The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
Attn: Pediatric Dentistry Residency
1201 N. Stonewall Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Phone: 405-271-5444
Fax: 405-271-7775
Email: Dentistry-PediatricResidency@ou.edu
Website: http://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/pediatric-dentistry-residency
Program Length and Number of Positions
This is a 24-month certificate program beginning July 1st. Three (3) positions are available each year.
Program Type
University and hospital-based certificate program
Application
Applications are to be submitted to ADEA PASS. The application deadline is October 15 of the year prior to the intended start date.
Personal interviews are extended to competitive candidates and are required for consideration for admission.
Application questions should be sent to:
The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
Attn: John Slish, Director of Admissions & Recruitment
1201 N. Stonewall Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Phone: 405/271-5444
Email (preferred): John-Slish@ouhsc.edu
Description
As Oklahoma’s only professional dental education program, The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry is leading the state in expanding access to affordable oral health care. To address the growing need for oral health care among children, the College has teamed with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health – founded in 1928 and recently named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Top 50 Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation for Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery – to offer the state’s first pediatric dentistry residency program.
The goals of the program are to:
- Develop competent diagnosticians and clinicians by providing didactic and clinical patient education experiences in all areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions in infants, children and adolescents including those with special health care needs; and,
- Encourage a lifetime of scholarly pursuits, advocacy, and active professional involvement to help advance the field of pediatric dentistry.
Extensive dental and medical clinical rotations are supported by didactic lectures and seminars, clinically-oriented basic sciences, and training in advanced clinical procedures and hospital dentistry developed by board-certified specialists from dentistry, medicine, and allied health professions.
The research experience gained will prepare residents to critically evaluate the literature, understand and appreciate a variety of research methodologies, and incorporate evidence-based dentistry into professional practice.
Our location in Oklahoma City, the eighth largest city in the Southern United States with a low cost of living and a growing economy, provides pediatric dentistry residents with a large and diverse patient population, and the opportunity to treat complex cardiac, hematology/oncology, genetic, transplant and neurological medical conditions.
Residents who successfully complete this 24-month program receive a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and are educationally-qualified for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification process.
Curriculum
Designed by board-certified pediatric dentists in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), this 24-month program includes didactic curriculum, clinical training, hospital and medical rotations, research, teaching and advocacy experiences.
Seminars include: Fundamentals of Pediatric Dentistry, Legal & Ethical Issues in Pediatric Dentistry, Basic Behavior Guidance: Non-Pharmacologic, Advanced Behavior Guidance: Pharmacologic, Board Review, Child Development (Infant, Child & Adolescent Health), Craniofacial Anomalies & Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate, Current Topics in Clinical Practice & Administration, Hospital Dentistry, Pediatric Medicine: Medically-Compromised Patients, Pediatric Medicine: Neurologically & Developmentally-Compromised Patients, Oral Pathology, Developing Occlusion & Orthodontics, Public Health & Advocacy, Preventive Dentistry, Periodontics, Teaching Methods, Pulp Therapy, Career Development & Practice Management, Research Design & Biostatistics, Trauma & Medical Emergencies, Developing Occlusion & Orthodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Public Health and Advocacy, Journal Club & Case Presentations.
Rotations include: General Anesthesia, Pediatric Medicine, Operating Room, Inpatient Care, Emergency Medicine, Treatment of Patients with Special Needs, Private Practice, Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate, Oral Surgery
More than 80% of total resident time is spent in clinical activity. The majority of clinical training is conducted at the nationally-ranked Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health and the co-located children’s dental clinic on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City, OK. This enables residents to gain experience working in collaboration with other pediatric medicine specialties.
Program Stipend and Tuition
The current, 2025-2026 first year stipend is $62,731. The second-year stipend is $65,205. Stipends are reviewed and adjusted annually. There is no tuition.
Benefits include: medical and dental insurance, malpractice coverage and funding to support travel to meetings/conferences.
