Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry 
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
University of Southern California
University Park MC 0641
Los Angeles, California 90089-0641
Phone: (213) 740-2851
Fax: (213) 740-8109
Email: uscsdadm@usc.edu

Website: https://dentistry.usc.edu/admission/post-graduate-education-certificate-programs/#pediatric-dentistry

Program Length and Number of Positions

This is a 24-month certificate program or 36-month combined certificate/master's program beginning the last week of June. Ten new positions are available each year.

Program Type

Combined university and hospital-based certificate program with option for Masters of Public Health.

Application

The application deadline is October 1 of the year preceding matriculation. Correspondence regarding application and admission should be addressed to: 

Corey Berry, Advanced Programs Coordinator, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, USC School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0641.

Description

The 24-month certificate program provides a course of study designed to provide students with extensive didactic and clinical training necessary for the specialty. This combined university- and hospital-based program provides extensive educational and clinical opportunities. The program is accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation. 

If accepted into the pediatric dentistry program, then an applicant can apply for a Masters in Public Health (MPH) and enter into a 36-month combination program.

Curriculum

First-year studies emphasize advanced theory and clinical treatment of the "healthy" child. Students will develop a sound basis in genetics, growth and development, behavior guidance, physical evaluation, research methodology, statistics, mild and moderate sedation, interceptive orthodontics and prevention. Second-year studies offer a wide range of patient care opportunities, including dental care of children with physical, mental and/or emotional disabilities and medical conditions. The students' time is spent at one of the three affiliate children's hospitals where they are exposed to operating room procedures, general anesthesia techniques, conscious sedation, pediatric medicine and emergency medicine. 

Interceptive orthodontics is an important part of the program and emphasis is placed on biomechanics, examination, diagnosis, cephalometrics, consultation and treatment at the preventive and interceptive level.

Program Stipend and Tuition

Second-year stipend is $77,000. First-year tuition is approximately $129,376. Second-year tuition is approximately $5,171. 

Facilities

  • Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
  • Children's Dental Health Clinic and Miller Children's and Women's Hospital Long Beach
  • Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) 
  • Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (RLANRC) 
  • Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
  • Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
  • Healthy Smiles for Children in Garden Grove (HSK)
  • The Pediatric Dental Clinic at the Violence Intervention Program, LAC+USC

Admission Requirements

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

  • Dental and pre-professional education transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation, one from a pediatric dentistry faculty member 
  • Biographical statement 
  • Official copy of National Board Dental Examination results Part I and II (prior to matricluation)
  • 2x2 photo and application fee ($85 domestic/$145 foreign) 
  • For international dentists, a copy of the TOEFL and a statement of financial support must be submitted 
  • $1,000 tuition deposit upon notification of acceptance

Program Strengths

  • Significant hospital component with excellent medical staff support in the operating room, inpatient units and multidisciplinary teams 
  • Didactic program balanced with 50 percent time commitment to the hospital environment 
  • Extensive and divergent patient pool 
  • Extensive experience in nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic behavior guidance modalities including mild and moderate sedation and general anesthesia 
  • 20 percent clock hour commitment to orthodontic instruction on a weekly basis

Program Faculty

Alexander R. Alcaraz, D.M.D., Advanced Specialty Director, Pediatric Dentistry*
Catherine Pham, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinic Director, (full-time), USC*
José Polido, D.D.S., MS, Dental Director (full-time), CHLA* 
John Kishibay, D.M.D., MS, PhD, Director, Orthodontics (part-time)
Chris Y. Mayeda, D.D.S., Hospital Residency Director (full-time), LBMMC*
Amy Ngyuen, D.D.S., Hospital Residency Director, RLANRC (part-time)*
Priyal Ohri D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (full-time) CHOC Hospital Co-Residency Director*
Norman Chen, D.D.S, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) CHOC Hospital Co-Residency Director*
Thanh Ton, D.D.S., M.P.H. Clinical Associate Professor (full-time) LA General Hospital Residency Director*
Richard Udin, D.D.S., Professor Emeritus (part-time), USC* 
Geoff Groat, D.D.S, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Dentistry (part-time), USC
Julie A. Jenks, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., Director, Community Outreach Director (full-time)*
Reem Kabbarah, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) USC*
Jacob Lee, D.D.S., Clinical Associate Professor (part-time) USC*
Philip Yoong, D.D.S, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) USC 
Leila C. Younger, D.D.S., MS, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), USC*
Janice Park Kim, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), RLANRC*
Christine Chung, D.D.S, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LBMMC
Shivani Keshav, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LBMMC*
Johnathan Lo, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LBMMC*
David Okawachi, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) LBMMC*
Jill Shang, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LBMMC*
Wei Chen Tu D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LBMMC 
Helen Do, Clinical Assistant Professor, (part-time), CHLA*
Lucy Hallajian, Clinical Assistant Professor, (part-time), CHLA*
EvaLina Josefsson, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHLA*
John N. Groper, D.D.S., Clinical Associate Professor (part-time), CHLA*
Donna Eteson, D.M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHLA
Jenny Garcia, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHLA*
David Kang, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) CHLA*
Vivian Yee, D.M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) CHLA*
Rachel Anderson, D.M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Katarina Calilung, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Tricia Contreras, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Eduardo Correa, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC*
Danielle Goodman, D.D.S, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids*
John Guijon, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC
Khoa Le, Clinical Assistant Professor, (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids
Sara Khoshbin, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC*
Trishia Johnson, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Jessica Machado, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC*
Christina Maldonado, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC*
Richard Mungo, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time)
CHOC 
Jeanne Nguyen, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Lydia Park, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Amit Shah, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor, Healthy Smiles for Kids (part time)*
Mandi Lynn Wilson, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids*
Kristeen Chu, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LA General*
Christine Kim, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), LA General*

* Board Certified

School Profile

 

Program Type: Combined
Certificate
Program Director: Full-Time
Board Certified
Program Faculty: 7 Full-Time
29 Part-Time
26 Board Certified
Program Length: 24 Total Months
6/16/2024 Start Date
Program Accreditation: Approved
State Licensure: Restricted License Available
Number of Entering Positions: 10
Tuition In-State: 129,376 First-Year
5,171 Second-Year
Tuition Out-Of-State: 129,376 First-Year
5,171 Second-Year
Salary/Stipend: 19,000 First Year
77,000 Second Year
Application: 85 Fee
October 1 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:		 Yes
Non-US citizens from ADA 
accredited dental schools 
considered:		 Yes
Non-US citizens from foreign 
dental schools considered:		 Yes
Acceptance Applicant Ratio: 1:18
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
Public Health
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: 15 Clinic Half-Days
for 1 trimester preclinical lab Lecture/Presentations
Facilities: 15 Chair/Operatories
1 Clinic Receptionist
10 Dental Assistants