Graduate Pediatric Dentistry Program
Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
The University of Michigan
School of Dentistry
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078
Phone: (734) 763-1068
Fax: (734) 647-6805
Email: graddentinquiry@umich.edu
Web: http://dent.umich.edu/admissions/graduate-programs/apply-pediatric-dentistry
Program Length and Number of Positions
This is a 30-month program beginning July 1 of each year. Six residents are admitted annually.
Five positions are filled through the National Matching Service and are open to graduates of dental schools accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Residents in these positions complete the program’s second-year clinical rotation at Mott Children’s Health Center and Hurley Medical Center in Flint.
One position is filled outside the Match and is open to all eligible applicants, including internationally trained dentists. The resident in this position completes all clinical training in Ann Arbor and does not rotate to Flint. This position is not eligible for a stipend or program tuition support.
All six residents complete the same clinical, research, and didactic requirements and earn a Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry, a specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, and a Certificate in Social Epidemiology through the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Program Type
This is a combined university- and hospital-based program with a strong community component. It leads to an MS and specialty certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Certificate in Social Epidemiology from the U-M School of Public Health.
Application
The application deadline for all six positions is October 1 of the year preceding matriculation. All applicants apply through the American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS). Applicants seeking one of the five Match positions must also participate in the National Matching Service. The sixth position is filled outside the Match.
Correspondence regarding application and admission procedures should be addressed to:
Patricia Katcher
Graduate Admissions, Room G226
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
1011 N. University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078
Email: graddentinquiry@umich.edu
Other program correspondence may be addressed to:
James R. Boynton, DDS, MS
Email: jboynton@umich.edu
Description
The University of Michigan Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program provides rigorous clinical and didactic education in all areas of the specialty. Residents care for children with varied dental, behavioral, developmental, and medical needs in university, hospital, and community settings. Close faculty mentorship, extensive experience in sedation and general anesthesia, orthodontic training, predoctoral teaching, and mentored research prepare graduates for clinical practice, academics, research, service, and leadership.
Residents spend the first year in Ann Arbor completing coursework, providing patient care, and developing a research project. During the second year, five residents complete an extended clinical rotation at Mott Children’s Health Center and Hurley Medical Center in Flint, with an emphasis on comprehensive care for at-risk and vulnerable populations. One resident remains in Ann Arbor for clinical rotations at the School of Dentistry and University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital. All residents return to Ann Arbor for the final six months to complete advanced clinical care, coursework, teaching, and their research projects.
A major strength of the program is its balance of clinical education, hospital training, didactic coursework, and research. Residents gain broad experience in behavior guidance, restorative dentistry, pulp therapy, infant oral health, growth and development, interceptive and comprehensive orthodontics, care of children with special health care needs, sedation, general anesthesia, and dental and medical emergencies.
The curriculum also includes a 12-credit Certificate in Social Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Social epidemiology examines how social and structural factors, including neighborhood conditions, economic circumstances, stress, discrimination, and access to care, influence the health of children, families, and communities. Combined with coursework in quality improvement and patient safety, this training gives residents the tools to better understand oral health disparities, develop practical solutions, and improve care for the populations they serve. It also prepares graduates to lead programs and systems of care in clinical practice, community organizations, public health, academics, service, and research.
Graduates receive an MS in Pediatric Dentistry, a specialty Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry, and a Certificate in Social Epidemiology.
Curriculum
Clinical education is broad and progressive, with increasing responsibility as residents advance through the program. Training includes advanced pediatric dentistry, interceptive and comprehensive orthodontics, hospital dentistry, emergency care, infant oral health, behavior guidance, minimal and moderate sedation, general anesthesia, and care of children with complex dental, behavioral, developmental, and medical needs. Residents provide outpatient and operating room care at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital. Five residents also complete an extended community-based rotation at Mott Children’s Health Center and Hurley Medical Center in Flint.
The formal didactic curriculum consists of graduate-level courses taught by faculty across the University of Michigan. Areas of study include growth and development, behavior guidance, pulp therapy, restorative materials and techniques, prevention, diagnosis and management of malocclusions, craniofacial conditions, anesthesia, child development and psychology, care of children with special health care needs, oral pathology, evidence-based care, research methods, quality improvement, and patient safety. All residents also complete four courses totaling 12 credits through the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Coursework includes introductory epidemiology and three approved courses in social epidemiology.
Residents complete a mentored research project and master’s thesis and gain experience teaching predoctoral dental students. Together, the clinical, didactic, research, and teaching components prepare graduates for independent specialty practice and careers in academics, research, public health, and service.
Program Stipend and Tuition
Residents in the five Match positions receive stipends of $42,000 for the first year, $55,000 for the second year, and $30,500 for the third half-year. The position filled outside the Match is not eligible for a stipend. These amounts apply to the cohort entering Summer 2027 and are subject to change.
Estimated tuition for residents entering in Summer 2027 is as follows:
First year: $36,180 for Michigan residents and $61,612 for nonresidents
Second year: No tuition is charged
Third half-year: $11,844 for Michigan residents and $20,155 for nonresidents
Residents in the five Match positions receive scholarship support covering tuition and required University registration fees for the First-year Fall, First-year Winter, and Third-year Fall terms. After this support, their total tuition responsibility for the 30-month program is $12,492 for Michigan residents and $21,302 for nonresidents, plus registration fees for the two unsupported half-terms.
