Dental Clinical Specialty Foundations Certificate
Overview
The goal of the Graduate-Level Certificate in Dental Clinical Specialties Foundations (CDCSF) Program is to enhance the capacity of US or international dental school graduates to compete successfully for advanced dental education training positions at the School of Dentistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, now called UT Health San Antonio (UTHSA), as well as at other universities. The CDCSF Program will provide coursework to build participants' capacity in eight marketable skills that are essential for admission and successful performance in an Advanced Dental Education program and career evolution in contemporary dental practice: (1) research methods, (2) scientific writing, (3) critical appraisal of scientific evidence, (4) application of evidence-based practice in educational and dental practice settings, (5) capacity to apply basic science foundations for oral health care in patient assessment management, and (6) capacity to apply knowledge of precipitating and exacerbating factors interlinking oral health disorders and general health maladies in patient assessment and management. Students also will acquire (7) teaching skills and (8) patient management skills via faculty mentoring and instructional/clinical assisting activities in the UTHSA School of Dentistry's Center for Oral Health Care and Research/ UT Dentistry.
Admissions Requirements
The CDCSF program will accept applications year round. Students are admitted to the certificate programs through registration as postdoctoral certificate students in the School of Dentistry.
1. Graduation from a Dental School with a D.D.S., D.M.D., or non-U.S. equivalent prior to matriculation.
2. CDCSF application and payment of application fee, $500. Application materials include:
- Completed CDCSF application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Original transcripts from all the schools attended. In addition, international applicants must have transcripts evaluated by evaluation firms such as Educational Credential Evaluators or World Education Services including GPA calculations. All transcripts and evaluation reports must be received prior to application deadline.
- A copy of the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) results if an international student and English is a second language. TOEFL (iBT format). A minimum score of 92 or above on the iBT is required of all applicants.
- A current copy of applicant’s CV
3. Once admitted into the CDCSF Program, the following information must be provided to the director before matriculation: 1) proof of current immunizations; 2) demonstration of health insurance coverage or purchase of student health insurance; and 3) completion of a criminal background check through the University. A candidate cannot matriculate until all official transcripts are verified.
The CDCSF Program is committed to an equal opportunity selection process for positions in the program. The candidate application and selection process will be race/ethnicity neutral. Additionally, gender, sexual orientation, age, and national origin are not considered in the application, recruitment, or selection process. Consistent with the policies of the UTHSA School of Dentistry for predoctoral and postdoctoral education programs, the CDCSF Program will employ a holistic, individualized, and full-file candidate review process that includes a wide variety of information about each applicant's readiness for the program. This process ensures that each applicant is evaluated as an individual candidate and not in a way that makes the applicant's race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or other characteristics a defining element of the application.
Degree Requirements
Certificates will be awarded upon the student's successful completion of the prescribed CDCSF curriculum with a 3.0 minimum grade point average, recommendation of the program director to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and certification by the Dean to the President.
Sample Plan of Study
Fall Semester
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| DCSF 5103 | Teaching and Clinical Assisting Methods l | 3 |
| DCSF 5102 | Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry l | 3 |
| DCSF 5101 | Contemporary Research Methods I | 3 |
| DCSF 5100 | Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 | |
Spring Semester
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
| DCSF 5107 | Teaching and Clinical Assisting Methods II | 3 |
| DCSF 5106 | Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry II | 3 |
| DCSF 5105 | Contemporary Research Methods II | 3 |
| DCSF 5104 | Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 | |
The goal of the CDCSF Program is to enhance the capacity of U.S. or international dental schools’ graduates to compete successfully for advanced dental education training positions at the UTHSA-SOD or other universities.
Program Outcomes: At the completion of the program the student will:
(1) Demonstrate comprehension of basic science foundations for oral health care in patent assessment and management decisions.
(2) Demonstrate comprehension of precipitating and exacerbating factors inter-linking oral health disorders and general health maladies including infectious, immune, inflammatory, metabolic and aging linkages, and human behavior including diet, tobacco and opioid use.
(3) Formulate research questions and hypotheses to guide the design of a research study that explores an unanswered research question pertinent to clinical dentistry.
(4) Develop a protocol for implementing an evidence-based research study including a detailed literature review and apply evidence-based practice principles to a patient care scenario.
(5) Apply a critical appraisal process to find, assess and disseminate evidence pertinent to clinical research questions.
(6) Conduct a critical appraisal of evidence for an assigned research question and present the appraisal via a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) presentation.
(7) Apply effective teaching methods in classrooms and the clinic.
(8) Apply effective clinical assisting methods during patient care.
Courses
DCSF 5100. Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature I. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will familiarize students with current literature in each of the dental specialties and provide experience with the critical appraisal process. The aim of the Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature course is to develop students ability to interpret research findings and enhance their ability to assess the value and clinical application of evidence reported in the dental literature. During Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature I, students learn how to assess the quality of evidence in dental research articles in literature review seminars where students read selected papers and then critique the study design, research methods, results, and appropriateness of conclusions. Each student conducts a critical appraisal for an assigned research question with mentor guidance and presents the appraisal to classmates and faculty, who provide feedback.
