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2012-2013 Georgia Health Sciences University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
College of Dental Medicine
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About the College
The GHSU College of Dental Medicine offers a four-year program leading to a doctor of dental medicine degree. The dental curriculum consist of courses in oral biology, clinical sciences, behavioral sciences and management.
A GHSU dental education emphasizes early exposure to patients. Students begin treating patients as early as sophomore year, enjoying a seamless transition from lecture halls and laboratories to clinics. As they master new skills they practice them in the clinic, closely supervised by caring, committed faculty. The fourth year of education is devoted almost solely to patient care. Students also practice their skills in clinics and facilities throughout the state.
Dental school requires intense focus, hard work and long hours, but GHSU’s caring and dedicated faculty and staff are on hand to assist every step of the way. Most students approach dental school as a full-time pursuit, but students with jobs and/or families, including those who pursue dentistry as a second career, have excelled at GHSU. Balance and commitment are key.
GHSU’s numerous student organizations, as well as dental organizations for students, provide fun, camaraderie and inspiration. Some of these organizations emphasize fun and relaxation. Others provide an early start on networking and the opportunity to help shape the dental field.
Administration
| Dean |
Connie L. Drisko |
| Associate Dean |
Frank Caughman |
| Associate Dean |
Carole M. Hanes |
| Associate Dean |
Carol A. Lefebvre |
| Associate Dean |
Philip Hanes |
| Associate Dean |
Darrell E. Gentry |
Assistant Dean
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Terrie D. English |
CODM Mission
The mission of the Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine is to educate dentists in order to improve overall health and to reduce the burden of illness in society through the discovery and application of knowledge that embraces craniofacial health and disease prevention.
CODM Vision
To be a premier college of dental medicine.
Degrees Offered
Accreditation
The College of Dental Medicine’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program is fully accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The college’s most recent successful site visit was in February 2012.
Admissions Information
Admission Standards
Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine is a state-assisted institution with the primary goal of educating dental healthcare providers for the citizens of Georgia. The ethical practice of dentistry requires intellectual ability. Each applicant must successfully complete all requirements for admission. In addition to demonstrating personal characteristics appropriate for a career in a healthcare profession, qualification for admission and graduation requires satisfying the following essential functions:
- Sufficient intellectual capacity to fulfill the curricular requirements of required basic sciences and clinical courses;
- Ability to communicate with patients, colleagues, faculty, staff and other members of the healthcare community;
- Ability to learn and safely perform the technical skills required to complete the dental curriculum; and
- Sufficient emotional stability and responsibility to withstand the stresses, uncertainties and changing circumstances that characterize the practice of dentistry.
Degrees and Coursework
A Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree is awarded upon completion of the 4-year dental program, including successful testing of the National Boards I & II. Graduates of Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine are eligible for examination by all U.S. dental licensing boards. The 11-semester curriculum consists of:
- Oral Biology Courses: anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology
- Clinical Sciences: dental materials, endodontics, occlusion, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, radiology and restorative dentistry
- Behavioral Sciences/Management Courses
M.S. or Ph.D degrees: Oral Biology Dual Degrees are offered through the College of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the Department of Oral Biology.
General Admissions Information
The Admissions Committee recommends applicants on an annual competitive basis. Applicants who are considered in the judgment of the committee, to be the most well-qualified for admission are recommended to the Dean. The committee considers the following:
| Overall Grade Point Average |
Ranging from 2.8 to 4.0 with an average Overall GPA of 3.58 and an average Science GPA of 3.54 |
| Dental Admissions Test |
Ranging from 14 to maximum score of 30 in the Academic Average or Perceptual Ability components. The average Academic Average score is 19.0; average Perceptual Ability score is 20.0. |
| Academic Coursework |
Minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) at an American accredited college or university. Although a bachelor’s degree is not required, prospective students who earn a 4-year degree by enrollment are given more consideration. |
| Healthcare Experiences |
Observing in the office of a general dentist is the best way to learn about dentistry. The Committee requires that applicants make arrangements to observe and/or receive hands-on experience in the office of one or more dentists or in an appropriate dental setting. |
| Other Responsibilities |
The Committee acknowledges the roles of prospective students who had other responsibilities prior to enrollment. Examples include working while in college or caretaker/provider of other family members. |
| Community Involvement |
The Committee takes into consideration a prospective student’s involvement in extracurricular and community activities. Also acknowledged are leadership roles, national recognition, summer enrichment programs, and research experience. |
| Backgrounds |
When reviewing each pool of applicants, the Committee considers ethnicity, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Educational background, residency in respect to applicants residing in dental professional underserved areas are also acknowledged. |
| Commitment |
Among applicants, the Committee seeks a commitment to practice in Georgia, commitment to practice in underserved areas, and motivation to becoming a dentist. |
| Recommendations |
When applying through AADSAS there are two options in submitting letters of recommendation. Option 1 allows two letters. One entry will be a packet or composite/committee letter to be submitted. The applicant will indicate this on the application. The second letter will be a personal reference which must be a dentist if applying to CDM. Option 2 allows four letters. One of the letters must be written and submitted by an academic advocate (instructor, advisor, department chair, etc). The second letter must be from a dentist. The third and fourth letters can be submitted as personal letters and can be another academic spokesperson, another dentist, a supervisor, or someone who knows the applicant well enough to speak positively on the applicant’s behalf. Once an applicant has begun an AADSAS application (not finished or submitted) and has listed those who will be submitting letters of recommendation and their contact information, then the referees will received a link via email with instructions on how to submit their letters on behalf of the applicant. |
| Interviews |
Interviews are granted by invitation of the Committee only. All accepted students must be interviewed. Interviews are normally held from September to December. These interviews are with members of the College of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee who help assess the applicant’s personality, motivation and ability deemed pertinent to the successful study of dentistry. |
Admission Requirements
Course Requirements
A minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) at an accredited American College or university is required. Preference is given to students who earn a baccalaureate degree. Required prerequisites are listed as follows:
| Biology |
One academic year with lab |
| Chemistry |
One academic year of general or inorganic with lab |
| Advanced Chemistry |
One academic year of advanced chemistry with lab |
(Semester requirements include: one semester of organic chemistry with lab followed by a second semester of organic chemistry or a semester of biochemistry {lab not required}).
