UNMC Pediatric Dental Residency
Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
8200 Dodge St.
Omaha, Nebraska 68114
Phone: (402) 559-6100
Fax: 402-552-7765
Email: zach.houser@unmc.edu
UNMC Program Website

Program Length and Number of Positions

The residency is a 24-month program beginning July 1 of each year. Five new positions are offered each year.

Program Type

Certificate Program: Five new positions are offered each year and are administered by the UNMC College of Dentistry. The program is university-based and hospital-affiliated.

Masters/Certificate Program: Residents enrolled in the certificate program may also complete a master’s degree through the UNMC Graduate College. The certificate in pediatric dentistry is awarded upon successful completion of the master’s degree program. For more information, please contact Dr. Zachary Houser at zach.houser@unmc.edu

Application

Application should be made directly to Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS). Applicants must also be registered with the National Matching Service. Application deadline is October 1 of the year preceding matriculation. 

Application questions should be sent to:

UNMC College of Dentistry
4000 East Campus Loop South
Box 830740
Lincoln, NE 68583-0740
985163 Nebraska Medical Center
Phone:  (402) 472-6261
Email (preferred): Julie Buss, jbuss@unmc.edu

Description

The residency program is designed to prepare competent pediatric dentists that are able to provide comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.

During their course of training, graduates become prepared to participate in teaching, research, private-practice and public health settings. 

The research experience is designed to prepare residents to critically evaluate literature, understand research methodologies, carry out meaningful research, and incorporate evidence-based dentistry in practice. The master’s degree requires a thesis that is completed under supervision of the graduate college. 

Curriculum

Formal courses and departmental seminars include: biostatistics, microbiology and immunology, oral pathology, orthodontics, growth and development, speech development, physical diagnosis, pediatrics, oral pathology, genetics, orthodontics, child psychology, ethics and dentistry, research planning and design, literature review, pediatric dental text review, clinical case seminar, comprehensive treatment planning, comprehensive behavior guidance to include sedation, oral clinical exam preparation, prevention and disease control, practice management, organized dentistry, community dental health and other special topics. 

Rotations include: Cleft palate/craniofacial anomalies, pediatric medicine, emergency on-call, anesthesiology, oral surgery and interdisciplinary pediatrics (child psychiatry and other developmental disciplines through the Munroe-Meyer Institute), operating room services. 
During the first year, sixty-five percent of total resident time is spent in clinical activity. During the second year, seventy-five percent of total resident time is spent in clinical activity. The majority of clinical training is conducted at the Pediatric Dental Clinic located at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. Residents gain extensive experience working in collaboration with other pediatric medicine specialties.

Program Stipend and Tuition

Program stipend is $38,543 each year. Tuition/fees are $7,662 each year. The program offers health insurance, liability insurance and two weeks of vacation per year.

Facilities

• Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
• University of Nebraska Medical Center

Admission Requirements

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

• Graduate from an accredited dental school recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (DMD/DDS degree).
• Pass the National Board Dental Examinations
• Submit application through PASS/MATCH
• Submit additional information directly to the College of Dentistry (see above)
• Complete a personal interview (departmental decision) 
• ADAT not required, but official ADAT scores received by the application deadline will be strongly considered

Program Strengths

• Strong tradition of cohesive, collaborative residents
• Dedicated and experienced faculty
• Strong clinical program including excellent sedation and operating room experiences
• Well-designed combination of dental school/medical center didactic experiences and hospital clinical experiences
• Extensive and diversified patient population
• Education and training provided by orthodontic faculty
• Opportunities for research collaboration with pediatric medicine
• Exposure to public health dentistry in various outreach settings 

Program Faculty

Full-Time:
Zachary Houser D.M.D., Program Director *
Jennifer Marshall, D.D.S.*
Bryan Skar, D.D.S. * 
Claire Koukol, D.D.S.

Part-Time:
Sundaralingam Premaraj, B.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Orthodontics +
Hannah Greene, D.D.S.*
Allison Wolf, D.D.S.*

Adjunct Faculty:
Ryan Hajek, D.D.S.* 
Peter Harbert, D.D.S., M.S.D.*
Jeffrey Howenstein, D.M.D., M.S..*
Brent Johnson, D.D.S. *
Gary Lehn D.D.S. *
Edward Lockwood D.D.S., M.S. *
Jessica Meeske D.D.S., M.S. *
Holly Portwood, D.D.S., M.S. *
Meenakshi Vishwanath, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.Dent.Sc.+

*Board-certified in Pediatric Dentistry
+Board-certified in Orthodontics

School Profile

 

Program Type:	Combined Certificate
Program Director:	Full-Time
Program Faculty:	3 Full-Time 11 Part-Time 14 Board Certified
Program Length:	24 Total Months 07/01/2019 Start Date
Program Accreditation:	Approved
State Licensure:	Required
Number of Entering Positions:	5
Tuition In-State:	7,662.00 First Year 7,662.00 Second Year
Tuition Out-Of-State:	7,662.00 First Year 7,662.00 Second Year
Salary/Stipend:	38,543.00 First Year 38,543.00 Second Year
Application:	$50 Fee 10/01/2018 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:	Yes
Non-US citizens from foreign  dental schools considered:	No
Acceptance Applicant Ratio:	20:1
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:	Seminars Literature Review Courses Case Conferences Lectures
Research Requirement:	Thesis Data Collection Project Case Report
Teaching Experience:	0.25 Clinic Half-Days Yes Lecture/Presentations
Facilities:	10 Chair/Operatories 3 Clinic Receptionist 8 Dental Assistants 1 Dental Hygienists