Goals & Objectives
The overall goals and objectives of our program describe the general outcomes of the educational process. They include knowledge, skills in judgment expected from a professional. These objectives encompass ethical behavior, compassionate care and development of excellent communication skills. The one-year G.P.R. enables our residents to mature and recognize his/her strengths and weaknesses.
Areas of emphasis
I. General dentistry
The purpose of our residency is to ultimately provide a well-balanced post-graduate training program in the general practice of dentistry through our didactic program and clinical services (all of which are presented and supervised appropriate attendings). This basic format provides the foundation for the goals and objectives we have established for each of the subspecialties in our general practice program. Each resident is expected to become conversant in oral diagnosis and treatment planning along with an excellent working knowledge of dental subspecialties associated with general practice (i.e. periodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, oral medicine, implantology and orthodontics).
II. Resident education
The goals of our resident education program are to encompass the broadest spectrum of dental knowledge and clinical care so that each resident is able to evaluate, communicate and provide dental treatment to all of his/her patients in the future. This education program is designed to provide more than basic and expanded function. It is prepared and presented in a way to inspire continuing education and professional inter-relationships that the post-graduate resident will continue after his/her program has been completed. The resident is expected to interact comfortably with physicians as well as dental colleagues.
III. Patient care
The goals for the patient care aspect of our training program relates to a number of topics, which combined, will ensure the highest level of care provided to our patients. Our priorities related to patient care education are:
- Continued quality improvement
- Development of communication skills
- Development of sensitivity and compassionate care
- Case presentations and understanding primary and alternative treatment plans
- Follow through and post op, where appropriate
Each of the above stated patient care concerns are closely monitored in the individual specialty sections as well as general restorative clinics throughout the residency year. The resident is provided with several hours of administrative practice management training by selected attending staff members and administration. The residents also have the opportunity to visit private offices of attending staff members.
IV. Community service
The goals and objectives of our community service program for the residents are to encourage the resident to understand the needs of the community and to counsel them regarding health promotion and disease prevention activities. The resident has a wonderful opportunity to promote oral health needs of both the child and adult population. The residents are expected to participate in local health fairs, community center education and school programs. The participation and feedback from these programs are motivating factors to the benefits and satisfaction that will be derived from these experiences. We encourage our residents to become productive members of the communities where they practice.
V. Training residents in hospital dentistry
It is one of our primary goals for each resident to provide comprehensive and emergency services for people with multiple or complicated medical conditions and to be able to access, first hand, all necessary information to treat these patients. Our goal is to familiarize the resident with terminology used in describing, discussing and researching so they are proficient in assessing the patients’ health and to quickly and appropriately respond to patients needs in emergency situations. The resident must develop a sensitivity about the dental care of the indigent, HIV patient or patient who is developmentally disabled.
The resident must become familiar with the mission of the Medical Center and each of the goals, objectives and standards of both the Hospital and the Division of Dental and Oral Medicine.