I.
Description of Programs
The Graduate Program in Periodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of
Dentistry, offers the postdoctoral student a comprehensive course of study
in clinical and didactic periodontics. The program consists of a minimum
36-month course of didactic and clinical study, with a specific research
component, leading toward a Specialty Certificate in Periodontology and a
Master of Dentistry in Dentistry degree. The course of study satisfies the
requirements for eligibility for the American Board of Periodontology.
II.
Qualifications
Students
seeking admission to the periodontics program must meet the following
minimum requirements:
- Received a D.D.S. or
M.S.D. from a United States or Canadian Dental School.
- Successful
completion of Part I of the National Dental Board at the time of
application and Part II by the time of matriculation.
- Demonstrated English
reading, writing and speaking proficiency and a minimum score of 630 on
the TOFEL examination.
- Minimum grade point
average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or equivalent, or a ranking in the top 25% of
your dental school class.
- Interview with the
Program Director upon request.
- Three letters of
recommendation.
All advanced dental
education students are required to successfully pass a pre-matriculation
drug screen test.
III.
Tuition and Fees
A fee of $50.00 is required for application to the Certificate Program in Periodontics. There is currently no tuition for the graduate program. An application fee of $50.00 must accompany a completed application to the residency program. A $1,000.00 nonrefundable acceptance fee and signed contract is due upon verbal acceptance of a position in the program. The student will be responsible for all fees associated with the program. Approximate fees include but may not be limited to the following: Physical diagnosis course- $1500; Head and Neck Anatomy- $300.00; ACLS- $150 (x2); Digital intra oral camera- $3600; Insturments- $2600; Books- $500; Examinations-$260; Licenses- $100; Other fees may include courses, registration and associated fees for required courses and meetings. A clinic usage fee of $1500 per semester is due at the beginning of each semester but is currently not in effect. Tuition and fees are subject to change. An application fee of $50.00 is required for application to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Graduate Studies for admission into the Master of Science in Dentistry program. Students are responsible for all copying fees. Expenses associated with the M.S.D. program include, but are not limited to printing of the Master’s Thesis.
Financial aid
is available. To receive information on available funds, please contact:
Ms. Karen Gilliam
Director of Financial Aid
Office of Admissions, Student
Affairs and Financial Aid
VCU School of Dentistry
Box 980566
Richmond, VA 23298-0566
Telephone: (804) 828-6374
Email: kdgillia@vcu.edu
IV.
Stipends Not Available
V.
Instruments
Students will be required to purchase an instrument kit at an approximate cost of $2,600. Additional treatment/surgical instruments will need to be purchased over the first 24 months to supplement this initial purchase. Students will be required to have high- and low-speed handpieces. Students are required to obtain a digital camera setup and peripheral equipment for intraoral photography. You should plan to spend at least $3,600 for photographic equipment. In addition, students are required to have surgical telescopes ($400-$700) and computer capability. Students are required to wear scrubs in the clinic and are responsible for their purchase and maintenance. White clinical coats are provided by the Department.
V. Dress Code
Students are required to wear clean scrubs or appropriate attire in combination with the proper white clinical coat while in patient clinics. When not in scrubs, students are required to wear business casual attire. When attending lectures, meetings and representing the Department of Periodontics, students are required to wear business attire (coat and tie for men and corresponding attire for females).
VI. Vacation
and Sick Leave
- Leave/vacation time: Vacation time is available according to the academic calendar. The University has set holidays and times that the School of Dentistry and clinics are closed. The Graduate Clinic closures will vary from the undergraduate clinics and the University, and in many instances the Graduate Clinic will be in operation when the undergraduate clinics are not. Each graduate student will receive no less than 6 days off per year
- Personal leave: There will be times when a resident needs to be absent from the Program. Examples would be to attend a job interview, family needs, etc. These days are not guaranteed, and must be approved by the Program Director. Personal leave days will not exceed 5 working days per year. Requests should be submitted in writing one month in advance, to facilitate scheduling. The graduate student will be responsible for any duties and didactic information that are missed. It is his/her responsibility to ensure that replacement clinic, teaching and on-call coverage is provided during the absence.
