Home > For Prospective Students > Advanced Education Program > General Dentistry
Program Director
Debra R. Haselton, DDS, FACP
Professor and Director
Description
The purpose of this 12-month advanced education residency program is to provide advanced education
and clinical experience to prepare dental school graduates for a career in the practice of comprehensive
general dentistry. Graduates of this program will have attained added competency and confidence in all
areas of dental care, practice management, and professional responsibility. Further, this program provides
residents with meaningful experiences in the delivery of dental care to diverse populations and people at
high risk for dental disease.
The School of Dentistry is committed to advanced dental education. The residents will receive hands-on
experience with diagnostic and therapeutic care of special patient populations in addition to extensive
training in the art and science of general dentistry.
The program conforms with the Standards for Advanced Specialty Education in General Dentistry and carries
a full approval status from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Facilities and Resources
The facilities of the School of Dentistry are housed in the Wood Memorial and Lyons Buildings and contain
clinical facilities, research facilities, classrooms, student laboratories, departmental offices, and a
computer learning laboratory. The laboratories and classrooms contain closed circuit television receivers.
The Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences is located
across the street from the School of Dentistry. This is the largest health science library in Virginia.
Application, Qualifications, and Selection
Application: This program participates in the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) Program. The
program deadline for application through PASS is October 1. Supplemental materials that must be sent directly
to the program include a 2 x 2 color photograph and an official dental school transcript.
Eligibility and Selection: Dentists with the following qualifications are eligible to apply for the AEGD program:
dental graduates from institutions in the U.S. accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and who have
passed Part I of the National Dental Board Examination. Successful completion of Part II and eligibility for
licensure in Virginia are required prior to admittance to the program.
Selection criteria include: Didactic and clinical achievements, extramural experience, interpersonal skills, and
a demonstrated commitment to pursue a career in general dentistry. Every effort is made to recruit qualified
minority dentists and dentists from health professional shortage areas or dentists who profess a desire to serve
in these areas.
Selection process: The AEGD admissions committee, consisting of the program director and AEGD faculty will screen
all applicants. Using the above-mentioned selection criteria, the most promising applicants will be invited for
personal interviews. Personal interviews commence in mid-October. Candidates will interview individually with the
AEGD admissions committee and will meet with current residents and staff. A formal evaluation process is followed
and selected candidates will be offered positions after all interviews have been completed.
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. It does not
cover any other professional service, e.g. moonlighting activities at other facilities or institutions.
Application Information
Further inquiries and application supplemental material may be directed to:
Debra R. Haselton
Professor and Director
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program
Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus
School of Dentistry
P.O. Box 980566
Richmond, VA 23298-0566
Phone: (804) 828-2522
Fax: (804) 828-3159
E-mail: drhaselton@vcu.edu
Miscellaneous
Policies on assessment of students and resolution of grievances for all advanced dental
education programs are provided to each new resident during orientation week.