Advanced Postdoctoral Education Program in Endodontics

Advanced Postdoctoral Education Program in Endodontics
Department of Biomedical & Community Health Sciences, Division of Emergency Services
MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine

Faculty

Theodore Ravenel DMD, associate professor, division chief and residency program director
Chin-Lo Hahn DDS, pre-doctoral endodontics section head
Julian Wade Nichols DMD, assistant clinical professor

How to Apply

Application submission opens on April 15. The application deadline is June 28, for the program that begins on June 6 of the following year. Applications should be mailed or emailed (in PDF format) to:

Miss Vanessa Chapin
173 Ashley Avenue
BSB 542 MSC 507
Charleston SC 29425
chapinv@musc.edu

Download Application Form (PDF)

Endodontics Program Overview

The advanced postdoctoral education program in endodontics was granted “approval without reporting requirements” by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation, effective September 28, 2017.

The objective of this postdoctoral endodontic program is to develop specialists with a sound academic background on which to base clinical treatment, research, and teaching. As many as three postdoctoral students are accepted for matriculation each year.

Clinical components of the program include:

• Diagnostic examination and testing procedures
• Evidence-based dentistry and clinical application
• Interdisciplinary treatment planning
• Odontogenic and nonodontogenic differential diagnosis
• Emergency and pain management
• Trauma management
• Bleaching therapy
• Surgical operating microscope magnification
• Initial and retreatment nonsurgical therapy
• Surgical therapy
• Combined endodontic-periodontic therapy and osseous grafts
• Nitrous oxide and oral sedation antianxiolysis
• Medically compromised patient therapy
• Vital pulp therapy
• Pulp regeneration therapy
• Pediatric therapy
• Post space preparation, and post with core buildup procedures
• Recall assessment
• Digital radiography including CBCT
• Case preparation per American Board of Endodontics format

Didactic components of the program include:

Treatment planning and case review, classic literature, and current literature review each occur weekly in a seminar format. Additionally, endodontic lecture presentations are presented weekly on a variety of special topics.

Emphasis is placed on training clinicians who are competent in all aspects of endodontics so that they will be eligible for certification by the American Board of Endodontics. Candidates will also be required to complete an M.S.D. (Master of Science in Dentistry - College of Dental Medicine) program with an additional curriculum of core courses in biomedical sciences. The curriculum is flexible enough to accommodate candidates desiring private practice as well as those interested in academics and research.

The M.S.D. program is completed simultaneously with the clinical Certificate program, and there is no option for a Certificate only program. The combined M.S.D. and Certificate program is twenty-six (26) months duration and is the only track available. New students are expected to begin their program on June 6 and no provision is made for other than full-time participation in the postdoctoral endodontic program.

A research project culminating in defense of a thesis is mandatory, and the preparation of a manuscript suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal is strongly recommended. Copies of the MUSC clinic and student policies are available to the applicant upon request. The postdoctoral endodontic student will be on emergency call every sixth week. All students are required to provide their own laptop or tablet, with only contemporary models being acceptable.

Admission Criteria for the Postdoctoral Endodontics Program

Applicants must have earned a dental degree from an accredited US or international dental school. Official transcripts are required directly from the dental school and must include the applicant’s class rank. Transcripts should also be requested from all undergraduate and graduate colleges or universities attended and sent directly to MUSC.

At least three (3) letters of recommendation should be requested. All letters should be sent directly to MUSC, with a business card attached to the recommendation and the sealed outside flap of the envelope signed by the sender.

US Applicants
National Dental Board Examination (NDBE) Parts I and II scores are required from graduates of US dental schools applying to the program and must be sent directly to MUSC from the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). For applicants who are in their final year of dental school, the NDBE Part II scores must be sent directly to MUSC as soon as they become available.

International Applicants
One year of US post-dental educational experience (fellowship/preceptorship) is required.

It is the policy of the Medical University of South Carolina not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, or sex in its admissions, employment, and other educational activities and programs.

The application and all supporting data are to be sent to the contact address listed at the beginning of this document. Once received, the application and all associated documents become the property of MUSC and cannot be returned. Although not required, preference will be made for those candidates that have completed an AEGD or GPR program and/or has had additional clinical experience. Applications and supporting data must be complete for consideration.

The MUSC postdoctoral endodontic program does not participate with ADEA PASS or Match programs.

Fees, Tuition, Program Costs & Personal Living Expenses

Summary of Yearly Financial Obligation: (Approximately US $90,000.00)

All MUSC fees, tuition, and program costs are approximately US $65,000 per year. This does not include personal living expenses that are estimated to be US $25,000 per year.

U.S. Applicants

One time Nonrefundable Acceptance Fee (US $1,000.00)

• Following the interview, applicants offered a position in the College of Dental Medicine postdoctoral endodontic program are required to submit a letter of intent and a non-refundable acceptance fee of US $1,000.00. The acceptance fee is deducted from the first year’s program costs.

One time M.S.D. Supplemental Application / Matriculation Fee (US $580.00)

• Prior to enrollment, MUSC requires submission of an online Supplemental Application and fee of US $95.00 for the M.S.D. program.
• Prior to registration, the Office of Enrollment Management requires submission of an Applicant Response Form and matriculation fee (US $485.00).

Program Costs: M.S.D. tuition, annual assessments, and endodontic fees total US $65,000 per year. A surgical operating microscope and all other necessary patient-related equipment, instruments and supplies are included.

Personal Living Expenses (Approximately US $25,000.00)

Personal living expenses are estimated to be US $25,000 per year.

Residents can expect total annual costs to approximate US $90,000.00 per year.

Financial aid is available for enrolled US Applicants to cover all fees, assessments, tuition, program costs, and personal living expenses. Following registration, an MUSC Website link may be accessed to complete an application for federally subsidized funding.

All residents will be required to purchase either a laptop or tablet. Only contemporary models will be acceptable.

International Applicants

In addition to the US Applicant fees, tuition and program costs, there is an International Assessment billed for each academic year. For more information, please contact Dr. Theodore Ravenel.

** All fees, tuition, program costs and personal living expenses are current as of January 2022 and subject to change.