Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry
Children's Hospital of Michigan
3901 Beaubien Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan 48201
Email: kponicht@dmc.org
Program Length and Number of Positions
This is a 24 month program beginning July 1 of each year. There are 4 new positions offered each year
Program Type
Hospital-based certificate program.
Application
All application materials are processed through the ADEA PASS website: https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/children's-hospital-of-michigan-pediatric-dentistry.
To be considered eligible, applicants to the program must meet all of the following criteria:
- Have successfully completed a predoctoral dental program in the United States or Canada that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- Be a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of Canada who is eligible to obtain a TN visa by the start of their contract hire date.
- Be eligible for a State of Michigan dental license by the start of their contract hire date.
For positions starting on July 1, interviews will take place in late October. The interview process consists of a one-day in-person group interview that includes meeting with program faculty, touring the program’s educational sites, and a pre-interview dinner the evening prior with current residents.
The program does not currently provide virtual interviews or make-up interview dates.
At this time, the program is not using the NMS Dental Match.
Description
Sponsored by Detroit Receiving Hospital and offered in collaboration with Children's Hospital of Michigan, our Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program welcomes a culturally diverse group of residents. Our residents are independent, goal-oriented, and possess strong clinical acumen, distinguishing themselves through hard work and dedication.
Children’s Hospital of Michigan provides care to a broad socioeconomic population, serving both urban and suburban communities. Patients typically range from infancy through adolescence and often present with complex medical and dental needs, including individuals with severe pathology. A key component of the program is its community-focused mission, offering care to patients who may otherwise have limited access to dental services.
Our Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Curriculum
Our program is designed to prepare residents to become exceptional pediatric dentists, fully equipped to practice independently in any clinical environment—whether in private practice, hospital-based care, or academic settings—with a strong emphasis on treating patients with special health care needs. Clinical training is divided between the hospital-based experience at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and an outpatient experience in a private pediatric dental office.
Residents acquire extensive operating room experience through multiple dedicated OR block days for pediatric dentistry. They also participate in in-office general anesthesia cases, allowing residents to enhance their proficiency in comprehensive oral rehabilitation.
As part of their hospital responsibilities, residents provide 24/7 on-call dental coverage, ensuring care for pediatric patients in need and exposing residents to all facets of dental emergencies.
The academic component of the program includes faculty-led didactic sessions in pediatric dentistry which occurs once to twice a week. These sessions are comprised of lectures and seminars, journal clubs, and the AAPD core curriculum. Additional instruction in biomedical sciences and orthodontics is provided by invited speakers.
Rotations by Training Year
First-year residents complete a series of hospital rotations at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, including pediatric anesthesia, ambulatory medicine, infectious disease, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and emergency medicine. Throughout their training, residents also participate in interdisciplinary specialty clinics, such as the Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Clinic and the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Clinic.
Second-year residents complete rotations in an outpatient orthodontics clinic which will solidify their training as pediatric dentists in growth and development and orthodontics.
Program Stipend and Tuition
Information regarding salary, educational stipend, and resident benefits can be found here.
Facilities
- Children's Hospital of Michigan
- Detroit Medical Center participating hospitals
- Private dental clinic for resident outpatient patient care
Admission Requirements
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canadian citizen
- DDS or DMD degree from the U.S. or Canada from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Must have passed Part I and Part II of the National Dental Board Examination by the start date of the program for that year
- Must be eligible for a Michigan state dental license by the start date of the program for that year
Program Strengths
- Hospital-based program by academic and clinical faculty
- Opportunity for development of clinical skills with patients between infancy and adolesence, including patients with special needs
- Extensive sedation and OR experiences
- Integrated management of patients with craniofacial anomalies
Program Faculty
*Dr. Kristen Ponichter, DMD; Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director
*Dr. Ife Nwabueze, DMD, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Martin Stern, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Mary Hannawa Calek, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Dave Vazquez, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Basam Shamo, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Hiba AlSafi, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Maria Al Ismail, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Dr. Jordan Duarte, DMD, Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Gary Stern, DDS, Pediatric Dentist
*Board certified
School Profile
| Program Type: | Hospital-based |
| Program Director: | Full-Time |
| Program Faculty: | 5 Full-Time 4 Part-Time 8 Board Certified |
| Program Length: | 24 Total Months July 1 Start Date |
| Program Accreditation: | Approved |
| State Licensure: | Required |
| Number of Entering Positions: | 4 |
| Tuition In-State: | 0 First Year 0 Second Year |
| Tuition Out-Of-State: | 0 First Year 0 Second Year |
| Salary/Stipend: | https://www.dmc.org/health-professionals/gme-at-dmc/dmc-clinical-campus/future-residents |
| Application: | September 15 Deadline |
| Participant in National Matching Service: |
No |
| 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: | Varies |
| Clinic Experience: | Orthodontics Hospital Rotations General Anesthesia Emergency Call Operating Room Oral Surgery Infant Oral Health Medically Compromised Mentally Disabled Craniofacial Disorders Physically Disabled Community Clinics Outreach Minimal and Moderate Sedations Special Health Care Needs Behavior Guidance |
| Didactic Experience: | Seminars Literature Review Courses Case Conferences Lectures |
| Research Requirement: | Data Collection Project |
| Teaching Experience: | 8 Clinic Half-Days 2 Lecture/Presentations |