About the Program

The Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry Residency is a 24-month continuous study certificate training program.

This is a University-based certificate program with a hospital affiliation with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (also known as Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt).

The Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry Pediatric Dentistry Residency is a new postgraduate residency training program with Initial Accreditation granted by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in August 2022. This is a tuition-based program of 24 months of continuous study in postgraduate pediatric dentistry.

The program will have a strong emphasis on evidence-based pediatric dentistry in the didactic and clinical training components. Board-certified pediatric dental faculty will utilize the latest technology and recent AAPD guidelines to substantiate instruction and oral health care delivery in both outpatient, inpatient and operating room settings.

In addition, residents will complete rotations in Pediatric Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emergency on-call and Special Health Care Needs/Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial Program at Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Program Goals and Objectives

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Meharry Medical College Mission Statement:

Meharry Medical College is a global academic health sciences center advancing health equity through innovative research, transformative education, exceptional and compassionate health services and policy-influencing thought leadership. True to its legacy, Meharry empowers diverse populations to improve the well-being of humankind.

Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry Mission Statement:

True to its heritage, the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry exists as a global academic health Center of Excellence that promotes improving the oral health and overall healthcare of all communities through transformative and collaborative educational models and the provision of excellent compassionate health services.

Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry Vision Statement:

To identify, mentor, train, and educate a diverse group of the next generation of dental practitioners, faculty and researchers, who will lead our communities nationally and internationally in the advancement of oral health.

Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Goals and Objectives:

• Provide opportunities for residents to develop diagnostic and treatment planning skills for the treatment of infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health care needs.

• Provide an integrated study of advanced didactic and clinical instruction in all phases of pediatric dentistry.

• Provide didactic instruction for residents to gain advanced pediatric dental knowledge through monthly lectures and seminars that include case presentations, literature reviews, medically complex patient seminars, specialty lectures and advanced dental and medical topics.

• Introduce clinical instruction enabling residents to gain experience in providing comprehensive dental care to a variety of pediatric patient populations including medically complex pediatric patients and patients with special health care needs.

• Provide exposure to and familiarization with evidence-based dentistry principles.

• Familiarize residents with contemporary research methodology in order to review published literature pertinent to pediatric dentistry and ability to critically evaluate it.

• Support residents in conducting a data collection research project including development, implementation, interpretation and reporting of data and present the results at the annual AAPD meeting.

• Support residents to become educationally qualified for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Certification process and meet high ethical and professional standards.

• Facilitate an attitude of community service among residents through the care of underserved pediatric patient populations and provision of patient and caregiver education.

• Encourage resident participation in community service projects (community outreach and advocacy events) with interprofessional colleagues, community schools and partners.

• Resident development of life-long learning skills.

• Encourage residents to be leaders in organized dentistry at the local and national levels.

Eligibility & Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements to be considered for admission:

• Submission of application through ADEA PASS

• DMD or DDS degree from an accredited dental school in the US or Canada

• Official dental school transcript and transcript of any additional graduate degree(s) if applicable

• CV/resume

• Personal statement

• Dental board scores

• Class rank

• 3 letters of recommendation. One must be the Pediatric Dentistry Department Chairperson from candidate’s dental school

• Interview by invitation only to meet with faculty and tour facilities