Endodontics Postdoctoral Programs

Endodontics

Application Deadline

July 1

The Mission/Role of the Advanced Dental Education (ADE) Program in Endodontics is to optimize the well-being and oral health of people through excellence in our program of education, research and service. This mission is consistent with the mission of the School of Dentistry and impacts the people of our state and region. National and international communities are affected by program graduates who teach, perform research, and practice endodontics.

Program Goals Include:

To assure that residents who are completing the Advanced Dental Education Program in Endodontics are clinically competent.
To graduate individuals whose knowledge is evidence based.
To produce graduates who can critically evaluate and apply evidence based knowledge and who are capable of generating and disseminating new knowledge in basic and clinical sciences pertaining to endodontics.
To graduate compassionate individuals with a strong sense of professionalism and social sensitivity.

Available Residency Programs

Our Advanced Dental Education Program in Endodontics offers the residents a broad-based clinical and didactic experience that prepares them for the study and practice of endodontics in an academic or practice setting. There are two different tracks:

Endodontics Certificate Track - 24 months: This program provides didactic and clinical training designed to prepare the resident for the professional practice of clinical endodontics and to meet the eligibility requirements of the American Board of Endodontics certification examination.
Endodontics Certificate + Master of Science degree - 27 months, up to 2 candidates will be accepted: The Master’s degree program includes all of the requirements of the certificate and meets other requirements to receive a Master's degree from the Graduate School.

We strive to create a collaborative working environment and look for residents who are seeking the highest levels of excellence in clinical and didactic learning environments.

Residency - Clinical Experience

Our endodontic clinic serves the needs of a large and diverse population. As residents progress through their clinical training they have the opportunity to treat and interact with a vast number of patients who present with a wide range of endodontic problems. These problems often require complex diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals and various consultations.

Residents will provide treatment in a clinic that is equipped with the latest technology which includes microscopes, digital radiography units and a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) which allows the clinician to view three dimensional images of potentially challenging diagnostic and treatment conditions. The clinic also provides the residents with a private seminar room. Each resident’s treatment room has a fully equipped operatory and workstation which allows them to explore a variety of endodontic and surgical techniques.

Didactic Education

A major portion of the didactic education occurs during the first year of the program. The courses consist of interdepartmental and intradepartmental didactics. The Endodontics Seminar courses focus on extensive reading and analysis of current and historical literature in endodontics as well as clinical case presentations.

Research Experience

Research is an important part of professionalism. A resident should be able to communicate verbally and in writing regarding discoveries made in daily clinical practice. Residents become familiar with elements of case reports and research findings as communicated through the dental literature. Research funding is available from a department endowed support fund provided by former residents and friends. Other funding is available from the American Association of Endodontists Foundation. More extensive research is needed for the Master’s program.

Resident research projects begin with identifying an important health problem, related to Endodontics, and conducting a comprehensive literature review. This ensures that the project has not been done and acquaints the resident with all germane data. The department has a form for such proposals. Completion of this form basically gives the resident the material needed to write the Introduction and Material & Methods sections of his or her paper. The UAB Lister Hill Medical Library is a valuable resource in this respect.

Before beginning a project appropriate approvals from the human studies oversight committee or animal study committee must be obtained. Approval is required even for extracted tooth projects.

The resident research project must be compiled in a format suitable for publication to an appropriate journal. Such format should become second nature from the large volume of classic and contemporary literature that forms the base for learning at the graduate level.

Courses

PG 585. Historical Endodontic Seminar and Current Endodontic Seminar - Advanced Endodontic Seminar I

July - December
SDB 401A
Y1 and Y2

Review of Historical and current Endodontic topics and their clinical implications

Course Director: Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad
PG 546. Biochemistry of Connective Tissue & Bone

August - December
SDB 601
Y1

To introduce basic aspects of biochemistry and function of connective tissue proteins

Course Director: Dr. Javed
PG 710. Advanced Oral Pathology

July - August
SDB 301A
Y1 and Y2 (offered in odd years)

Current review of Oral Pathology

Course Director: Dr. Tilashalski
PG 527. Surgical Implants in Dentistry

August - November
SDB 601
Y1 and Y2 (offered in odd years)

An overview of the basic, applied and clinical science aspects of surgical implants in dentistry

Course Director: Dr. Givans
PG 588. Practice Management/Case Review Seminar

Year Round
SDB 401A
Y1 and Y2

Weekly review of residents cases with constructive criticism

Course Director: Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad
PG 501. Head & Neck Anatomy

August – November
SDB 301A
Y1

To enhance the student’s knowledge of the anatomical structures of head and neck and their clinical implications

Course Director: Dr. Vlachos
PG 589. Conscious Sedation

July - August
SDB 301A
Y1

An overview of conscious sedation history, law, pharmacology, anesthesia, conscious sedation techniques and emergency medicine

Course Director: Dr. Louis
PG 511. Physical Diagnosis

July - September
SDB 301A
Y1

Introduction to history taking, physical diagnosis and systems review

Course Director: Dr. Somsak
PG 586. Advanced Endodontic Seminar II

January - June
SDB 401A
Y1 and Y2

Review of Historical and current Endodontic topics and their clinical implications

Course Director: Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad
PG 525. Design & Analysis in Clinical Dental Research

January - April
SDB 809
Y1

Interpret the medical or dental literature from a quantitative perspective

Course Director: Dr. Litaker
PG 569. Oral Microbiology and Immunology

April - June
SDB 301A
Y1

To introduce current concepts of oral disease

Course Director: Dr. Fujihashi & Dr. Wu
PG 753. Multidisciplinary Seminars

January – May
SDB 501
Y1

Interaction with and learning from other disciplines

Course Director: Dr. Vlachos
PG 609. Multidisciplinary Seminars II

January – May
SDB 501
Y2

Interaction with and learning from other disciplines

Course Director: Dr. Vlachos
PG 610. Endodontics Research Seminar

The resident will be able to write and publish a paper supported by Endodontic Resident's Research. Support is provided by the faculty at the UAB School of Dentistry and the medical center.

