Pediatric Dentistry Externship Program
This opportunity is a non-funded, voluntary program, offering no academic credit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Division of Pediatric Dentistry of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and Department of Dentistry of Nationwide Children’s Hospital offer the opportunity third- or fourth-year dental students and practicing dentists to visit our program and spend up to three days in Columbus, Ohio, observing activities related to pediatric dentistry.
We have brought back in-person externships! See information below to apply. More info and sign up here.
If you are not interested in an in-person externship, but interested in learning about us virtually, you can express interest in those here and we will send you the Zoom links a week prior to each.
Applicant Process and Qualifications
Applicants must first complete the application online. Then, the following should be emailed to Pedsdentresidency@nationwidechildrens.org.
- A current CV
- A brief essay
- Observation agreement form
- Compliance with health regulations and proof of required vaccinations
Once received, reviewed, and approved, we will confirm your externship dates. Please allow several months to complete the process.
Academic Activities
Depending on the dates, the externship offers a variety of experiences. Externs will have the opportunity to observe patient care in the following locations within Nationwide Children's Hospital:
- Pediatric Dentistry Clinic: Students will observe pediatric dental residents provide comprehensive care to infants, children and those with special health care needs
- Sedation: Externs may will shadow residents in the oral sedation clinic
- Trauma: Externs may observe care of patients who have experienced oro-facial trauma
- General Anesthesia: Externs may observe residents or faculty in the operating room during the provision of dental care under general anesthesia
In addition, externs can elect to attend didactic courses when in session and shadow the on-call dental resident in the Emergency Department clinic for cases of dental trauma or facial cellulitis.
Accommodations, Transportation, and Other Logistic Considerations
Externs will need to secure and fund their own lodging and transportation. Meals and other costs incurred during the externship are the responsibility of the extern. Due to our 5-year HRSA grant, we are able to provide a limited number of travel stipends to interested applicants who qualify as a underrepresented minority in dentistry. More details will be provided if you choose this designation on the application form.
Academic Activities
Faculty and Residency Information
The externship program will expose students to a number of full- and part-time faculty representing academic and private practice pediatric dentistry. A list of faculty members and information about our residency program can be found on the following sites:
All externship inquiries should be addressed to:
Pedsdentresidency@nationwidechildrens.org
Phone: 614-722-6024