Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MD / Certificate

Offering advanced training in oral and maxillofacial surgery in addition to a medical education, this six-year program with the University at Buffalo can provide the foundation needed to advance your career.

The University at Buffalo Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery provides the full scope of resident training. There is an emphasis on the core principles, as well as experience and training in the broader and more advanced aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery. This includes a rich experience in:

• dentoalveolar surgery and intravenous sedation
• craniomaxillofacial trauma surgery
• temporomandibular joint surgery including alloplastic total joint reconstruction
• orthognathic surgery
• oral and maxillofacial pathology
• reconstruction of hard and soft tissue defects of the maxillofacial region
• cleft and craniofacial surgery
• facial aesthetic surgery
• microneurosurgery

The model of resident education at the University at Buffalo has always been one of independence and hands-on surgical training, with a strong emphasis on academics and evidence-based learning. The didactic aspect of the resident experience includes:

• weekly case conference
• weekly head and neck tumor board
• weekly lectures/seminars
• monthly journal club
• quarterly multidisciplinary conferences with the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology as well as the Department of Orthodontics
• weekly dental implant conference at the VAMC
• resident-run topic discussions and OMSITE review

Education

1. To impart an awareness of the history of oral and maxillofacial surgery through review of the professional literature.
2. To provide a sound base of knowledge about medical and surgical methods and procedures through completion of the Doctor of Medicine degree and the use of lectures, seminars, case conferences, and literature review sessions.
3. To aid development of surgical skills by supervised training in clinical oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, as well as through completion of a general surgery internship.
4. To incorporate recognition of current medicolegal and ethical practices into the curriculum by instruction in informed consent, coding, and billing practices.
5. To encourage interdisciplinary interactions among the medical and dental professions through resident participation in multidisciplinary educational conferences.
6. To instill a desire to continue educational experiences after completion of residency by faculty example and by participation in and provision of continuing education courses.

Patient Care

1. To give each resident an equal opportunity to develop surgical skills by providing graduated, supervised exposure to both outpatient and inpatient surgery.
2. To impart a sense of appropriate care interventions by applying knowledge gained in didactic instruction to specific patient care scenarios.
3. To assist residents in gaining appreciation of patient care appropriate to cultural, gender, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds.

Research

1. To encourage residents to contribute to the surgical knowledge base by active participation in at least one research protocol.
2. To impart knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of published research by providing instruction in assessment of the scientific literature.

Service

1. To assist in development of an appreciation for patient service by faculty example in care provision to underserved populations without regard to financial considerations.
2. To encourage professional service activities by allowing participation in professional service by residents, and by informing them of the many professional service activities provided by their own faculty.

The State University of New York at Buffalo Residency Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) can be contacted at 312-440-4653, or by mail at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. For more information, please visit the CODA website.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program is six years in length.