Graduate Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Acquire intensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of the oral and maxillofacial region with the Graduate Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. This 30-month, postdoctoral specialty certificate program is part of a six-year dual degree/certificate residency program that comprises an advanced standing Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery certificate. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) certificate curriculum is created in collaboration with the Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University Health System.

Residents are trained to become skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeons, providing surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues. Residents also have opportunities to increase and improve patient care in the local community. 

The program’s curriculum blends didactic and clinical education and is strengthened by general scholarly activities and professional development opportunities. Students gain the skills and training to become professional oral and maxillofacial surgeons, including advanced expertise in oral biology, as well as increased knowledge in the administration of outpatient pediatric anesthesia and research methodology and study design.

You will participate in interdisciplinary patient care by working closely with general dentists, oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics, and other postgraduate training programs within the Kornberg School of Dentistry. You will also study the care administered by oral and maxillofacial surgery practices, including implant dentistry, oral pathology and oral medicine, outpatient pediatric anesthesia, and temporomandibular and orthognathic surgery.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is one of the ten dental specialties approved by the American Dental Association.

Program Format & Curriculum

Students complete the OMS certificate program over a minimum of 30 months, which are dedicated to learning experiences specific to the certificate requirements. The innovative curriculum places significant emphasis on experiential learning supported by various didactic, formal and informal educational experiences. 

Students complete the program’s CORE lecture series, designed specifically for postdoctoral students, with emphasis on biostatistics and research methodology. Residents also participate in weekly seminars and lectures, in addition to monthly grand rounds with topics ranging from surgical anatomy to professionalism and practice management.

The additional program time is allocated to the completion of the MD degree, off-service rotations and general surgery requirements for medical licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Learn more about courses in the OMS Certificate.

Certificate Requirements

OMS certificate residents participate in weekly seminars and lectures, in addition to monthly grand rounds, with topics ranging from surgical anatomy to professionalism and practice management. Although no formative or summative assessments are required, these curricular elements constitute a part of the longitudinal learning process of the residency. The annual Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery In-service Training Examination measures residents’ clinical knowledge and skills.

Residents engage in simulation training exercises throughout their clinical training. Debriefing and formative assessments are integral parts of these exercises. Residents also participate in daily teaching rounds with admitted patients to utilize the principles of directed and case-based learning. While no formal assessments are required, the residents’ engagement and performance in the learning process are noted by the faculty and discussed at debriefing sessions or during the residents’ semi-annual evaluations.

In clinical education and experiential learning, residents and faculty engage in ongoing dialogue to assess residents’ knowledge base, skills, preparedness and professionalism with respect to direct patient care.

Dual Certificate/MD Program

Upon completion of the full six-year OMS certificate program with an MD, you will have

• completed an MD degree; 
• passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination;
• completed the General Surgery training toward eligibility for medical licensure;
• completed requirements of the OMS certificate program; and
• demonstrated competency in all aspects of the OMS certificate, residency program, and MD degree.

Residents in the program receive a stipend. Once trainees have completed the requirements for the MD degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, they then complete 12 months of general surgery residency in addition to 12 months of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) post-doctoral training toward the completion of their medical training. The total time completed for the program includes the following. 

The total time completed for the program includes the following.

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: 32 months
• Medical school: 21 months
• Anesthesia: four months
• Pediatric anesthesia: one month
• General surgery: 14 months
• ACGME-recognized requirement for licensure: 24 months