Dental Branch, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Program Description

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Externship Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center -Houston is based at Ben Taub General Hospital located in the Texas Medical Center. Ben Taub General Hospital , a component of the Harris County Hospital District, is a level-one trauma center and the largest county hospital in Houston . Externs on the Ben Taub service will receive exposure to extensive maxillofacial soft and hard tissue trauma, major tumor and reconstructive surgery, tracheotomies, infections, dentoalveolar surgery, and outpatient anesthesia. A large emphasis will be placed on providing the extern with first-hand experience in exodontia, pre-prosthetic surgery, repair of lacerations, incision and drainage of infections, and trauma. Externs will be encouraged and trained to function at the level of a first-year resident and will be expected to participate in all aspects of the residency program including inpatient and outpatient care, presentations on rounds, writing of notes, in-house call, and participation in all Departmental Conferences.

Externs are also encouraged to explore the University of Texas program and spend time on service at Hermann Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, the Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Smith Tower Faculty Practice. The University of Texas-Houston Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program is the largest in the nation, based in the largest and one of the most powerful medical centers in the world, and is the only program in Houston , the fourth largest city in the nation. As a result, the scope of training is broad and the number of cases impressive.

For those who are interested in an academic career, opportunities exist to spend time with our residents on the OMFS-Ph.D. track. In addition to the four year/Certificate and the six year/Certificate/M.D. tracks, the Department is also offering a six - seven year /Ph.D./Certificate track culminating with a Ph.D. degree from either the renown Rice University Department of Bioengineering or the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Qualified applicants may also pursue a medical degree after obtaining the Ph.D. Externs are encouraged to explore such diverse educational opportunities and visit with the Rice University Department of Bioengineering and the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Accommodations

Only two externs can be provided accommodation in the on-call rooms at Ben Taub during any given externship period, therefore, preference will be given to those whose visit will be for an entire month. Accommodations include a set of bunk beds and a shower. Meals, laundry services, scrub attire and white lab coats are not provided. A list of nearby lodging facilities can be provided by the Department.

Application Requirements

Acceptance to the externship program is highly competitive, especially in the summer months. Applicants who accept an offered position are expected to honor their commitment. All applicants must be enrolled in their 3^rd year of a United States or Canadian dental school curriculum prior to starting their externship and must be at least in the top one-third of their class. Outstanding and motivated 2^nd year students may also be considered on an individual basis. The following supporting documents are also required:

Dental school transcript with documentation of class rank
National Board Scores Part 1 if available (Dean's or Registrar's letter acceptable)
Letter of endorsement from the Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Letter verifying malpractice coverage by the applicant's institution
A personal letter of request for application which includes the preferred and alternative externship dates
Supplemental application (online form available)

Application Deadlines

There is no established application deadline as positions are available year round. In general, we recommend applying at least 4 months in advance. For the summer months, however, applicants are encouraged to apply at least 6 months in advance due to the large number of applicants and limited available slots. Applicants who are accepted will be offered one of the dates requested, wait listed and offered an alternate date, or wait-listed for the remainder of the year. On occasion, there will be last minute cancellations and consideration will be given to all applications.

Recent Externs

Recent externs were enrolled at the following institutions:

Baylor College of Dentistry
Boston University
Columbia University
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Loma Linda University
Louisiana State University
Medical College of Georgia
Marquette University
Tufts University
University of British Columbia
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-San Francisco
University of Detroit
University of Florida
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina
University of Pennsylvania
University of Sidney
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Texas-San Antonio
University of Toronto
University of Washington
University of Western Ontario
Virginia Commonwealth University

Externship Program Committee

Director:

Nagi Demian, D.D.S., M.D., Assistant Professor and Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, LBJ General Hospital

Email: Nagi.Demian@uth.tmc.edu

Selection Committee:

James V. Johnson, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

George Suchko, D.D.S., Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Contact Information

The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Externship Program
6516 M.D.Anderson Blvd., Suite 2.059
Houston, TX 77030

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