V.A. San Diego Healthcare System

The curriculum is designed to broaden the expertise of the general dentist in all the dental disciplines, manage medically compromised patients, and gain familiarity with hospital protocol and procedures including the treatment of inpatient and same day surgery patients.

The resident program begins July 1 and continues for 52 weeks with 15 days of paid annual leave and 10 paid federal holidays. The program emphasizes clinical training in endodontics, oral medicine, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, and restorative dentistry. In addition, there are off-service assignments in anesthesia, emergency medicine, and head & neck surgery.

The didactic program comprises about 10% of the resident's time.  The didactic program includes lectures, seminars, literature reviews, medical risk assessment, and case presentations.

The Dental Service occupies a new 11,200 square foot clinic on the main medical center grounds. The clinic consists of 16 operatories, 3 oral surgery suites, radiology, a fully equipped dental laboratory, doctor’s and administrative offices.  All necessary instruments and supplies are provided. The clinic features state of the art equipment, such as endodontic surgical microscopes and digital radiography.

The faculty consists of 9 full-time staff dentists.  There is an oral surgeon, endodontist, 2 prosthodontists, and 5 general dentists. Medical Center staff from other services participate in the training of our residents.

A printable program brochure is available at: http://www.sandiego.va.gov/careers/internships.asp