The one-year Craniofacial Orthodontic Fellowship program is designed to provide you with advanced training and skills for the management of individuals with craniofacial anomalies and special care needs requiring complex multidisciplinary care. This fellowship program is administered through the Continuing Dental Education office at the School of Dentistry.
The focus of this subspecialty of orthodontics includes:
- Cleft lip and palate
- Syndromic craniosynostosis and other craniofacial anomalies
- Dentofacial deformities
- Craniofacial surgery
- Orthognathic surgery
- Distraction osteogenesis
- Nasoalveolar molding
- Special care orthodontics
Craniofacial Orthodontic fellows have the opportunity to develop skills in the diagnosis and treatment planning using both two and three-dimensional diagnostic record sets for complex craniofacial anomalies requiring interdisciplinary team care. The fellow will rotate through the following 3 main centers for craniofacial care.
- UAB Craniofacial Disorders Clinic at the School of Dentistry
- Department of Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Alabama
- Cleft Lip and Palate Offices of the Children’s Rehabilitation Services
Fellowship Details
The fellowship will provide you with experience in the following clinical areas:
- Newborn assessment for need of early intervention
- Presurgical orthopedics (nasoalveolar molding) for infants born with cleft lip and palate
- Growth and orthodontic management from the primary through adult dentition and attainment of skeletal maturity
- Surgical and orthodontic treatment planning, pre and post-surgical orthodontic management, surgical splint design and construction, and insertion of surgical fixation splints in the operating room
Each fellow will initiate and complete at least one clinical research project, mentored by craniofacial orthodontic and plastic surgery faculty members. In addition, you will be expected to present a research paper at a national or international meeting during the fellowship period.
Further Information
Resources
- Cleft and Craniofacial Center, Children’s Hospital of Alabama
- Department of Orthodontics, University of Alabama Birmingham
- Children’s Rehabilitation Services
Program Faculty
The faculty involved are craniofacial specialists with many years of experience. These include:
Chung H. Kau
B.D.S, MScD, Ph.D., F.A.M.S.(Ortho), F.A.C.D., F.F.D(Ortho), ABO
Fellowship Director
Professor of Orthodontics
Chair, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry
Craniofacial Orthodontist
John Grant
M.D.
Professor
James C. Lee, III, Chair in Pediatric Plastic Surgery
Director, Cleft and Craniofacial Center
Chief, Pediatric Plastic Surgery
James M. Johnston, Jr.
M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Medical Director
Global Surgery Program
René P. Myers
M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Plastic Surgery
Kathlyn Kruger Powell
D.M.D., M.D.
Assistant Professor
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Curtis J. Rozzelle
M.D.
Associate Professor
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Nathaniel Robin
M.D.
Professor of Genetics
Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
Cassie Smola
M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Application and Tuition
Applications are welcomed through the year. However, only one fellow will be admitted annually. There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $250 USD. You may pay by credit card (MC, VISA, AMEX) or by check. If accepted, the fee for the one-year program is $50,000. The fellows are responsible for their own living, housing, health insurance and visa expenses related to the program.