- Sick leave: Acute illness can occur, which may necessitate missing clinical and/or didactic sessions. If the graduate student must miss a day, the Director, department secretary, clinic personnel chief resident must be informed telephonically. If a graduate student is on call or has teaching duties, it is his/her responsibility to arrange for coverage. If he or she has scheduled patients, it is his/her responsibility to ensure that those patients are notified, or seen by someone else. If the illness exceeds 24 hours, a note from a physician attesting to the need for the absence must be obtained. Pregnancy/delivery is a medical condition, and will be treated similarly. A maximum of 10 working days per year will be allowed for sick leave.
- Emergency leave: Emergencies, such as a death in the family, hospitalization of a child, etc. arise from time to time and necessitate absence from the program. These will be considered personal leave, and subject to the limitations of that section. Other situations may arise that require absence from the Program, and will be considered individually at the discretion of the Program Director. A maximum of 15 days per year for sick leave and personal/emergency leave will be allowed. If more than 15 days are taken, the graduate student may be considered not to have fulfilled the requirements for graduation from the Program. The Program Director will make the final determination of how this situation will be resolved.
VII. Private
Practice
The practice of dentistry outside the Program (“moonlighting”) is not encouraged. If done it has to be approved by the Program Director and cannot interfere with the program goals and objectives. Teaching or temporary licenses do not allow outside practice. The postdoctoral student must practice general dentistry and may not limit his/her practice to Periodontics. No private patient visits are peremitted in the dental school or affiliated facilities. No exemptions from required program obligations or work will be given for these activities.
VIII. Professional
Liability
The Commonwealth of Virginia self-insurance program provides professional liability (malpractice) coverage, subject to policy limits, for advanced dental education students. Coverage includes professional service on duty within the institution and professional service on assigned duties in one of the affiliated hospitals or programs.
IX. Due
Process
Information on policies and procedures are found in the document “Policies and Procedures for Performance Assessment and Due Process of Residents/Students In Advanced Dental Education Programs” found at http://www.dentistry.vcu.edu/
academics/adved_program/adv_ed_student_assessment.html
.
X.
Accreditation Status
The
Graduate Periodontics program at Virginia Commonwealth University currently
carries a Full Approval status from the A.D.A. Commission on Accreditation.
XI. Additional information on
the VCU School of Dentistry
can be obtained on its website:
http://www.dentistry.vcu.edu/
Further
inquiries may be directed to:
Ms.
Faye Miles
VCU
School of Dentistry
Box
980566
Richmond,
VA 23298-0566
Email:
ftmiles@vcu.edu
VIRGINIA
COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PERIODONTICS
M.S. or Ph.D. Programs
Combined with Clinical Training in Periodontics
Degree programs
leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in combination with clinical training
in periodontics are available. Ph.D. degrees and, in some cases, M.S.
degrees in the traditional basic biomedical sciences (Anatomy, Physiology,
Biochemistry and Biophysics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biostatistics,
Microbiology and Immunology, and Human Genetics) are offered through the
School of Medicine. In addition, degrees in Biomedical Engineering and
Health Administration are available through the Schools of Engineering and
Allied Health, respectively. Candidates for such programs must apply
independently to and be accepted by both the postgraduate and graduate
programs. A combined course of study will then be devised by a committee
comprising faculty from both programs. The time required to complete both
programs is usually four-five years for the M.S. degree and five-seven
years for the Ph.D. degree. Stipends may be available from the
degree-granting program. Further inquires may be directed to
Harvey A. Schenkein, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Paul Tucker Goad Professor
Assistant Dean for Research
Director, Clinical Research Center for Periodontal Disease
Chair, Department of Periodontics
VCU School of Dentistry
Periodontics
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