Oral Medicine, Certificate

The Oral Medicine Residency Program at Penn Dental Medicine began training qualified practitioners in the early 1960’s, many of whom have gone on to become program directors at other institutions both in the United States and abroad, examiners on the Board of the American Academy of Oral Medicine, and internationally respected researchers and leaders in the field of Oral Medicine.

The objective of this program is to train a thoroughly qualified clinician and educator in the field of Oral Medicine. In addition to extensive clinical experience, there is a didactic curriculum that runs throughout the program. Opportunities for students to explore particular areas of interest in the field of Oral Medicine are encouraged.

Additional Program Options

Penn Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) and a Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) that can be earned concurrent with a specialty certificate, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care. Through the MSOB and DScD programs, students are encouraged to pursue their individual research interests with projects that can span the diverse disciplines and research labs within Penn Dental Medicine’s basic and clinical sciences and across the University.

Program Timelines

  • Academic Track
    • MSOB and Certificate: 3 years
    • DScD and Certificate: 5 years
  • Clinical Certificate Track
    • Certificate only: 2 years


This degree requires a minimum of 90 Credit Hours.
Curriculum

All Dental Medicine certificate students share a common core of courses throughout the first year. In addition, students complete additional courses specific to their particular program.

Oral Medicine Certificate Curriculum

Year 1
Fall
Core Graduate Dental Education Courses
OMFS History & Physical Exam
S. Gary Cohen Conference I
V.J. Brightman Conference I
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology I
Oral Medicine Clinics I
Off-Service Clinical Rotations I
Spring
Core Graduate Education Courses
S. Gary Cohen Conference II
V.J. Brightman Conference II
Oral Medicine Clinics II
Off-Service Clinical Rotations II
Year 2
Fall
S. Gary Cohen Conference III
V.J. Brightman Conference III
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology II
Oral Medicine Clinics III
Off-Service Clinical Rotations III
Spring
S. Gary Cohen Conference IV
V.J. Brightman Conference IV
Oral Medicine Clinics IV
Off-Service Clinical Rotations IV

Core Graduate Dental Education Courses

Year 1
Fall
DADE 9330Ethics, Professionalism and Jurisprudence1-3
DADE 9340Evidence-based clinical practice1.75-3
DADE 9350Oral and systemic diseases3.75-5
Spring
DADE 9360Oral infection and immunity4-6
DADE 9370Conservative and regenerative clinical practice2-5
DADE 9380Vulnerable populations across the lifespan1.5-3.5

Master of Science in Oral Biology

The School of Dental Medicine also offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB). Enrollment in the MSOB program is limited to individuals concurrently registered in one of the postgraduate specialty training (certificate) programs. Candidates receive the MSOB degree after completion of both their specialty training and the Master’s curriculum, which consists of didactic, seminar, and research practicum courses. The MSOB program is comprised of two tracks designed for outstanding students who are interested in either integrating research or structured evidence-based learning into their post-graduate education.

Depending on the track selected, research activities or a systematic literature review form the core of the MSOB program. Students are expected to participate in a clinical or basic science research project of sufficient scope and intensity or a formally structured and critically evaluated literature review focused on an important oral health-related research or clinical question. A thesis composed of an in-depth review of the relevant literature along with a manuscript reporting the results of the research or a systematic review is required for graduation for the research and evidence-based learning tracks respectively.

Additional MSOB Course Requirements
DENT 9960
DENT 9970

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.