Program Overview

Academics

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency program at UT Health San Antonio is a comprehensive and immersive didactic program designed to expose residents to diverse facets of oral and maxillofacial surgical practice. This program encompasses seminars on various topics, including:

• Oral pathology
• Dentofacial deformities
• Craniofacial and TMJ surgery
• Implant dentistry and prosthetics
• Anesthesiology
• Other pivotal surgical dimensions within the specialty

To foster scholarly engagement, a monthly journal club is held to facilitate academic discussions and exchange of ideas. Additionally, the program promotes collaboration by hosting joint meetings with the Air Force and Army OMS training programs approximately six times annually.

Curriculum Structure

The program commences in the first year at the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, with an innovative curriculum tailored to integrate both first and second-year medical school coursework that specifically caters to the needs of OMS residents. This unique curriculum structure allows enrollment in medical school during the sophomore year, spanning around 10 months. Throughout this period, residents actively participate in oral and maxillofacial surgery rotations, lectures, and conferences, enriching their practical knowledge.

Clinical Clerkships

The second year of residency, spanning 48 weeks, entails immersive clinical clerkships. Residents are assigned to medical and surgical rotations to acquire essential skills in diverse medical disciplines. Simultaneously, residents are encouraged to attend conferences and rounds hosted by the oral and maxillofacial surgery service to foster continuous learning.

Senior Year of Medical School

In the third year of training, residents advance to their senior year of medical school while serving as junior residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This pivotal year offers valuable exposure to outpatient dentoalveolar surgery, encompassing physical examinations and case presentations for orthognathic surgery patients. Moreover, residents contribute to the University Hospital as interns, assuming responsibilities in trauma and dentoalveolar care, as well as operating room duties.

General Surgery and Anesthesia Internship

The fourth year of residency centers on a general surgery and anesthesia internship. Residents engage in rotations across diverse general surgery services, fostering proficiency in fundamental surgical techniques, pre- and postoperative care, and management. This period involves exposure to:

• General surgery
• Thoracic surgery
• Intensive care
• Trauma services
• Vascular surgery
• ENT & head and neck surgery and includes obtaining Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification. Subsequently, six months are dedicated to the anesthesiology service, encompassing both adult and pediatric anesthesia exposure.

Senior Assistant and Chief Resident

In the fifth year, residents ascend to the role of senior assistant in oral and maxillofacial surgery, enjoying increased autonomy commensurate with their accrued knowledge and skills. This phase encompasses handling progressively intricate dentoalveolar and implant cases, as well as independently conducting IV sedation cases. The sixth and final year, as chief resident, entails full-spectrum involvement in oral and maxillofacial surgery practice. Residents assume responsibility for directing the oral and maxillofacial surgery hospital service, bridging the University Hospital and the School of Dentistry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Practice.

Clinical Experience and Collaboration

Throughout the OMS service, residents immerse themselves in both the School of Dentistry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery outpatient practice and University Hospital. The surgery suite boasts comprehensive outpatient operating facilities with general anesthesia capabilities, fostering a wide range of complex cases beyond the scope of undergraduate dental students. This environment serves as a prime platform for honing clinical teaching skills while collaborating with dental students and other dental specialties. Collaboration is key, as the department interfaces closely with the prosthodontics and orthodontics departments. Residents collaborate with their counterparts in prosthodontics and orthodontics, engaging in screening, preoperative evaluations of orthognathic and dental implant patients, and postoperative care.