Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program

The post-doctoral program in Pediatric Dentistry is a 24-month program beginning July 1 of each year. There will be two resident positions offered each year.

Program type

Combined university- and hospital-based certificate program

Application

The application deadline is Oct. 1 of the year preceding matriculation. Correspondence regarding application and admissions procedures should be addressed to:

• Pediatric Dentistry Residency Education Program Coordinator
  University of Mississippi Medical Center
  2500 N. State St.
  Jackson, MS 39216 
  (601) 984-6100 

The University of Mississippi participates in the application support service, PASS, administered by ADEA and the National Dental Matching Program.

Description

The postdoctoral specialty program in pediatric dentistry is designed to offer a balanced clinical and didactic curriculum in advanced infant, child and adolescent dental care, as well as care of persons with special health care needs. Sponsored by the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in Jackson, the residency program is primarily based at Children's of Mississippi. A certificate of specialty education in Pediatric Dentistry is awarded upon successful completion of the program, which qualifies the resident for examination by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Curriculum

The didactic curriculum includes instruction in: oral pathology, oral radiology, anatomy, advanced cardiac life support, research design, growth and development, physical diagnosis, practice management, cardiology and preventive dentistry, pulp therapy for primary and permanent teeth, restorative dentistry, dental trauma, behavior guidance, special care patients, and dental anomalies.
Residents also participate in seminars on treatment planning, comprehensive care, diagnosis and treatment of developing malocclusions, and research design. The clinical curriculum provides for a diverse experience, which includes: comprehensive preventive and restorative care, hospital-based dental care in an operating room setting, sedation and monitoring in the office/hospital setting, treatment of patients with oral-facial anomalies, diagnosis and treatment of developing malocclusions and emergency dental care. Consultation and dental care is also provided to patients referred from pediatric subspecialties within Children's of Mississippi. The residents participate in a four-week rotation in anesthesiology, a four-week rotation in pediatric medicine as well as a two-week after-hours rotation in pediatric emergency medicine.

The overall curriculum goal is to prepare our graduates with the knowledge base and clinical skills to enter the practice of pediatric dentistry, as well as prepare for future professional growth.

The academic year begins July 1 and goes through June 30 each year. There are no fixed quarters or semesters as such; however, the program will generally follow the academic calendar of the Medical Center. The residency program is considered a seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day commitment  The formal schedule for residents in the program will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, but will also include resident participation in an after-hours call schedule to provide emergency care in the pediatric emergency room. Open time available in the daily schedule is used for laboratory work, patient records preparation, research endeavors or academic study. Because of the demands of clinical care and scheduling, some scheduled coursework may be required in the evening.

Program stipend and tuition

There is a stipend for each year of residency. Tuition is waived for both years.

Facilities

• University of Mississippi School of Dentistry
• University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Children's of Mississippi
• Jackson Medical Mall/University Hospitals and Clinics

Admission requirements

Applicants must have available the following items to be considered for admission: 

• DDS or DMD from a U.S.-accredited dental school
• Dental education transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal interview
• Biographical statement
• Curriculum vitae

Program strengths

• Combination of dental school didactic strengths and hospital clinical strengths
• State-of-the-art facilities integral within the pediatric surgical suite of the children’s hospital
• Access to general anesthesia facilities and personnel
• Strong commitment of interdisciplinary care with Department of Pediatrics (Medicine) and Pediatric Surgical Subspecialties

Program faculty

• Sara Jane McCrary, DMD - Chair & Program Director
• Teresa Perkins, DMD - Professor 
• Emily Thompson, DMD - Asssistant Professor
• Nathan Beavers, DMD- Assistant Professor 

School profile