Nassau University Medical Center

Program Description

NuHealth offers a four-year, single-degree, fully accredited curriculum with comprehensive training in the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Nassau University Medical Center.  The program, which accommodates one resident each year, offers sequential training in the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial procedures.  Some areas of excellence associated with the training program are:

• Trauma Care (Level I Trauma Center)
• Orthognathic Surgery
• Preprosthetic Surgery
• Implant Service/Bone grafting
• Oral Pathology
• Dentoalveolar Surgery
• Temporomandibular Joint Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Facial Cosmetic Surgery Rotation
• Outpatient general anesthesia
• Additional Strong Off-service Rotations

All members of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery house staff participate in various conferences and meetings when on service.  Each year, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery In-Service Training Exam (OMSITE) is administered to each of the residents in order to assist both the residents and the program in assessing their respective strengths and weaknesses.  At least one published paper or abstract is a requirement of individual members of the house staff, and we provide the opportunity to engage in a clinical research project, which we strongly encourage.  Upon the successful completion of the program, the resident will be certified as Board Eligible in the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

FIRST YEAR
First-year residents are clinically responsible for learning outpatient, inpatient, and operating room protocols.  He or she learns the basic principles of surgery and begins to attain proficiency by observing and performing outpatient and operating room procedures.  The first year resident will be primarily responsible for managing the outpatient oral surgery clinic.  Emergency night and weekend call is shared and a number of inpatients are admitted and worked up by the first-year resident.  In addition to attending all conferences and meetings, the first-year didactic program consists of a comprehensive course in Physical Diagnosis, sponsored by the Department of Medicine and the Stony Brook Medical School, participates in a year-long Oral Pathology Lecture Series and in May begins a 24 week rotation to the Anesthesia Service.

SECOND YEAR
Second-year residents begin to apply their knowledge and skills in a more independent manner via administering pre-, intra-, and post-operative care. Teaching assignments and emergency room coverage are also part of their duties. The final four months of the Anesthesia rotation takes place in this second year during which residents administer various anesthetics to surgical patients on a daily basis, acquire skills in medical risk assessment, and gain knowledge in the principles of general anesthesia, including physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology.  After completion of this rotation, residents participate in a two-month rotation through the Department of Medicine/Medical Intensive Care Unit. The emphasis is on the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities administered to patients with multi-systems failure and who are in need of acute and intensive medical care.  The second year resident also begins his or her outpatient oral surgery general anesthesia experience which will extend into the third year.

THIRD YEAR
Third year residents assume increased responsibilities as well as continuing to share emergency call.  A four month rotation through the Department of Surgery is completed this year, during which time the resident obtains skills in the care and management of the multiple-trauma patient, emergency room triage, management and care of the head and neck patient, as well as other multi-disciplinary approaches to patient care. An additional month is spent in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit with special attention directed to the acute diagnostic and therapeutic care rendered to the traumatized and critically injured patient. This is also supplemented by a one-month-equivalent rotation through the ENT service.  Third year residents also have the opportunity to gain exposure to facial cosmetic surgery through a formal rotation as well as additional head and neck surgery.  

FOURTH YEAR
The chief resident spends twelve months on service and takes on major responsibilities, including supervising and coordinating a large portion of the clinical and didactic activity of the department. The chief resident has the time to hone his or her skills by performing major oral and maxillofacial procedures in a wide variety of areas, and has the leadership responsibility of organizing conferences, rounds, and structured didactic programs.  He or she is enrolled in a Comprehensive Oral Surgery Review Course, a Head and Neck Anatomy course as well as a year-long Clinical Pathology Lecture Series.  The resident also coordinates and has exposure to more advanced dental implant cases and bone grafting techniques.  Additionally, he or she has the opportunity to travel overseas and participate on a mission trip.  The fourth year also briefly rotates to our hospital affiliate (Northwell Health) for exposure to additional elective private practice cases.

NON-CATEGORICAL INTERNSHIP

Our institution also offers a non-categorical internship position that simulates the training of our PGY-1 resident.  The applicant must be eligible to obtain a New York State Dental License prior to beginning the non-categorical year.