Oral Pathology

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Training

Our Certificate (Residency) training program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is offered only in combination with the Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. The Residency program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

The certificate will allow the individual to take the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology examination in order to become Board Certified.  Board certification is all that is needed to practice Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology in a surgical pathology practice setting in the US.  Board certification is not required (but is desirable) to practice clinical oral pathology (i.e., to treat patients for complex oral mucosal diseases). 

Because the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology requires scientific inquiry and scholarly activity, students are prepared to meet the academic demands of the profession through research training that includes the design, implementation and publication of a formal research project, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The thesis for the MS degree fulfills that requirement.  

Research for the graduate thesis is funded by the college, in part or full, after the resident submits a formal research proposal and it passes appropriate institutional review.

The goal of this educational program is to produce graduates who have demonstrated that they have:

1. The skills and knowledge for a productive, competent, and compassionate practice of oral and maxillofacial pathology.
2. The foundational knowledge necessary for scientific inquiry, critical thinking and problem solving.
3. An understanding of the scientific method and the technological advances which are available for scientific inquiry.
4. The confidence, independence, and motivation for life-long learning.
5. The skills to clearly communicate their knowledge as needed.

The objectives of this program are to achieve these goals by developing in its students the competence and confidence to:

1. Examine and interpret gross tissue specimens and prepare instructions for tissue embedding and processing.
2. Interpret pathologic cellular change microscopically; and group diseases of similar histologic patterns in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis and ultimately to a final diagnosis.
3. Recognize the limitations of routine light microscopy and recognize the indications for additional studies, such as special stains, ultrastructural studies, immunohistochemical studies, DNA or RNA hybridization studies, etc.
4. Provide a written final pathology report, with final diagnosis and appropriate comments; and be able to communicate effectively about it with the contributing clinician.
5. Take and interpret a patient’s medical and dental history.
6. Interpret pathologic changes clinically and radiographically; group diseases of similar clinical/radiographic pattern in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis and ultimately to a final diagnosis.
7. Recognize when there is the need for additional studies--such as biopsy, imaging studies or laboratory tests--and be able to perform or order appropriate tests and interpret their results.
8. Treat patients with oral mucosal disease.
9. Read, interpret, and critically evaluate the oral and maxillofacial pathology literature.

10. Understand and apply the scientific method.
11. Demonstrate basic teaching skills.

This training program takes a minimum of 36 months to complete, requiring 72 credit-hour courses, as follows:

1. Didactic Courses - to provide the foundational knowledge needed for the student to achieve the goals and objectives of the program, including successful completion of the research project and the Master’s thesis defense.
   
   
2. Required Rotations - Each student will spend a minimum of six months in the Pathology Department, Baylor University Medical Center. Three to five months are spent in anatomic pathology, including autopsy service, and at least one month in clinical pathology. This rotation will provide the student with a hands-on knowledge of the workings of a modern, sophisticated hospital-based pathology service in a major metropolitan city. The student will gain valuable experience in surgical anatomic pathology, dermatopathology, cytology and special techniques for diagnosis. Autopsy service will be mandatory. Elective rotations will be available in other hospital departments. 
   
   
3. Assigned work in the Stomatology Center - two mornings a week for 30 months.
   
   Students will be assigned their own patients, under faculty supervision. They will gain experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of oral mucosal disorders, including pharmaco-therapeutics.
   
   The Stomatology Center at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry is a state-of-the-art center for the diagnosis and management of orofacial disorders. It is the largest Oral Medicine specialty clinic in the southwest US. 

The College maintains a strict and up-to-date policy on infection control to protect students, staff, faculty and patients.  The written policy is available on request.

The standard educational plan for the three years is illustrated in the tables below:

Application deadline information:

The deadline for application to our program is October 1st each year.  You should know that our program is certified for only one resident per training year, and we typically have multiple applications for each cycle.  The program starts during the last week of June each year.

Summer Session / Year 1

Fall Semester / Year 1

Spring Semester / Year 1

Summer Session / Year 2

Fall Semester / Year 2

Spring Semester / Year 2

Summer Semester / Year 3

Fall Semester / Year 3

Spring Semester / Year 3

Application requirements:

The application of our program is now accepted on American Dental Education Associate (ADEA) PASS system. Please check their website at https://www.adea.org/PASSapp/applicants/ and submit your application through the PASS system. We do accept foreign trained dentists into our training program.

The following lists detail the minimum items required from outside sources, as part of a person’s application. The applicant must obtain these and include them with their application. 

For graduates of CODA approved Dental Schools from U.S. and Canada:

1. Official dental school transcripts - Report of class rank and number of students in the class is desirable.
2. National Board Exam scores.
3. Three letters of recommendation - A letter from the Dean of the Dental School from which the applicant graduated is strongly encouraged.
4. GRE scores (preferred but not required).

 For graduates of non-CODA approved Dental Schools from other countries:

1. Official dental school transcripts
   1. Indication of class rank and number of students in the class is desirable
   2. ECE verification/evaluation of dental school curriculum is required
2. TOEFL scores (The TOEFL institution code for TAMU is 6003) 
3. Three letters of recommendation
   
   1. A letter from the Dean of the Dental School from which the applicant graduated is strongly encouraged
4. GRE scores (preferred but not required)
5. National Board Exam scores are NOT required, but should be provided if the candidate has completed the examinations 

Please note:  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documents are submitted for inclusion in the application packet.  Incomplete application packets will not be considered.  

Tuition and fees:

For students beginning a residency 2019 -2020, that is combined with the Master in Oral Biology program, the total tuition for the entire three-year training program is estimated at $25,000 ($8,300/year).  All students in the residency program will be offered a part-time (50%) Research Assistant position in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences, and will be charged at the lower in-state tuition rate. Other required fees will add approximately $3000 to the three-year total. Please note that these estimated expenses do change somewhat each year as the College of Dentistry adjusts tuition and fees based on Texas A&M University guidance and State of Texas requirements.

Stipend and benefits:

A stipend is provided to residents each year they are enrolled in the program. Currently it is $19,000/year. In addition, a benefits package is available to students at a reduced rate; it includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance.

Contact information:

Victoria Woo, DDS
Director of Pathology and Advanced Education Program
Department of Diagnostic Sciences,
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
3302 Gaston Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75246
214-828-8911 phone
214-828-8306 fax
vwoo@tamu.edu