Educational Curriculum

Four general practice residents (GPRs) are enrolled each July. GPRs plan and conduct treatment under supervision at a well-equipped off-site dental center minutes from the hospital’s main campus. A portion of the clinical training in dentistry focuses on the management of dental urgencies and emergencies; however, each resident also has an assigned group of patients eligible for comprehensive care treatment. As such, GPR’s gain experience in all phases of dentistry from treatment planning through conventional and implant prosthodontics. In the hospital, GPRs admit, manage and discharge dental service patients, suture lacerations, provide consultation to other services and treat patients in the Emergency Department with appropriate supervision and guidance.

Required curriculum areas include patient assessment and diagnosis, planning and providing comprehensive multidisciplinary health care, obtaining informed consent, promoting oral and systemic health and disease prevention, sedation, pain and anxiety control, restoration of teeth, replacement of teeth using fixed and removable appliances, periodontal therapy and pulpal therapy, hard and soft tissue surgery, treatment of dental and medical emergencies, and medical risk assessment.

The department’s core didactic program consists of:

• Lectures and seminars, weekly;
• Grand Rounds, monthly;
• Journal Club;
• Impromptu discussion;
• Special presentations;
• IV sedation, elective.

There are four rotations throughout the year, all of which occur at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 8 weeks
• Anesthesia 4 weeks
• Medicine 2 weeks
• Emergency Medicine 2 weeks

Teaching is ongoing in the operating room, the clinic and on rounds each day. The rationale for medical and surgical decisions is routinely discussed and an open exchange of ideas is encouraged. Scholarly activity is required, and mentorship is provided by faculty.

Research and/or scholarly activity is required as a group project and is expected to present annually at the St. Joseph’s University Medical Center Research Day, which is usually held in May.