The position filled outside the Match is not eligible for tuition support. Total estimated tuition for this position is $48,024 for Michigan residents and $81,767 for nonresidents, plus required University registration fees.
Tuition totals are estimated and subject to change. The University sets tuition rates each July for the upcoming academic year.
Facilities
First-year clinical training takes place in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and in outpatient, operating room, and emergency department settings at University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital. During the second year, five residents complete an extended community-based rotation at Mott Children’s Health Center and Hurley Medical Center in Flint. One resident remains in Ann Arbor for clinical rotations at the School of Dentistry and Mott Children’s Hospital. All residents return to Ann Arbor for the final six months of the program.
Admission Requirements
Five Match positions:
Applicants to the five Match positions must have a DDS or DMD from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Requirements include:
- Application through the American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS)
- Participation in the National Matching Service
- Official professional and educational transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- Interview by invitation
Applicants selected through the Match must also apply to the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School after match.
Position filled outside the Match:
The single position filled outside the Match is open to all eligible applicants, including internationally trained dentists. Requirements include:
- DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree
- Application through ADEA PASS
- Official professional and educational transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- For internationally trained applicants, an internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL) score of at least 84, earned within two years of the application deadline
- Interview by invitation
The selected applicant must also apply to the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School after accepting the position. This position is not eligible for a stipend or program tuition support and does not rotate to facilities in Flint.
Program Strengths
- Rigorous, comprehensive clinical training in all aspects of pediatric dentistry
- Extensive experience caring for children with complex dental, behavioral, developmental, and medical needs
- Outstanding clinical education and close mentorship from interdisciplinary faculty
- Strong balance between graduate-level didactic education and clinical experience
- Extensive training in behavior guidance, minimal and moderate sedation, general anesthesia, and care of children with special health care needs
- Substantial clinical and didactic education in interceptive and comprehensive orthodontics
- Mentored research experience leading to a master’s thesis
- Formal interdisciplinary education in social epidemiology, social determinants of health, health equity, and quality improvement, leading to a Certificate in Social Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Preparation for clinical practice and leadership in academics, research, community-based care, public health, and service
Program Faculty
*James R. Boynton, DDS, MS, Clinical Professor, Pediatric Dentistry Program Director
* Yu-Ju (Rita) Yang DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Clinic and Graduate Director, Mott Children’s Health Center (Flint)
Giovana Anovazzi Medieros, DDS, MSc, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor
Larry B. Salzmann, DDS, Clinical Associate Professor
* Rodney J. Vergotine, BChD, MSc(Dent), Clinical Associate Professor
* Tracie Davies, DDS, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor (Flint)
* Stephanie Fotouhi, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (Flint)
* Litsa Karaouzas, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (Flint)
* Maryam Kishta-Derani, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor (Flint)
* Maria Al Ismail, BDS, MDS, DScD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Jessica Bentoski, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Ashley Burke, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Jennifer Cleary, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Chu-Chun (June) Hsiao, DDS, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Jason Glick, DDS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Youngjoo E. Kim DDS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Robert F. Majewski, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Professor (part-time)
* Lucas Mathes, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Sam Malcheff, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Scott D. Smith, DDS, MS; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Martin Stern, DDS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
* Chia-En (Vivian) Tsai, DDS, MS, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
** Edwin Kwon, DDS, MS Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
** Yina Li, DMD, PhD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
*Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
**Orthodontist
School Profile
| Program Type: | Combined |
|---|---|
| Program Director: | Full-Time |
| Program Faculty: | 9 Full-Time 15 Part-Time 20 Board Certified |
| Program Length: | 30 Total Months July 1 Start Date |
| Program Accreditation: | Approved |
| State Licensure: | Restricted License Available |
| Restrictions: | Eligibility residents eligible for Michigan Educationally Limited License |
| State Licensure Required to Begin Program: | No |
| Number of Entering Positions: | 6 |
| Tuition In-State: | Five Match positions: $12,492 total program tuition after scholarship support. No tuition is charged in the second-year. The non-Match sixth position is responsible for full program tuition ($48,024). |
| Tuition Out-Of-State: | Five Match positions: $21,302 total program tuition after scholarship support. No tuition is charged in the second-year. The non-Match sixth position is responsible for full program tuition ($81,767). |
| Salary/Stipend: | Five Match positions: $42,000 first year $55,000 second year $30,500 third half-year The non-Match sixth position receives no stipend support. |
| Application: | PASS Fee October 1 Deadline |
| Participant in National Matching Service: |
Yes |
| Participant in PASS: | Yes |
| This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school: | Yes |
| Applicants are eligible to enroll is they are: | US Citizen US Permanent Resident Canadian Citizen Canadian Permanent Resident Non-US Citizen/Resident (applicant must obtain their own sponsorship) |
| 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 HealthCare Needs Behavior Guidance |
| Didactic Experience: | Seminars Literature Review Courses Case Conferences Lectures |
| Research Requirement: | Thesis |
| Teaching Experience: | Clinic Half-Days Lecture/Presentations |
| Facilities: | 21 Chair/Operatories 3 Clinic Receptionist 5 Dental Assistants 0 Dental Hygienists |