NYU Langone Dental Medicine - Tucson, AZ

Overview:  The NYU Langone Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry program is a 24-month hospital- and health-center based education program that provides a strong didactic and clinical foundation in Pediatric Dentistry.  Founded in 1994, by Dr. Silvia Perez-Spiess in Brooklyn, NY, the program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).  The curriculum emphasizes pediatric medicine and dentistry, behavioral and pharmacologic management of children, oral biology, conscious sedation and general anesthesia for both the well child and those with special health care needs.  Residents train with specialists in all disciplines of dentistry including orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics and dental anesthesia and develop expertise in treating patients who are medically compromised.

This innovative program is a hybrid blend of a strong distance learning didactic curriculum and extensive clinical experience.  Distance-based didactic learning is achieved through asynchronous web-based education modules and a state-of-the-art video teleconference system that connects residents and faculty across all sites.  With ample clinical exposure to pediatric medicine, conscious sedation and general anesthesia, graduates are trained to be an integral part of the medical team and hospital environment.  Additional experience in hospital dentistry, craniofacial conditions, interceptive orthodontics, research, ethics and policy advocacy successfully prepares the graduate to pursue a career in private practice, public/community health or academia.

PEDS Curriculum:  In Year 1, residents study most of the core curriculum, completing the majority of biomedical courses including oral biology, pediatric anesthesia, physical diagnosis, behavioral management, pediatric dentistry series, orthodontics, craniofacial development, and research methods and materials.  At most sites, residents have the opportunity to attend monthly craniofacial conferences.  Courses, electives, and requirements include core public health subjects.  Additionally, first-year residents are assigned multiple rotations including pediatric medicine, general anesthesia, emergency medicine, phlebotomy, prenatal care, and on-call services.

In the second year, the focus of the curriculum is on children with complex medical conditions.  Second-year residents are assigned with pediatric specialists to work in areas such as hematology, oncology, endocrinology, neurology, pulmonology, nephrology, cardiology, and immunology.  Residents may rotate through nearby community health centers, Head Start/early child care centers or school-based programs to extend direct patient care to underserved children in the community.  

Program Strengths:  American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) Outcomes:  Second year residents are required to take the ABPD Qualifying Examination (QE), the first of a two-part ABPD certification process.  Over 90% of LMC PEDS residents pass the QE (national average 85%).  More than 70% of graduates become board-certified diplomates of the ABPD (national average 65%). 

Research: Residents must complete a research project and, in Year 2, present their research posters at the annual AAPD meeting.  The best research projects are also presented at the annual Research Fair in Brooklyn, NY. 

NYU Langone Dental Medicine PEDS-ARIZONA/Tucson:  NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Tucson, Arizona site offers a unique experience unlike traditional hospital or university based pediatric dentistry programs. Residents receive their pediatric dental clinical training serving the community by caring for patients in community health centers in collaboration with medical staff.  Affiliated hospitals provide hospital and medical rotations required for specialty training.  Throughout their residency, traveling is required as pediatric residents rotate through assignments in the Tucson area.  Emphasis at the El Rio Community Health Center is placed on the treatment of the well child in a community health center setting.  Unique experiences include multiple moderate sedation and in-office general anesthesia cases.  Additionally, experience is provided in interceptive orthodontics and public health outreach.  Rotations occur throughout Tucson and include:  Anesthesia and Operating Room Care at Tucson Medical Center; On-call and emergency medicine at Banner University Medical Center; Medically compromised patients and Cleft lip/palate clinics at Children’s Clinics at Tucson Medical Center; Pediatric medicine at University Medical Center Sub-Specialty Clinics and Diamond Children’s Hospital, and dental rotations at various health centers.  Literature review, collaborative resident meetings, and other didactic assignments are also a key component of the program. 

For questions about the NYU Langone Dental Medicine AZ/Tucson site, please contact Dr. Amanda Pinder, Associate Director. 

Phone: 520-310-5450  Email: amandap@elrio.org

Please upload a CV with your ADEA PASS application. 

The ADAT is not a requirement for application. If you take the ADAT we will consider your scores, but it is not a requirement for the Program.

If accepted, you must submit your dental school diploma and proof of passing NBDE or INDBE scores to the program.

Please refrain from contacting the program to verify your eligibility to apply or to check the status of your PASS application.