Course Director: Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad
PG 502. Pharmacology & Therapeutics for Dentistry

January - April
SDB 501
Y1 and Y2

To provide a foundation for approaching the dental care of a pharmacologically complex patient. To provide the tools to reduce risk and therefore control the liability related to the use of medications in the dental practice. To provide guidelines for the continual evaluation of medication used in dentistry.

Course Director: Dr. John Galdo & Dr. Amjad Javed
PG 798. Clinical Endodontics

Prepares the resident in the clinical skills required for the practice of Endodontics, including non-surgical root canal treatment, retreatment of failing previously treated cases, surgical endodontics, vital pulp therapy, and regenerative endodontics.

Course Director: Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad

Course offerings subject to change

Application Process
Application process for:

Endodontics Certificate Track:
- Review the application requirements which are listed on the ADEA PASS APPLICATION WEBSITE.
- Complete the application for the UAB Department of Endodontics on the ADEA Pass registration portal by July 1, during the year preceding matriculation.
- Pay the $25 Postdoctoral Processing Fee for Endodontics online.
Endodontics Certificate + Master of Science degree :
- For the M.S. degree, you must be accepted into the UAB Graduate School, as well as meet the application requirements which are listed on the ADEA PASS APPLICATION WEBSITE.
- Apply to the UAB Graduate School and complete all the requirements needed for the UAB Graduate School. (Please contact the UAB Graduate School with any questions regarding their application process.) Application to the UAB Graduate School can be made after acceptance into the Endodontics Residency Program.
- Complete the application for the UAB Department of Endodontics on the ADEA Pass registration portal by July 1 of the year preceding matriculation.
- Pay the $25 Postdoctoral Processing Fee for Endodontics online.
- NOTE: All complete applications that are received by July 1 will be reviewed. In order for an application to be complete, the preceding items must be received prior to July 1 of the year preceding matriculation. Interviews usually begin in the second week of July and continue until all spots are filled for the next matriculation date. Selections will be made after the deadline date. Acceptance into the M.S. degree program requires being admitted into the Graduate School.
After offers are made to the applicants to enter the residency program, the selected applicants will need to pay a $2,000 Acceptance Deposit Fee for the Postdoctoral Program in Endodontics.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Ashraf F. Fouad at (205) 934-5373, or our administrative associate Ms. Wynde Winter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 934-5373.
Requirements

A complete list of application requirements can be found on the ADEA PASS PROGRAM FINDER. If you have questions regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Ashraf Fouad at (205) 934-5373, or our administrative associate Ms. Wynde Winter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 934-5373.
Tuition & Fees

Estimated Annual Cost of the Endodontics Residency Certificate Track: $15,000 (subject to change)

For the M.S. + Certificate track there will be additional cost due to the extended length of the program and cost associated with the UAB Graduate School.
Financing Success

A small stipend is available for some 2nd year residents (subject to change). For other questions about financing your education you may contact the UAB Office of Student Financial Aid/One Stop Student Services at (205) 934-4300.

100% of our recent graduates successfully completed the certificate program and immediately began working as endodontist in private practices of clinical endodontics.

Department of Endodontics Faculty

Residents

Year 2

William Clokey

DMD
University of Florida Dental Clinic (Advanced Education in General Dentistry)
University of Alabama at Birmingham (DMD)
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (BS in Chemical Engineering)

Scott Kane

MS, DMD
University of Alabama at Birmingham (DMD)
Barry University, Miami Shores, FL (MS in Biomedical Sciences)
University of Alabama at Birmingham (EMT-Basic)
University of Alabama at Birmingham (BS in Biology, Chemistry Minor)

Jinah Kim

MS, PhD, DMD
University of New England College of Dental Medicine, Portland, ME (DMD)
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL (PhD)
Sogang University, Seoul, Korea (BS, Major - Life Science, Minor - Psychology)

Caden Pate

DMD
University of Alabama at Birmingham (DMD)
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL (BS in Biology)

Stephanie Sawyer

DDS
University of Alabama at Birmingham (Advanced Education in General Dentistry)
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (DDS)
New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY (BS in Biology)
Year 1

Tanner Brock

DDS
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)
University of Kansas (BS, Neurobiology)

R. Martin Bryant III

DMD
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (DMD)
Troy University, Troy, AL (BS, Biomedical Sciences)

Oliver Chan

DDS
Columbia University, New York, NY (DDS)
Columbia University, New York, NY (BS, Applied Mathematics)

Samantha Smalley

MS, DMD
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (DMD)
University of Notre Dame (BA, MS)