Texas A&M College of Dentistry

Our Certificate program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is offered only in combination with the Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Oral Biology. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

The certificate will allow the individual to take the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology examination in order to become Board Certified. Board certification is all that is needed to practice Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology in a surgical pathology practice setting in the US. Board certification is not required (but is desirable) to practice oral pathology.

Because the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology requires scientific inquiry and scholarly activity, students are prepared to meet the academic demands of the profession through research training that includes the design, implementation, and publication of a formal research project, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The thesis for the MS degree fulfills that requirement.  

Research for the graduate thesis is funded by the college, in part or full, after the resident submits a formal research proposal and it passes appropriate institutional review.

The goal of this educational program is to produce graduates who have demonstrated that they have:

1. The skills and knowledge for a productive, competent, and compassionate practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology.
2. The foundational knowledge necessary for scientific inquiry, critical thinking and problem solving.
3. An understanding of the scientific method and the technological advances which are available for scientific inquiry.
4. The confidence, independence, and motivation for life-long learning.
5. The skills to clearly communicate their knowledge as needed.

The objectives of this program are to achieve these goals by developing in its students the competence and confidence to:

1. Examine and interpret gross tissue specimens and prepare instructions for tissue embedding and processing.
2. Interpret pathologic cellular change microscopically; and group diseases of similar histologic patterns in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis and ultimately to a final diagnosis.
3. Recognize the limitations of routine light microscopy and recognize the indications for additional studies, such as special stains, ultrastructural studies, immunohistochemical studies, DNA or RNA hybridization studies, etc.
4. Provide a written final pathology report, with final diagnosis and appropriate comments; and be able to communicate effectively about it with the contributing clinician.
5. Take and interpret a patient’s medical and dental history.
6. Interpret pathologic changes clinically and radiographically; group diseases of similar clinical/radiographic pattern in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis and ultimately to a final diagnosis.
7. Recognize when there is the need for additional studies--such as biopsy, imaging studies or laboratory tests--and be able to perform or order appropriate tests and interpret their results.
8. Treat patients with oral mucosal disease.
9. Read, interpret, and critically evaluate the oral and maxillofacial pathology literature.
10. Understand and apply the scientific method.
11. Demonstrate basic teaching skills.

This training program takes a minimum of 36 months to complete, requiring 72 credit-hour courses, as follows:

1. Didactic Courses - to provide the foundational knowledge needed for the student to achieve the goals and objectives of the program, including successful completion of the research project and the M.S. thesis defense.
2. Required Rotations - Each student will spend a minimum of six months in the Pathology Department, Baylor University Medical Center. Three to five months are spent in anatomic pathology, including autopsy service, and at least one month in clinical pathology. This rotation will provide the student with a hands-on knowledge of the workings of a modern, sophisticated hospital-based pathology service in a major metropolitan city. The student will gain valuable experience in surgical anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, cytology and special techniques for diagnosis. Autopsy service will be mandatory. Elective rotations will be available in other hospital departments. 
   
3. Assigned work in the Stomatology Center - two mornings a week for 30 months.
   Students will be assigned their own patients, under faculty supervision. They will gain experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of oral mucosal disorders, including pharmaco-therapeutics. The Stomatology Center at Texas A&M University Schoolof Dentistry is a state-of-the-art center for the diagnosis and management of orofacial disorders. It is the largest Oral Medicine specialty clinic in the southwest US. 

For additional information, please visit our website.

All applicants must answer the conduct questions found at the link below:

Conduct Questionnaire