DCSF 5101. Contemporary Research Methods I. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to the research process and strategies for employing Evidence-Based Practice in educational and practice settings. Contemporary Research Methods I focuses on the principles and process of research design, which will prepare students to plan a research study that explores a research question of current relevance to clinical dentistry. Each student is assigned a faculty mentor and attends presentations on study design, project management, data collection and analysis, scientific writing and current research priorities in each of the dental specialties. By the conclusion of the course, students formulate research questions and hypothesis to guide development of the study protocol. Students also participate in seminars on evidence-based practice (EBP), followed by a simulation exercise where students apply EBP principles to a patient scenario.
DCSF 5102. Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry l. 3 Credit Hours.
A solid understanding of anatomical, physiological, biochemical, microbial, and genetic processes are necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment of oral and craniofacial pathology. Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry I focuses on the biological foundations of normal and abnormal oral and craniofacial development including gross and microanatomy, structural growth and development, physiology of the head and neck tissues, and the biochemical, microbial, and genetic processes that contribute to oral disease. This course will provide students with a multidisciplinary approach to basic science foundations pertinent to the practice of dentistry, with a focus on recent advances in the understanding of disease processes, new treatment approaches, and interrelationships between oral and systemic health and pathology.
DCSF 5103. Teaching and Clinical Assisting Methods l. 3 Credit Hours.
The purpose of this course is to develop the students teaching and clinical patient management skills. TCAM I will focus on teaching. After training in basic teaching strategies including practice teaching exercises, development of course plans, and observation of exemplary instructors, each student creates and conducts a set of lectures and seminars for pre-doctoral dental students. Students receive feedback on their teaching methods from participating dental students and receive a rubric-guided evaluation by faculty observers. The clinical component of TCAM is intended to develop the student's skills in clinical patient management under the mentorship of clinical faculty. Students will assist faculty mentors and graduate residents in the UTHSA-SOD Faculty Practice and Graduate Clinics to learn patient assessment and management skills and assist during patient care. Students will also participate in other clinical practices such as diagnosis, treatment planning, and select procedures.
DCSF 5104. Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature II. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will familiarize students with current literature in each of the dental specialties and provide experience with the critical appraisal process. The aim of the Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature course is to develop students ability to interpret research findings and enhance their ability to assess the value and clinical application of evidence reported in the dental literature. During Critical Appraisal of Dental Literature II, students continue in the literature review seminars and participate in seminars on strategies for translating research evidence into clinical practice. Each student conducts a critical appraisal for an assigned research question with mentor guidance and presents the appraisal to classmates and faculty, who provide feedback.
DCSF 5105. Contemporary Research Methods II. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to the research process and strategies for employing Evidence-Based Practice in educational and practice settings. Each student is assigned a faculty mentor and attends presentations on study design, project management, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and current research priorities in each of the dental specialties. By the conclusion of the course, students formulate research questions and hypotheses to guide the development of the study protocol. During Contemporary Research Methods II students develop a plan for their research project, guided by faculty mentors, and present their projects to classmates and faculty. Students also participate in seminars on evidence-based practice (EBP), followed by a simulation exercise where students apply EBP principles to a patient scenario.
DCSF 5106. Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry II. 3 Credit Hours.
A solid understanding of anatomical, physiological, biochemical, microbial, and genetic processes are necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment of oral and craniofacial pathology. Foundations and Advancements in Clinical Dentistry II focus on the biological processes associated with normal and abnormal wound healing, formation of plaque and calculus, development of oral infections, causes of altered sensory perception, and the oral-facial pain pathway, with a strong emphasis on precipitating and exacerbating factors that inter-link oral health disorders with general health maladies. This course will provide students with a multidisciplinary approach to basic science foundations pertinent to the practice of dentistry, with a focus on recent advances in the understanding of disease processes, new treatment approaches, and interrelationships between oral and systemic health and pathology.
DCSF 5107. Teaching and Clinical Assisting Methods II. 3 Credit Hours.
The purpose of Teaching and Clinical Assisting II is to develop the students teaching and clinical patient management skills. This course will focus on patient management and successful functioning within the clinical environment. After training in basic teaching strategies including practice teaching exercises, development of course plans, and observation of exemplary instructors, each student creates and conducts a set of lectures and seminars for pre-doctoral dental students. Students receive feedback on their teaching methods from participating dental students and receive a rubric-guided evaluation by faculty observers. The clinical component of this course is intended to develop the students skills in clinical patient management under the mentorship of clinical faculty. Students will assist faculty mentors and graduate residents in the UTHSA-SOD Faculty Practice and Graduate Clinics to learn patient assessment and management skills and assist during patient care. Students will also participate in other clinical practices such as diagnosis, treatment planning, and select procedures.