Education

Oral and maxillofacial surgery, as defined by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, is the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is the goal of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to provide the best possible learning environment, resources, instruction and clinical exposure wherein residents may develop the broad knowledge base and clinical expertise needed to practice the full scope of the OMFS specialty.

As an M.D./OMFS integrated program, medical school provides the basic science and medical knowledge base, the general surgery or anesthesiology service provides training in the total management of surgical patients, and the OMFS service provides training in the oral and maxillofacial surgical specialty. Elective clerkships during medical school, coupled with rotations during general surgery, meet the program's requirements in anesthesiology, head and neck surgery, and plastic surgery. Special courses provide additional training in cosmetic facial surgery, microsurgery and cleft lips/cleft palates.

The first year of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency is the internship year. PGY-1 residents examine and treat patients in the outpatient clinic, maintain the in-house patient census, rotate on the call schedule 10 to 12 days monthly and assist/observe in the operating room when assigned. Medical school training also begins during the first year with the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course, which helps prepare residents for Step I of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and advanced standing admission to medical school. During March, April and May, trauma call and clinic duties are reduced significantly to allow residents time to study for the USMLE.

PGY-2
Having been accepted with advanced standing to the Drexel University College of Medicine, OMFS residents begin third-year medical clerkships during PGY-2. Continuation as a medical student depends on successful completion of the USMLE Step I. Failure of USMLE Step I results in removal from clerkships pending re-examination in October.

PGY-3
PGY-3 is the last year of medical school and consists of 13 senior medical clerkships, including clerkships in oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesiology needed to meet the requirements of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program. Residents receive their medical degrees and take USMLE Step II at the end of this year.

PGY-4
Residents spend PGY-4 in the General Surgery or Anesthesiology Residency Program at Allegheny General Hospital as PGY-1 staff members. This is not merely a rotation, as residents are officially part of the General Surgery or Anesthesiology service. At the end of this year, USMLE Step III is taken.

PGY-5
Residents spend PGY-5 as PGY-2 staff members of the General Surgery or Anesthesiology Residency Program. A total of eight rotation months must be oral and maxillofacial surgery during this year.

PGY-6
The final year is chief resident year, with two residents sharing in chief responsibilities. The chief residents have significant responsibility for managing patients, covering the outpatient clinic and assisting in the training of junior residents. Completion of research and publication of a paper are expected during this year, and participation in additional subspecialty training courses is available to residents demonstrating interest and accomplishment.