University of Illinois Chicago, Pediatric Dentistry 
Department of Pediatric Dentistry (M/C 850)
College of Dentistry
University of Illinois at Chicago
801 S. Paulina St.
Chicago, Illinois 60612-7211
Phone: (312) 996-7531
Fax: (312) 996-1638
Email: jwantrob@uic.edu
Website

Program Length and Number of Positions

We will offer opportunities for in-person 3-day externships and we will host a 1-hour virtual open house on June 20, 2024. Please visit this link if interested.

Program Type

University-based, hospital-affiliated program

Application

The PASS application deadline is September 1st of the year preceding matriculation. In lieu of a supplemental application, applicants must complete the three supplemental questions within the ADEA PASS. There is no additional charge to apply to the program. Correspondence regarding application and admission procedures should be addressed to Jean O’Finn, Jwantrob@uic.edu at the following address:

Jean O'Finn
University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Dentistry
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, M/C 850
801 South Paulina Street, Room 256
Chicago, IL 60612

Specific questions should be addressed to:
Dr. Brittaney Hill, bhill10@uic.edu; Postgraduate Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Chicago, 801 S. Paulina St., Chicago, IL 60612-7211; (312) 413-9651.

Description

The program is university-based/hospital-affiliated and fulfills the requirements for advanced education in pediatric dentistry as approved by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to pursue board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD). Graduates have a track record of strong performance on the written and oral ABPD examinations.

The program provides a rich and diversified educational experience that emphasizes comprehensive oral health care for healthy and medically complex infants, children and adolescents. Its renovated, state-of-the-art graduate clinic with 20 operatories (8 of which are private rooms), attends to a large and diverse population of the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. Each operatory is equipped with nitrous oxide, digital radiography, a video monitor and a computer. There is an optimal ratio of dental assistants to residents. Residents graduate with significant experience providing care using different modalities of behavior management, including nitrous oxide, moderate sedation (oral and intranasal) and general anesthesia.

The department has a diverse and rich clinical faculty that includes 9 full-time and 6 part-time clinical faculty members who are pediatric dentists. In addition, our faculty includes individuals from behavioral sciences, orthodontics, and public health. Physicians and dental specialists from other departments also contribute to teaching in the program in an interdisciplinary format. Our department also has a full-time social worker, two part-time social work interns, a recovery room nurse, a part-time nurse practitioner, and a team of anesthesiologist who provide care in our own two operating rooms.

Curriculum

The program is designed to fully prepare the resident for clinical practice, as well as to provide educational opportunities for those who desire to pursue a teaching, public health or research career in pediatric dentistry.

Learning modalities include didactic courses, seminars, continuing education courses, and clinical experiences. The curriculum includes, among others: behavior management, child development and psychology, pulp therapy, orthodontics/growth & development, oral care for special health care needs patients/hospital dentistry, dental traumatology, biostatistics, epidemiology and research methods, dental radiology, pediatric oral pathology, dental materials, cariology/microbiology, infant oral health and prevention, advocacy, practice management, inherited and acquired dental anomalies, and principles of sedation and general anesthesia. The program offers a specially designed seminar on leadership development and advocacy for residents. Additional topics are covered in rounds, journal club, and in a seminar format. Many biomedical topics are covered in the MS in Oral Sciences Core Curriculum, which are completed with residents in other specialties.

Clinical experiences primarily occur in the pediatric dentistry graduate clinic at the UIC College of Dentistry. Our facilities offer collaboration and consultation with professionals from other departments within the College of Dentistry and other health sciences. Dental care under general anesthesia, after-hours emergency dental care, and rotations in pediatric and subspecialty medical clinics (Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, General Pediatrics, Anesthesiology,

Emergency Medicine, Craniofacial clinic, etc.) take place at the University of Illinois Hospital which is conveniently located adjacent to the College of Dentistry. In September 2020, we opened our Pediatric Dentistry Outpatient Care Center, with two operating rooms where we do 3 cases in each room every day of the week. The residents also rotate in the Department of Oral Surgery at the College to observe complex pediatric and adult oral surgery cases done under intravenous sedation. Our busy undergraduate pediatric dental clinic provides an excellent venue for both clinical and lab teaching of dental students. Residents receive clinical and didactic orthodontic experiences in the Mixed Dentition Clinic, which is a collaboration with the Department of Orthodontics.

Second-year residents may receive additional community-based experiences through rotations in community-based health clinics.

Program Stipend and Tuition

The program awards graduates with a Certificate in the Specialty of Pediatric Dentistry. Graduate Medical Education (GME) residents receive a competitive stipend for the duration of the certificate program. For 2024-2025, the first-year stipend is $68,721.84, the second-year stipend is $71,134.68 plus health coverage and fringe benefits. Each July, there may be a small increase to the stipend. There are no tuition fees for enrollment in the Certificate program. Note that eligibility for a GME stipend is determined by GME policies and not by the residency program.

