Emphasis is placed on gaining a critical and analytical attitude toward existing and new information. Seminars are used to provide education in the areas of growth and development, child development and its applications to dentistry, prevention of disease, evidence-based patient care, behavior guidance, and conscious sedation techniques. Experiences with cleft palate and special patient populations occur throughout the course. The program comprises formal instruction in the biomedical sciences, and clinical and didactic subjects of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. The patient population available for care is extensive and diverse, and a very wide range of clinical opportunities is available.
Graduates become skilled in being the primary care provider for the pediatric patient.
Care of the special needs pediatric patient is provided. Postdoctoral students become fully integrated in the medical care of the pediatric patient through rotations at affiliated hospitals and experiences in anesthesia, pediatric medicine and its subspecialties, physical diagnosis, and emergency room and operating room protocols and procedures. Opportunities exist for association and guidance from a wide array of biomedical and clinical experiences. An extensive outreach program provides unique educational and service delivery experiences for students, and offers an exciting opportunity to work with children in community-based settings, and on the College of Dentistry s Smiling Faces, Going Places Mobile Dental Program van. Opportunities may exist for employment as clinical fellows.