tuition-based. The programs are a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Department of Diagnostic Sciences and UMPC-Medical Education (UPMC-ME). These programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. As with all accredited OMFP programs, both tracks require a minimum of 36-months of training, with at least six of those months in ACGME-accredited pathology rotations. The UPMC-based program accepts a maximum of one resident a year, and the program at The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Residency Program can accept up to two residents per year. Successful completion of the UPMC-based program will lead to a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and will qualify the graduate to sit for the specialty board examination in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Successful completion of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine-based program will lead to a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, with the option to obtain a Master's of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree, and will qualify the graduate to sit for the specialty board examination in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
Curriculum
Faculty members are certified by their specialty boards of OMFP, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral Medicine, or Anatomic Pathology, and possess a wide range of clinical, teaching, research, and surgical pathology experience. The residency program offers a mix of didactic courses, electives, microscopic general and oral pathology, clinical oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, head and neck pain, hospital rotations, and research. Clinical patients are seen at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and though the faculty practice plan at the University Dental Health Services, Inc. Clinical patients are also seen as consultations from the dental school population.
Courses, some required, some elective, include:
|
Class |
Description |
|---|---|
|
OMFP 2111 |
Surgical Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology |
|
OMFP 2121 |
Oral and Maxillofacial Histopathology |
|
OMFP 2131 |
Literature Review |
|
OMFP 2141 |
TMJ and Oral and Maxillofacial Pain |
|
OMFP 2151 |
Research |
|
OMFP 2161 |
Oral Medicine Clinic |
|
OMFP 2171 |
Clinicopathologic Correlations |
|
DENT 2150 |
Ethics in the Dental Specialties |
|
DIASCI 2191 |
Pathobiology 1 |
|
CDENT 2113 |
Research Methodology 1 |
|
DENT 2130 |
Applied Head and Neck Anatomy |
|
DIASCI 2110 |
Advanced Oral Pathology |
|
DIASCI 2140 |
Advanced Imaging |
|
DSPHL 2243 |
Scientific Basis for Clinical Therapeutics |
The bulk of the resident’s/advanced education student’s time in interpretation of oral and maxillofacial surgical pathology (biopsy) specimens is physically at the School of Dental Medicine, in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences.
Advanced Education students in the School of Dental Medicine track register for formal courses that cover material identical to what the UPMC residents take, but for academic credit. Those Dental Medicine track students who elect to pursue a Master’s Degree register for additional courses, including research courses, that qualify them to obtain their MSD degree.
Program Requirements
- The resident must satisfactorily complete all required hospital rotations.
- Under the supervision of the attending faculty, the resident must gross, diagnose, and order additional studies on a minimum number of biopsy cases, the number to be agreed upon by the resident and the program director.
- Under the supervision of the attending faculty, the resident must interact with a prescribed number of clinical patients and clinical consultations, the number to be agreed upon by the resident and the program director.
- The resident must participate in teaching, including lecture and small group format.
- The resident must complete scholarly activity, which can comprise case reports, clinicopathologic case unknowns, immunohistochemical research, or more rigorous science with a research mentor.
Rotations
Most pathology rotations take place at UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital, in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, across the street from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. UPMC is a major regional, tertiary care and transplant center that exposes the resident to a large volume and a wide variety of experiences. Rotations include three 4-week rotations in head and neck anatomic pathology, 6 weeks in dermatopathology, 4 weeks in hematopathology-lymph node, 2 weeks in Pediatric Pathology, 2 weeks in bone and soft tissue pathology, 1 week in autopsy, 2 weeks in Molecular & Genomic pathology, and 1 week in neuroradiology, with additional opportunities in Pathology Informatics, Breast pathology, Research, and Dermatology. The program allows some flexibility for the resident to concentrate on a particular area of oral and maxillofacial pathology. Research time is arranged as needed.
Externships
Interested dental students and graduates are invited to visit the facilities and get to know us better. An externship/visit can range from a single day to a week. We encourage at least a two-day visit to increase your exposure to the range of our program and facilities and get to know our residents. In fairness to applicants to the programs who cannot visit, the visit will not include a formal interview for the residency.
Learn more about our Externship here >
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Applicant Information
Applicants MUST use the ADEA PASS system. Applicants benefit by being able to complete one standardized application, rather than individual applications to each program. Academic credentials are evaluated by the Admissions Committee of the OMFP Advanced Education Program. Of greatest value to the committee are the applicant’s personal statement showing their motivation toward OMFP and letters of recommendation, especially from OMFP or Oral Medicine teachers/mentors.
International applicants to the School of Dental Medicine program must submit their educational credentials to a credentials evaluation agency such a World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), or IERF. The report must state that the applicant has the equivalent of a US Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. The ideal candidate will have a TOEFL score of 100, but scores of 80 or above will be considered. An IELTS score of 6.5 or greater is acceptable. An applicant who is completing or has completed a graduate education program in the US or Canada would not have to provide an English language score. Applicants who are accepted must obtain an F-1 Student visa.
Optional Application Documents
- Integrated National Board Dental Examination scores;
- Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) score
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
Supplemental Application Fee
A non-refundable $75 supplemental application fee is required at the time of application.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is October 1.
Applications received at a later date will be considered if the residency/advanced education position has not been filled. As soon as a completed application is received, the applicant will be notified. The program's admissions committee will review the applicant’s credentials, and those applicants whose credentials are deemed adequate will be invited for a personal virtual interview.
Interviews/Selection of Students
Qualified applicants will be invited for a virtual interview through Zoom or Microsoft Teams in October or November. Virtual tours of the facilities are available below. The schedule will be arranged to best accommodate time zone differences and will take no more than a half day. Interviews may include multiple faculty at a time, and a session with the residents only. Candidates will be notified of the Admissions Committee decision shortly after the interview, which could include acceptance, wait list, or non-acceptance.
Benefits, Stipend, Tuition & Fees
Benefits for UPMC-based OMFP residents are outlined in the resident manual, the resident contract, and on the UPMC resident website. A PGY1 stipend will start at $67,215.
Learn more about UPMC benefits and stipends.
Advanced Education students/residents in the School of Dental Medicine program are required to pay tuition and fees, which total at least $73,000 for the first year, although a training grant of approximately $18,000 is offered.
Learn more about Pitt Dental Medicine residency program budgets >
Research
Each resident is required to perform scholarly activity. This can include case reports of classic or unusual cases, clinicopathologic unknowns, and performing original research. The University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, and surrounding universities provide a vast array of opportunities for research. Faculty within the Pitt Dental Medicine Department of Diagnostic Sciences conduct research in areas including 3-D printing and imaging, oral and maxillofacial lesions, immunohistochemical studies of salivary and odontogenic tumors, and data mining of the dental health record.