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Last updated on April 16, 2026.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Program Size
2
Program Length
12 months
Application Deadline
September 15
Program Start
July 1
Match Participating
No

Program Contact

Dr. Isabel Pennings DDS Program Director

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

Sophia Sparzo MPH, CPH Program Coordinator
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 In the vibrant heart of downtown Chicago,  the city’s energy meets world-class health care. Northwestern’s General 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 complexity. 

 
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. Residents will have the chance to gain advanced experience in general 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.   

Goals:

  1. Resident will expand and reinforce their dental school education through exposure to new treatment philosophies via didactic education and clinical education performed by attending general dentists and specialists. 
  2. Residents will have the opportunity to practice their dental skills related to general dentistry and various dental specialty fields including prosthodontice, implant dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, endodontics and oral medicine in a supervised and mentoring environment. 
  3. The resident will be provided early-career support including resume building, interview preparation, and exposure to practice management and financial wellnes approaches to ease their transition to the dental workforce. 
  4. The residents will work alongside medical colleagues to provide timely, appropriate, and hospital-based, medically necessary oral care, including the provision of care for medically complex patients in an OR setting.
  5. The dental residents will provide comprehensive oral and dental care to underserved patient populations in the Chicagoland community, including veterans. 

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 within Northwestern Memorial Hospital provides a comprehensive, progressive, and popular major Medical Center in the Metropolitan Chicago area that ensures 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 Certificate
Program Size 2
Program Length 12 months
Application Deadline September 15
Program Start Date July 1
Supplemental Application No
Supplemental Fee No
Stipend Offered Yes, https://www.mcgaw.northwestern.edu/trainee-benefits/stipend.html
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

Interview Schedule

Interview schedule to be announced soon. Tentative schedule is interviews scheduled in the last week of October.