Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) Residency Program offers two tracks: a 48-month (four-year) certificate program and a 72-month (six-year) certificate plus MD program. Both programs are sponsored by the UMKC School of Dentistry and are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Residents rotate at UMKC School of Dentistry, Children’s Mercy Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, and Truman Medical Center.

Curriculum And Objectives
1. The Educational Program Objectives:
  • To develop the skills of the resident through didactic preparation, clinical experience, and hospital training; to ultimately engender a state-of-the-art maxillofacial surgeon
  • To foster the attitude of continued scientific inquiry, intellectual aspirations, and pursuit of excellence for the remainder of the individual’s career
  • To develop a profound sense of responsibility to the academic community, and to one’s patients
  • To share one’s education, training and experience through participation in scientific meetings and through publications
2. Acquired competencies:
a. Diagnosis and surgical management of:
  1. Soft and hard tissue diseases of the oral cavity, head and neck
  2. Precancerous lesions, benign and malignant neoplasms of the head and neck
  3. Cranio-maxillofacial trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction
  4. Congenital and acquired cranio-maxillofacial deformities with post-reconstructive rehabilitation
  5. Temporomandibular joint disorders. Life-threatening emergencies
b. Intravenous sedation and intubated general anesthesia
3. These broad objectives are realized by specialty courses, daily contact with the teaching staff, interactions with patients, requirements for scientific publications, and research.
4. The program’s objectives and academic plan are reviewed on a continuing basis, and are modified as necessary to expand and enhance the learning experience. Faculty of both the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and Medicine participate in curriculum/program review.

Clinical Experience

The UMKC School of Dentistry, Truman Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital are the various sites employed for surgical clinical experience. Thirty-three (33) months are devoted to clinical oral and maxillofacial surgery. There is a comprehensive didactic curriculum consisting of weekly seminars, clinical pathologic conferences, morbidity reviews, case reviews, oral pathology seminars, trauma conferences, surgical-orthodontic conferences, journal club, medical decision making course and head and neck tumor board.

Didactic Activity

Literature review is mandatory; residents are required to regularly review textbooks, monthly issues of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and monitor all pertinent journals and articles to maintain a contemporary knowledge of maxillofacial surgery.

Attendance at a minimum of two scientific conferences annually is required.
Preparation and submission for publication of at least two scientific manuscripts.
Mandatory attendance at the annual Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Test – a comprehensive 400 multiple choice question test, prepared by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Responsibilities & Activities by Year for the 4-Yr and 6-Yr Programs

4-Yr OMS Certificate Program

Year in Program  Responsibilities and Activities
1 In the first-year, spend seven (7) months on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service between the Truman Medical Center and the Children’s Mercy Hospital. Remaining five (five) months are dedicated to anesthesia service at the Truman Medical Center. The resident works closely with the senior residents, providing both inpatient and outpatient care. The resident has primary responsibility for examining, diagnosing, and treating patients in the outpatient clinic. The resident also assumes responsibility for inpatients under the supervision of the chief resident, and assists the chief resident and staff with operating room cases.
2 The second-year is spent functioning as a General Surgery PGY-1 intern, rotating through trauma surgery, ENT, Plastics, Neurosurgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Maxillofacial Surgery.
3 During the third-year, function as a Senior Resident and spend most time on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service assisting the Chief Resident in the operating room. One (1) month is spent at the Children’s Mercy Hospital on the plastic and craniofacial surgery service and up to two (two) months on the pediatric anesthesiology service.
4 In the fourth-year, function as a Chief OMS resident, assuming the responsibility for the overall function of the Oral and Maxillofacial Service. The resident is expected to be the primary operating surgeon on all major cases. Up to two (2) months are spent in a private practice setting with fellowship-trained OMS part-time attendings. Senior and Chief Residents alternate to cover the Implantology clinic at the UMKC School of Dentistry.


6-Yr OMS Certificate Plus MD Program

Year in Program   Responsibilities and Activities
1 In the first-year, spend seven (7) months on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service between the Truman Medical Center and the Children’s Mercy Hospital. Remaining five (five) months are dedicated to anesthesia service at the Truman Medical Center. The resident works closely with the senior residents, providing both inpatient and outpatient care. The resident has primary responsibility for examining, diagnosing, and treating patients in the outpatient clinic. The resident also assumes responsibility for inpatients under the supervision of the chief resident, and assists the chief resident and staff with operating room cases.
Please note: First-year residents enrolled in the OMS certificate plus MD curriculum must complete two requirements prior to beginning the MD program component:

  • Pass the USMLE part 1 exam
  • Pass a structured standardized patient exam approved by UMKC School of Medicine
2-3 The second year and third years are spent entirely at the UMKC School of Medicine fulfilling curriculum and core rotation requirements leading to MD degree.
4 The fourth-year is spent functioning as a General Surgery PGY-1 intern, rotating through trauma surgery, ENT, Plastics, Neurosurgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Maxillofacial Surgery.
5 During the fifth-year, function as a Senior Resident and spend most time on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service assisting the Chief Resident in the operating room. One (1) month is spent at the Children’s Mercy Hospital on the plastic and craniofacial surgery service and up to two (two) months on the pediatric anesthesiology service.
6 In the sixth-year, function as a Chief OMS resident, assuming the responsibility for the overall function of the Oral and Maxillofacial Service. The resident is expected to be the primary operating surgeon on all major cases. Up to two (2) months are spent in a private practice setting with fellowship-trained OMS part-time attendings. Senior and Chief Residents alternate to cover the Implantology clinic at the UMKC School of Dentistry.

 

Number of residents each year:
  • One (1) appointment for 4-year OMS certificate program
  • Two (2) appointments for 6-year OMS certificate plus MD program

In addition to the residency program, we also have internship positions available. 

Number of one-year interns each year:

• Up to two (2) appointments for hospital-based positions
• Up to two (2) appointments for dental school-based positions

Each year the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery considers applications for a one-year internship program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at TMC/UMKC, for candidates who wish to experience the full-scope of the specialty and add to their knowledge and experience in OMS, potentially for application to advanced education OMS residency programs.

We offer up to two (2) positions at the outpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic at Truman Medical Center and up to two (2) positions at the UMKC School of Dentistry oral surgery clinic.

Following the MATCH process in January, hospital and dental based internship applications are accepted to:

For hospital based internships mail, fax, or email to:
University Health
2101 Charlotte St. Ste. 310
Kansas City, MO 64108
Residency Program Coordinator:
Anita Haney
anita.haney@uhkc.org
Phone: 816-404-4356
Fax: 816-404-4359

For dental based internships mail or email to:
Dr. Liz Kaz
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 East 25th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
kazm@umkc.edu
Phone: 816-235-2010

In late January, prompt decisions will be made by the OMS faculty at UMKC, and a formal interview visit may be required prior to acceptance into the internship program.

FIRST STEP – IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Review this document before proceeding.