University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine offers postgraduate training in Oral and Maxillofacial training through the Department of OMFS. Three residents are accepted annually. The program offers a six-year MD integrated program, and a four-year certificate program. The program offers two positions for the six-year MD integrated program and one position for four-year certificate program)

Trainees commence as interns in the department of OMFS. In the six-year MD integrated program, trainees join the first-year medical school class in January of the first year. These residents earn a medical degree before completing general surgery and anesthesia training. They spend a total of 31 months on the OMFS service. In the four-year certificate program, trainees complete rotations in internal medicine, general surgery, and anesthesia. They spend a total of 32 months on the OMFS service.

Seven full-time OMFS faculty members provide surgical training and mentoring. The School of Dental Medicine has on-site modern ambulatory surgical suites with full anesthesia support that enhance caseload and outpatient surgical management. The department provides instruction in ambulatory anesthesia, dentoalveolar and implant surgery, dentofacial deformities and skeletal sleep disorders, head and neck pathology, cleft and craniofacial disorders, craniofacial trauma, and management of the temporomandibular joint.

Didactic training is structured throughout the calendar year. Residents attend weekly grand rounds, weekly surgical treatment planning, monthly board review, monthly journal club, monthly treatment planning conferences in the Dentofacial Deformities Program (in conjunction with the department of orthodontics), monthly Multidisciplinary Implant Conference (in conjunction with the departments of prosthodontics and periodontics), and monthly wet labs.  

The program is designed to be truly integrated. This facilitates coordinated medical training and progression of knowledge and skill in OMFS. Residents are exposed to the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery throughout their training, including interdisciplinary care. From day one, new residents work with first predoctoral dental students in a training and supervisory role in the undergraduate OMFS clinic. Trainees are involved in managing emergency cases at the UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Mercy, Children's Hospital and VA of Pittsburgh. Trainees work with attending faculty across all campuses. During the final two years of the program, senior residents devote their training to OMFS service, completing an enviable surgical caseload.

Graduates have accepted positions in outstanding private practice settings, pursued fellowship training in advanced OMFS subspecialties, and have begun academic careers at teaching institutions throughout the United States.