Logo for Northwestern Medicine with Northwestern stacked on top of Medicine
Last updated on August 7, 2025.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Program Size
2
Program Length
12 months
Application Deadline
October 1
Program Start
July 1

Program Contact

Dr. Isabel Pennings DDS Program Director

676 N St Clair Street, Arkes Pavilion, Suite 520, Chicago, Illinois, 60611

Sophia Sparzo Program Coordinator
Apply Now

 In the vibrant heart of downtown Chicago,  the city’s energy meets world-class health care. Northwestern’s Genral Practice Dentistry postdoctoral program offers a unique journey for new dental professionals.  As a part of Northwestern Medicine Memorial Hospital, residents will be integrated into the larger hospital system which houses virtually all medical specialties across 1,600 physicians and staff.  Here, residents refine their skills working alongside seasoned faculty at a level 1 trauma center to provide excellent care to all who come through the door, regardless of medical 

 
Northwestern opens the doors for residents to have access to unique clinical experiences providing care to culturally diverse populations using cutting-edge technologies and resources. Northwestern is a member of the McGaw Medical Center which partners with Ann and Robert Lurie’s Children Hospital and Cook County Hospitals. Residents will have the chance to gain advanced experience in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, and complex case management. Upon completion of the program, residents can walk away feeling confident taking their next step in any direction for their careers.  
 
At Northwestern, resident education is shaped not just by what happens in the clinic, but by the surrounding city. Chicago’s diversity, innovation, and commitment to healthcare access make it the ideal place to launch a meaningful and impactful dental career.   

Objectives:

The objectives of the residency program at Northwestern Memorial are to provide the recent graduate the opportunity to become experienced in the practice of clinical dentistry and to work with a wide range of medically compromised patients.  Emphasis is placed on the vital role of interdisciplinary communication and the "team approach” in providing optimal comprehensive patient care. At Northwestern Memorial, all patient referrals to the Hospital Dental Service arise initially as a result of inpatient consultation requests from physicians throughout all departments in the hospital.

 

The training program focuses on several key areas as outlined below:

1.  Provision of comprehensive and complete inpatient and outpatient dental care within the hospital setting.

2.  Management and staffing of a 24 hour, seven day a week, oral and dental emergency service through the hospital Emergency Room. 

3.  Selected off-service rotations, including experience in Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Medicine.

4.  Hospital administration protocols and procedures as they affect the practice of Dentistry in the hospital.

5.  Clinical and didactic training in relevant dental and medical specialty areas using the resources of Northwestern University Medical School.

6.  Active participation in department presentations and journal club meetings, as well as involvement in medical and dental Hospital teaching rounds.

 

Licensure:

All eligible house staff must have a valid Illinois license.  It is the responsibility of each resident to obtain or renew his/her full or temporary license.

 

Conclusion:

Residents will be members of Northwestern Memorial Hospital house staff. The prestigious position which Northwestern Memorial Hospital enjoys as a comprehensive, progressive, and popular major Medical Center in the Metropolitan Chicago area ensures that a wealth of clinical material is available to enrich the residency program.  The experience a professional can gain from a year spent at this institution is second to none.

It is envisioned that after a year of service at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the dental resident will be in a very strong position to pick the career of their choice in dentistry.  

Program Information

Accreditation This program is accredited by CODA
Program Type General Practice Residency
Program Code GPR539
Degrees Offered
Program Size 2
Program Length 12 months
Application Deadline October 1
Program Start Date July 1
Supplemental Application No
Supplemental Fee No
Stipend Offered Yes
Match Participating No
Program Website oto-hns.northwestern.edu

Application Requirements

Required Standardized Tests

  • INBDE
  • Passing the INBDE before matriculation into the advanced dental education program

International Student Eligibility

This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school: No

Applicants are eligible to enroll if they are:

  • US Citizen
  • US Permanent Resident
  • Canadian Citizen
  • Canadian Permanent Resident

Interview Schedule

Interviews will be scheduled for 10/27 and 10/28 in-person