A Master of Science in Oral Sciences degree is required and integrated in the 24-month program. Tuition for the Master's program is waived, up to $5,250 per year is non taxable.

Accepted residents must plan to be in Chicago by mid-June for mandatory GME, College of Dentistry, and Program orientation prior to the program start.

Facilities

• University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry Pediatric Dentistry Outpatient Care Center

• University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science System

• Community partner clinics

Admission Requirements

• Review the ADEA/PASS website for full details pertaining to the application requirements. We ask that applicants review the program description and application requirements listed prior to contacting the department. We try to ensure that these resources provide consistent and up-to-date information. The application deadline is September 1, 2024.
  
  · In lieu of a supplemental application, applicants must complete three supplemental questions within the ADEA PASS application.
  
  · ADAT. We will not require the ADAT for the 2024 cycle. Applicants wishing to take the ADAT may submit score reports for consideration with the application materials, but this is optional.
  
  · Interviews. 

Program Strengths

Strong didactic (25%) and clinic (60%) experience, as well as research (10%), and teaching (5%) 

• Large diverse patient pool with a public health emphasis
• Significant exposure to healthy patients and children with special health care needs
• Opportunity for interdisciplinary care with other dental and medical specialties
• Extensive exposure to minimal and moderate sedation and general anesthesia
• Excellent, newly renovated facilities, significant hospital activity, and supporting medical/dental staff 
• Diversified and experienced faculty with clinical and research expertise 
• Extensive opportunities to gain teaching skills and experience

Program Faculty

Full-Time Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Faculty
David Avenetti, D.D.S., M.S.D., M.P.H., Clinical Associate Professor, Department Head*
Brittaney Hill, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H, Clinical Assistant Professor and Postgraduate Program Director*
Azza Tagelsir Ahmed, Ph.D, M.Sc, B.D.S., Clinical Associate Professor*
Majd Alsaleh, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Assistant Professor
Sahar Alrayyes, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Associate Professor *
Marcio da Fonseca, D.D.S., M.S., Chicago Dental Society Professor, Director of Oral Health for Special Needs Children*
Bhakti Desai, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Assistant Professor*
Leda Mugayar, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Associate Professor
Evelina Kratunova, M.D.S, M.F.D., D.Ch.Dent., F.F.D., Clinical Associate Professor*

Full-Time Non-Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Faculty
Christine Wu, Ph.D., Professor, Director Caries Research

Part-Time Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Faculty
Kelsey Brar, D.M.D., M.S., M.P.H., Clinical Assistant Professor*
Shahrbanoo Fadavi, D.D.S., M.S., Professor Emeritus*
Nicola Hill-Cordell, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor*
Flavia Lamberghini, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., Clinical Assistant Professor*
Indru Punwani, D.D.S., M.S.D., Professor Emeritus*
Maribel Reyes de Lobos, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Assistant Professor*
Claire Garcia, D.D.S., M.S., Clinical Assistant Professor*

*Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

School Profile

 

Program Type:	University-based Degree Certificate
Program Director:	Full-Time Board Certified
Program Faculty:	9 Full-Time 6 Part-Time 11 Board Certified
Program Length:	24  July 1 Start Date
Program Accreditation:	Approved
State Licensure:	Restricted License Available
Number of Entering Positions:	Up to 10
Tuition In-State:	Tuition Waived (for Certificate Program) First Year Tuition Waived (for Certificate Program) Second Year
Tuition Out-Of-State:	Tuition Waived (for Certificate Program) First Year Tuition Waived (for Certificate Program) Second Year
Salary/Stipend:	$68,721.84 First Year $71,134.68 Second Year
Application:	September 1 Deadline
Participant in National Matching Service:	Yes
Participant in PASS:	Yes
Only US citizens from ADA  accredited dental schools  considered:	Yes
US citizens from foreign dental  schools considered:	No
Non-US citizens from ADA  accredited dental schools  considered:	No
Non-US citizens from foreign  dental schools considered:	No
Acceptance Applicant Ratio:	1:24
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 Outreach Public Health Minimal and Moderate Sedations Special Health Care Needs Behavior Guidance
Didactic Experience:	Courses Case Conferences Lectures Literature Review Seminars
Research Requirement:	Thesis Data Collection Project
Teaching Experience:	1 Clinic Half-Days Yes Lecture/Presentations
Facilities:	20 Chairs/Operatories 5 Clinic Receptionists 16 Dental Assistants