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) 740-1410
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 beginning the second to last week of June. Nine 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.

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, minimal 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 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

First- year stipend is approximately $10,000 per year. Second-year stipend is $81,000.

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 kids by Altamed (HSK)
  • The Pediatric Dental Clinic at LA General Hospital

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 or the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (prior to matriculation)
  • 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)
Khoa Le, 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*
Michael Park, D.M.D, 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*
Eddie So, D.D.S, Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), USC*
Angela Navas, D.D.S. Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), USC
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*
Dien Sun, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHLA*
Shari Soloman-Carroll, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant 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*
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 by Altamed*
Katarina Kroll, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed*
Tricia Contreras, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed*
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 by Altamed*
John Guijon, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), CHOC
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 by Altamed*
Jessica Machado, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed*
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 by Altamed*
Lydia Park, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time) Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed*
Amit Shah, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor, Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed (part time)*
Mandi Lynn Wilson, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor (part-time), Healthy Smiles for Kids by Altamed*
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
Program Director: Full-Time
Program Faculty: 7 Full-Time
29 Part-Time
26 Board Certified
Program Length: 24 Total Months
6/15/2026 Start Date
Program Accreditation: Approved
State Licensure: Restricted License Available
Number of Entering Positions: 9
Tuition In-State: 134,888 First-Year
5,375 Second-Year
Tuition Out-Of-State: 134,888 First-Year
5,375 Second-Year
Salary/Stipend: 10,000 First Year
81,000 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
9 Dental Assistants