Facilities
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
- Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health
- Pediatric Dentistry Speciality Clinic at OU Health
- Variety Care (Straka Terrace) Clinic
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply through PASS, which includes satisfying the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- US citizen, permanent US resident (i.e., Green Card holder), or Canadian citizen
- A DDS or DMD degree from a CODA- or CDAC-accredited dental school
- Undergraduate transcripts from all institutions attended
- Dental school transcripts [A minimum cumulative dental school GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is suggested.]
- DAT scores
- Three (3) ADEA PASS PEF Evaluation Forms
- Passage of the INBDE or NBDE Part I and Part II
- ADAT not required, but official ADAT scores received by the application deadline will be strongly considered
- Personal interview (upon invitation)
- Eligibility for Oklahoma Dental License prior to start of residency
Program Strengths
- An inclusive and supportive environment that fosters camaraderie among residents
- Committed, highly experienced and credentialed faculty
- Large and diverse patient population
- Integrated and comprehensive academic health system
- Collaboration with dental, pediatric medicine and allied health professionals
- Evidence-based and research-driven care
- Exposure to public health dentistry in outreach settings
Program Faculty
Full-Time:
David Ciesla, DDS, MS, MAS, Program Director*
Autumn Hurd, DDS, Assistant Program Director*
Ryan Brackett, DDS
Timothy R. Fagan, DDS, MS*
Part-Time:
Alison N. Agee, DDS‡
Dominique Bowers, DDS*
Dirk Eckroat, DDS*
Mark Gilstrap, DMD*
Somer R. Heim, DDS*
V. Matthew Heim, DDS, MS†
Sara Karnish, DDS, MDS*
Rebecca King Rackley, DDS
Janna C. McIntosh, DDS*
Brian Molloy, DDS*
Brent W. Moody, DDS*
Jeffrey D. Rhodes, DDS, MS*
Amanda Ward, DDS*
Guest Lecturers:
David T. Evans, DMD*
Stephen T. Gray, DDS*
Kevin L. Haney, DDS, MS
Ryan S. Roberts, DDS, MS*
*Board-certified (Pediatric Dentistry)
† Board-certified (Orthodontics)
‡Board-eligible (Pediatric Dentistry)
School Profile
| Program Type: | Certificate |
| Program Director: | Full-Time Board-Certified |
| Program Faculty: | 4 Full-Time 13 Part-Time 14 Board Certified (excluding board-certified guest lecturers) |
| Program Length: | 24 Total Months July 1 Start Date |
| Program Accreditation: | Initial Accreditation |
| State Licensure: | Required |
| State Licensure Required to Begin Program: | Yes |
| Number of Entering Positions: | 3 |
| Tuition In-State: | None |
| Tuition Out-Of-State: | None |
| Salary/Stipend: | $62,731 First Year $65,731 Second Year (Note: The above salaries are for the academic year beginning July 1, 2025 and will be reviewed and adjusted annually.) |
| Application: | Applications are to be submitted via ADEA PASS. There is no fee. Deadline: October 15 of the year prior to desired start date. |
| Participant in National Matching Service: |
Yes |
| Participant in PASS: | Yes |
| Only US citizens from ADA accredited dental schools considered: |
No |
| US citizens from foreign dental schools considered: |
Yes |
| Non-US citizens from ADA accredited dental schools considered: |
Yes |
| Non-US citizens from foreign dental schools considered: |
Yes |
| Clinic Experience: | Orthodontics Conscious Sedation Hospital Rotations General Anesthesia Emergency Department On-Call Operating Room Oral Surgery Infant Oral Health Medically Compromised Intellectural or Cognitive Disabilities Craniofacial Disorders Physically Disabled Outreach Special HealthCare Needs Behavior Guidance Restorative Dentistry Trauma |
| Didactic Experience: | Pediatric Grand Rounds Seminars Literature Review Case Conferences Lectures |
| Research Requirement: | Completion of publishable quality research |
| Teaching Experience: | 1 Clinic Half-Days per week Lecture/Presentations |
| Facilities: | 12 Hospital Operating Rooms 6 Dental Chairs/Operatories 1 Clinic Supervisor 4 Dental Assistants 2 Clinic Receptionists |