The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a world-renowned research university and medical center situated within the heart of Birmingham. UAB School of Dentistry educational programs, including the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program and the Head & Neck Oncology Fellowship Program, capitalize on our collaborations within the UAB and the School of Medicine.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program
Application Deadline
October 1
Excellence in healthcare begins with the acquisition of knowledge and skillful techniques. This knowledge must be applied with compassion for the patient and their family.
Our medical educators are devoted to training and mentoring the next generation of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Robust training for residents is provided in all areas of oral and maxillofacial surgery and includes rotations within different departments in the School of Medicine.
Our six year residency program provides a balance in the amount of patient care, didactic education and research experience to produce the next leaders in the field. The program is designed to meet the certification and requirements of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Residency Curriculum
Year One
The program begins on July 1 of each year. The clinical training includes mainly outpatient and minor surgery. The resident is expected to master dentoalveolar surgery and pain control. They work closely with faculty and senior residents in the management of inpatients and outpatients. They take trauma call and are assigned to hospital care. The formal didactic program for the first year includes physical diagnosis, conscious sedation, dentoalveolar surgery, infection control, surgical implants, growth and development, oral pathology, head and neck anatomy and other related courses. A major objective of this year is to successfully complete Step I of the USMLE in June before advancing to the second year.
Years Two and Three
Enrollment in the School of Medicine begins in the second year of the program. The present curriculum as outlined by the School of Medicine includes eight weeks of internal medicine, eight weeks of surgery, eight weeks of obstetrics and gynecology, eight weeks of pediatrics, four weeks of family medicine, four weeks of neurology, four weeks of psychiatry, four weeks of selective/rural medicine, two weeks of special topics, four weeks (each) acting internship in medicine, surgery (critical care) and ambulatory care, twenty weeks of electives and additional requirements as outlined by the School of Medicine. Additionally, offsite rotations are available. Expected academic performance is on par with the other medical students. Following successful completion of this program, the resident is awarded the M.D. degree. Step II of the USMLE is also taken during this period . Following this period, the resident returns to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for a three month period of advanced oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Year Four
The fourth year of the program involves intensive training in surgery and anesthesia, and the resident is also enrolled in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program. This year fulfills the dual purpose of a year of oral and maxillofacial surgery training and an AMA approved year of post-medical school surgical internship training for medical licensure. The program includes four months of general anesthesia and eight months of general surgery. Rotations include trauma surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, oncologic surgery and surgical intensive care. In addition, the resident must successfully complete Step III of the USMLE during this period.
Year Five
The clinical training includes: inpatient experiences, assisting in the operating rooms, pre and postoperative care of inpatients and outpatients and night call. Pharmacology, microbiology and biochemistry as related to oral and maxillofacial surgery are emphasized during daily teaching rounds and didactic conferences. The resident works closely with the chief resident and provides primary hospital care. Fifth year didactics include implantology, maxillofacial pathology, orthognathic surgery, reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial trauma and cosmetic surgery. The resident must begin a research project in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Year Six
A senior resident may be designated as Chief Resident and is directly responsible for the management of all surgical patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The Chief Resident is also responsible for answering consultations from other departments within the dental school and hospitals. In addition, the Chief Resident assigns all major oral and maxillofacial surgical cases to other residents and performs administrative duties as assigned. Time in the program is based on satisfactory performance as determined by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the School of Medicine and normally encompasses six calendar years. In addition to courses and major cases in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, the resident must complete a research project in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
