The Allegheny General Hospital Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery offers a well-structured program that integrates intensive clinical experiences, including off-service clinical rotations, and didactic experiences. The 4 years of training are designed to integrate advanced biologic sciences with progressive clinical training.
The Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery provides training in the full scope of the specialty, with special emphasis on facial trauma, tumor removal and reconstructive surgery, orthognathic surgery, obstructive sleep apnea surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, preprosthetic surgery, and dental implantology. The division has successfully implemented and developed new techniques in dental implant surgery, obstructive sleep apnea surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, and bone grafting.
Residents learn how to function within a dynamic, tertiary care regional resource (Level I) trauma center. Responsibilities increase to match the resident's level of training, and by program completion, residents are fully competent to perform many oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, take medical histories and perform physical examinations, place physician's orders and consultations, develop pre- and postoperative reports, maintain charts, dictate operative reports, coordinate care with other specialists, present at conferences, write patient correspondence, and address many insurance issues.
The teaching staff of three full-time and several part-time faculty prepares residents to:
OMFS clinical training consists of ambulatory dentoalveolar patient treatment, trauma call coverage, inpatient floor coverage, and assisting attending physicians in the operating room. Responsibilities are assigned according to level of training.
Emphasis is placed on the total healthcare of the hospitalized patient. Residents are expected to become competent in overall patient management. Off-service rotations are used to supplement the experience along with full-time Emergency Department assignment and Trauma Team participation.
PGY1 - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Intern - 12 months
PGY2 - Off-Service Rotations - 12 months
PGY3 - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service
PGY4 - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service, Chief Resident – 12 months
A new clinical facility was opened in August of 2016 and is fully equipped to accommodate all ambulatory oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures as well as all phases of anesthesia (nitrous, sedation, and deep/general anesthesia). This new facility includes:
OMFS residents receive comprehensive didactic training through a series of conferences. The OMFS Core Conferences cover the full scope of the specialty, are presented by the resident house staff members of the adjunctive teaching staff and guest lecturers, and form the backbone to the OMFS didactic curriculum.
The Core Conference schedule includes the following:
OMFS residents are provided numerous educational opportunities outside the basic curriculum of the program. Through the Office of Graduate Medical Education and through the program's own endowment, residents are provided financial support for course registration fees and travel expenses.
Special courses offered by Continuing Medical Education and other services provide residents additional training in a variety of areas, including:
During the chief residency year, the following additional courses/rotations may be available:
In most cases, the program also funds travel expenses necessary for residents to attend conferences at which their submitted abstracts or posters have been accepted for presentation.
