Service Fellowship in Community-Based Dental Care

Overview

The Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in conjunction with the Division of Pediatric Dentistry of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and the Department of Dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers fellowships to provide dentists with experience working and teaching in community-based settings in urban and rural areas. Fellows provide care to patients of all ages and supervise dental students in some settings. Fellows are appointed as adjunct faculty of the College of Dentistry.

The fellowship experience comprises rotations through a children’s hospital dental clinic, a mobile school-based treatment van, and two traditional federally qualified health centers. Fellows are eligible to participate in other experiences, including classes and seminars, as time permits and may be involved in a quality assurance or research project during the fellowship. Monthly seminars are designed to address areas of mutual interest related to the fellowship experience and are taught by faculty and residents of the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and guest speakers. Fellows also attend and participate in weekly seminars with Pediatric Dentistry faculty and residents.

Objectives

The objectives of the fellowship are to:

1. Experience a variety of community-based dental experiences offering services to diverse populations,
2. Develop skills in working with a diverse patient pool and public health/safety net providers,
3. Develop leadership in managing students and clinical auxiliary staff in the dental setting,
4. Enhance pediatric dentistry and special needs population knowledge through seminar participation, clinical exposure and other experiences.

The fellowship is a non-accredited, non-academic credit program which is primarily a service-learning experience. Fellows are exposed to pediatric, special needs, hospital care, and public health experiences and may use the fellowship to enhance skills and knowledge in those areas. Fellows often pursue advanced training in pediatric dentistry or public health after the program and use the experience to improve candidacy. The fellowship should not be construed to be a training program in pediatric dentistry. There are opportunities to supplement income with additional clinical practice after 6 months in the program.

Schedules

The fellowship begins June 15 with exceptions possible for unique circumstances, but no later than July 1. The fellowship lasts one year from date of start.  Every attempt is made to expose fellows to the full variety of experiences available, but not all fellow experiences will be identical due to clinic schedules, vacations, absences for interviews and illness.

Qualifications and Application

Applicants must possess the credentials to obtain a license to practice dentistry in Ohio. Fellows practice independent of faculty supervision, and are considered adjunct faculty for they oversee dental students in their community-based rotations. They must be able to meet credentialing criteria related to infection control training, OSHA training, TB status and other requirements of the College of Dentistry and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Applicants should send a current curriculum vitae or resume as well as three letters of recommendation. The letters should attest to the applicant’s: clinical skills, ability to practice independently, emotional stability, professional decision-making, and ability to work within complex healthcare organizations treating patients with complicated dental and social profiles.

Applications will be received between February 1 and March 15 for the fellowship period beginning June 15 of that year. A remote video interview is required for any successful candidate and decisions are finalized by April 15.

Note: All offers are dependent upon confirmed funding.

Send relevant materials to:

Daniel Claman, DDS, MS  

claman.5@osu.edu

The mailing address is: