OMMDS Internship Program

• Program Length: Minimum of 1 year
• Degree/Certificate: Certificate of Internship Completion
• Application Deadline: February 1st

Oral Medicine is the field of dentistry concerned with the oral health of medically complex patients and with the diagnosis and non-surgical management of medically related disorders or conditions that affect the oral and maxillofacial region. Clinicians trained in oral medicine work closely with other medical and dental specialties to provide the best quality of care using a multidisciplinary approach.

Interns will receive intensive clinical training at the School of Dental Medicine and participate in rotations at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

The department includes three faculty members who are board certified in oral medicine or oral and maxillofacial pathology, one member with dual medical/dental training, and three members with graduate degrees in basic sciences or public health. In addition, we collaborate with faculty members trained in oral medicine in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program and the Cleveland VA Hospital. The oral medicine clinic provides care to a variety of patients, including mucosal disorders, autoimmune disease, rheumatologic disease, transplantation, oncology, salivary dysfunction, and facial pain. Patient care opportunities exist in synergy with the departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, Biological Sciences, AEGD, and multiple medical specialty divisions at the UH Cleveland Medical Center.

The didactic program expands for at least one year. The intern meets with the program director at the beginning of the program to plan a course of study, following oral medicine training competencies established by the American Academy of Oral Medicine, with quarterly evaluations. Clinical or basic research is a pivotal component of the training, and the intern may extend his or her experience additional years to complete a graduate (Master of Science in Dentistry) degree. Basic didactic coursework includes research design, statistics and critical assessment of the scientific literature, oral medicine, facial pain, oral and maxillofacial pathology weekly seminars, weekly morbidity and mortality rounds, journal club, and case presentations.

Clinical rotations include 2 week rotations on medical services at the UH Cleveland Medical Center and the Seidman Cancer Center, and will be tailored to the experience and interests of the fellow. Available rotations include Family Medicine, ENT, Radiation Oncology, Hematology, Pediatric ENT, Dermatology, Neurology, Infectious Diseases, the Bone Marrow Transplant program, and Tumor Board. Clinical experiences include oral medicine practice, consultation services, oral oncology, pediatric oral medicine, facial pain, and oral care for medically complex patients.

Emphasis is placed on preparing the intern for independent practice of oral medicine in a multidisciplinary setting.

Course of Study

The following represents a typical one-year course of study:

Off Service Rotations            

Sample Fellowship Schedule

Faculty

Admissions 

Applicants must have received a DDS/DMD or equivalent degree. An application must be received with a $145.00 non-refundable application fee. All applications should include official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and dental schools attended and three professional references, including contact information. Official transcripts should include GPA and class rank.

Application Guidelines 

• Admission requires the DMD/DDS or equivalent degree from an accredited institution.
• Passing grades in the National Dental Board Examination(s) preferred.
• Only those application packets that are complete and received by the deadline will be forwarded to the program director for consideration.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials are submitted promptly and that the file is complete.

All applicants must submit the following materials:

1. Completed Application Form
2. Non-refundable application fee of $145.00, payable at the dental application fee website.
3. Official undergraduate transcripts
4. Official dental school transcripts
5. Current Curriculum Vitae
6. Three Evaluation Forms from previous instructors; a Dean's letter may be counted as one of the three
7. Photograph (optional)
8. International students must also submit a letter of financial support

Additional Requirements

Applicants who have graduated from a non-English speaking dental school and for whom English is not their first language must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language. We do accept a score reported from IELTS in lieu of a TOEFL score. In order to be admitted, the applicant must score above one of the following minimum scores:

• TOEFL Paper-Based Test: 550
• TOEFL Computer-Based Test: 213
• TOEFL Internet-Based Test: 90
• IELTS Test: 6.5

The TOEFL identification number for Case Western Reserve University is: 1105. The Department code for the School of Dental Medicine is: 38.

Previous training or experience of at least one year in general dentistry, oral medicine, GPR, or a dental specialty is preferred.

For more information please contact the Office of Graduate Studies dentalgrad@case.edu

Phone: 216.368.1168

Dr. Andres Pinto, Internship Director (andres.pinto@case.edu or andres.pinto@UHhospitals.org)

Please forward application materials to:

Office of Graduate Studies
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-4905 USA