St Joseph’s University Medical Center 
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
11 Getty Ave., Building 275
Paterson, NJ 07503
United States
Program Director: Henna DeSimone, D.D.S
Email: desimonh@sjhmc.org

Program Length and Number of Positions

This is a 24-month program beginning on July 1st of each year. Two positions are offered each year.

Program Type

Hospital-based certificate program

Application

The application deadline is October 15th of the year preceding matriculation. Successful completion of an AEGD or GPR is strongly encouraged prior to entry into the program. The program participates in the PASS application system and the MATCH placement process. A personal interview is offered to qualified applicants and is required for consideration for admission.

Description

The pediatric dentistry residency is a hospital-based program with a strong emphasis on the integration of clinical and didactic components. A broad exposure to all aspects of pediatric dentistry is provided.

St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center serves a very diverse patient population. Residents have the opportunity to participate in the treatment of healthy children, patients with special needs and patients from the Regional Craniofacial Center. Pediatric dentistry residents also serve as consultants to the specialists at the Children’s Hospital including: pediatric hematology / oncology, pediatric cardiology, The Center for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing and The Regional Craniofacial Center.

Extensive exposure to trauma is gained through rotations on the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery service and through on-call responsibilities with the Department of Emergency Medicine.

All dental specialties are represented at the Medical Center: orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthodontics, oral & maxillofacial surgery and dental anesthesiology. Residents participate in oral and intravenous sedation cases and conduct treatment of patients under general anesthesia. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are considered board eligible and are strongly encouraged to pursue board certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Curriculum

The didactic curriculum conforms to the Standards published by the ADA and its components include: lectures, seminars, case presentations, journal club, grand rounds and courses in craniofacial anomalies and research methods.

Residents gain additional medical knowledge during rotations at the Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital in pediatric medicine, emergency medicine, anesthesiology and various other pediatric subspecialties.
Full-time coverage of clinical activity is provided by board-certified and board-eligible pediatric dentists. Specialists from the other dental disciplines are available to facilitate comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Didactic presentations include: fundamentals of pediatric dentistry, growth and development, orthodontics, oral radiology and pathology, special patient care, biostatistics and research methods, pharmacology and dental anesthesia.

In addition to the formal lecture series, residents also participate in daily morning rounds, weekly literature reviews, monthly meetings of the craniofacial team and treatment planning conferences.

Program Stipend and Tuition

First-year salary is $58,349 plus fringe benefits.
Second-year salary is $61,675 plus fringe benefits.
No tuition.

Facilities

St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Dental / Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Facility
Family Health Center – Outpatient Dental Facility
Mountainside Hospital – Outpatient Dental Center
Zufall Health Center - Outpatient Dental Clinic

Admission Requirements

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

  • D.D.S. or D.M.D. from an ADA accredited American or Canadian dental school
  • Eligibility for New Jersey State licensure
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Current C.V.
  • Dental and undergraduate transcripts
  • Personal interview
  • Photograph

Program Strengths

  • Diverse patient population
  • Modern and well-equipped facilities
  • Multi-disciplinary training under the supervision of attending specialists
  • Extensive training in all aspects of behavior management modalities, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic
  • Rotations through Pediatric Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, The Regional Craniofacial Center and The Center for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing
  • Close interactions with physicians from the other medical and surgical specialties at the medical center

Program Faculty

Pediatric DentistryHenna DeSimone, D.D.S.* – Program Director, Dental AnesthesiologistDanny Chiang, D.D.S.*Mara Teplitsky, D.D.S.Boris Kleyman, D.D.S.*OrthodonticsLawrence Simon, D.M.D.Jung Kim, D.D.S.*Shayna Avinoam, D.D.S.*ProsthodonticsAsmahan Khater, D.D.S.PeriodonticsJerald Rosenberg, D.M.D.EndodonticsLeslie Elfenbein, D.M.D.*Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryHillel Ephros, D.M.D., M.D.* – Chairman, Department of Dentistry, Program Director – Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryRichard P. Szumita, D.M.D.* – Associate Chairman, Department of Dentistry, and Associate Program Director – Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryMeredith Blitz, D.D.S.*Robert J. DeFalco, D.D.S.Michael Erlichman, D.D.S.

School Profile

 

Program Type: Hospital-based
Program Director: Part-Time
Program Faculty: 11 Full-Time
11 Part-Time
4 Board Certified
Program Length: 24 Total Months
July 1 Start Date
Program Accreditation: Approved
State Licensure: Required
Number of Entering Positions: 2
Tuition In-State:  
Tuition Out-Of-State:  
Salary/Stipend: 58,249 First Year
61,675 Second Year
Application: 0 Fee
October 15th Deadline
Participant in National
Matching Service:
Yes
Participant in PASS: Yes
Only US citizens from ADA 
accredited dental schools 
considered:
No
US citizens from foreign dental 
schools considered:
No
Non-US citizens from ADA 
accredited dental schools 
considered:
Yes
Non-US citizens from foreign 
dental schools considered:
No
Acceptance Applicant Ratio:  
Clinic Experience: Orthodontics
Conscious Sedation
Hospital Rotations
General Anesthesia
Emergency Call
Operating Room
Oral Surgery
Infant Oral Health
Medically Compromised
Mentally Disabled
Craniofacial Disorders
Physically Disabled
Community Clinics
Special HealthCare Needs
Behavior Guidance
Didactic Experience: Seminars
Literature Review
Courses
Case Conferences
Lectures
Research Requirement:  
Teaching Experience: 1 Clinic Half-Days
Weekly Lecture/Presentations
Facilities: 14 Chair/Operatories
5 Clinic Receptionist
9 Dental Assistants
1 Dental Hygienists