University of Louisville

Goal

The goal of the Graduate Program in Periodontics at the University of Louisville is to develop skillful clinicians and researchers for careers in academics and/or periodontal practice. Excellent training in clinical, research and teaching skills is essential to equip tomorrow’s specialists with the proper scientific background to deal with the changes and challenges inherent in a profession undergoing rapid scientific advancement.

Students are exposed to a wide variety of clinical techniques by a group of highly qualified faculty with diverse training and varied backgrounds. The philosophy of the program is that clinical excellence is based on technical proficiency, expert diagnostic skills and broad based knowledge of the periodontal literature.

The didactic portion of the curriculum explores in depth the biomedical sciences upon which modern periodontics and periodontology are based. Instruction in anatomy, biochemistry, oral biology, microbiology and immunology are integral parts of the basic science curriculum offered.

Clinical and Research Facilities

Clinic and research facilities are housed primarily in the School of Dentistry which is located in the Health Sciences Center of the University of Louisville. The Kornhauser Health Sciences Library is a common facility shared by all components of the Center. It houses a collection of more than 128,000 volumes and 1200 current periodicals, as well as offering a wide variety of library support services. Hospital training is accomplished at the University of Louisville Hospital, which is adjacent to the dental school and part of the Health Sciences Center.

Educational Program

The Graduate Program in Periodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

The program begins on July 1, and continues through 36 calendar months. The program is designed to fulfill the requirements of the American Board of Periodontology for a certificate in periodontics, along with the requirements of the University of Louisville Graduate School for a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD). The curriculum is integrated so that both the certificate and the Master of Science in Dentistry will be awarded simultaneously upon completion of requirements. Didactic, clinical, teaching and research experience are spread throughout the program.

The University

The University of Louisville has a total enrollment of more than 23,000 students of whom approximately 3,500 are in Graduate School. Founded in 1798 as Jefferson Seminary and later known as Louisville College, it became the University of Louisville in 1846 and joined the state university system in 1970. The Graduate School was established in 1907. The Health Sciences Center, composed of the School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Kornhauser Library, University Hospital, Ambulatory Care Center, and the Brown Cancer Center, shares a twelve block area with several other health care facilities.

The Community

Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city, with a population of over 1,000,000 in the greater Louisville area. Louisville has long been known for traditional landmarks such as Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby, and the Belle of Louisville, the city’s historical sternwheel riverboat.

Cultural activities are plentiful, including Actor’s Theater, the Louisville Orchestra, the Louisville Ballet, the Kentucky Opera Association, the J.B. Speed Art Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Science and Technology. Sporting events include horse racing at Churchill Downs, minor league baseball with the Louisville Bats, and collegiate sports, featuring one of the nation’s finest basketball teams. Families will also enjoy touring the Louisville Zoo.