| Physics |
One semester or two quarters with lab |
| English |
One academic year or the portion of an academic year required for the baccalaureate degree at an accredited American college or university. |
All required courses must be taken on a graduated grading scale (A,B,C, D, F); required courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Applicants must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required courses. An academic year equals two semesters or three quarters or one semester and two quarters.
Other Requirements
| Application |
Beginning June 2012, those applying to the DMD program at the GHSU College of Dental Medicine, can only apply through the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). The ADEA AADSAS 2013 application becomes available online at http://portal.aadsasweb.org on June 4, 2012. The timeline for applying to GHSU through AADSAS is June 4 – September 30, 2012. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, official DAT scores, and letters of recommendation are to be submitted to AADSAS. All these components will be compiled and distributed to the CDM within 4-6 weeks. An additional set of official transcripts need to be requested to be sent to the admission office at CDM.
Supplemental Application: Although the AADSAS application is thorough for general admissions information, there is still necessary information needed by the admissions committee. Therefore, after receiving the AADSAS application, all applicants who are Georgia residents immediately will be emailed a link to the CDM supplemental application. Based on review of their AADSAS application, a selected number of out-of-state applicants will also be sent the link to the supplemental application. The supplemental application fee is $30. It is non-refundable and will be paid electronically in order for the admission office to receive an applicant’s additional information. A candidate’s packet is not considered complete until a supplemental application has been submitted and received by the CDM admission office.
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| Dental Admission Test |
Dental Admission Test: All applicants for admission must have taken the Dental Admission Test (DAT) within two year of applying. The DAT must be taken by the Sept 30, deadline, 11 months before those accepted are due to enroll. The DAT can be taken every 90 days. However examines will be limited to three opportunities to take the test. When registering to take the DAT, make sure to indicate that scores be sent to AADSAS and also GHSU. This will allow authorized admission personnel to view scores when necessary. For information and registration for the DAT visit the American Dental Association website at www.ada.org/dat.aspx or call 1-800-232-2162. |
| Supplemental Information |
Other Supplemental Information: Within the admission process, an applicant who is granted an interview will be asked to send documentation that prove lawful presence verification. For this purpose, most Georgia residents can submit a copy of their Georgia driver’s license issued no earlier than January 2008. List of other documents for proof of lawful presence can be found at http://www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions/Verificati on_of_Lawful_Presence.html . |
| Special English Language Requirements |
Applicants not born in the United States whose native language is not English are REQUIRED to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Although there have been several versions previously, the Internet-based version of TOEFL (iBT TOEFL) is solely available for current testers. The exam will test all four language skills for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100, with 26 in the speaking component. Test must be taken before the Sept 30 deadline, 11 months before those accepted are due to enroll. For information and registration materials for the iBT TOEFL visit www.ets.org or call 1-609-771-7100. To have your scores sent directly to the College of Dental Medicine, you must enter 5425, our TOEFL Institution Code, on the back of the admission ticket. |
| Residency Eligibility |
The College of Dental Medicine accepts primarily Georgia residents, and has begun accepting 5% out-of-state applicants. International students that may be eligible for admissions must present permanent resident documentation. All applicants claiming to be a resident of the state of Georgia must show proof of residing in Georgia for at least one year before enrollment. All eligible applicants are required to have a minimum of 90 semester hours of college coursework at an American Accredited College or University. |
| Re-applicants |
Applicants who have applied three times, will not be considered on an immediate fourth application. In order to be considered further, those applicants must take at least one academic year to become a more competitive applicant before their applications will be reconsidered for admissions. |
| Acceptance Deposit |
The College of Dental Medicine at Georgia Health Sciences University requires a $200 acceptance deposit which will be credited toward first semester matriculation fees. Those accepted applicants who fail to appear for registration, and fail to notify the Office of Students, Admissions and Alumni of their withdrawal 90 days prior to enrollment, will forfeit their acceptance deposit. |
Additional Admission Information for Special Groups
Transfer Students
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The College of Dental Medicine does not accept transfer students. For a list of U.S. dental program that offer transfer programs contact the American Dental Education Association, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-667-9433 or visit the website at www.adea.org. |
| Foreign Trained Dentist |
Our College of Dental Medicine does not have a program in which foreign trained dentists can participate in order to become licensed in Georgia. A number of U.S. dental schools have programs for dentistry for those who have earned dental degrees outside of the United States and who desire to earn a dental degree or become qualified to take either national or state licensure examinations for the practice of dentistry in the United States. A list of the schools which accept graduates of foreign dental schools is available from the Department of Educational Surveys, American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-440-2689 or the American Dental Education Association, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-667-9433. Also, if you are a licensed dentist looking to possibly practice in Georgia you can contact the Georgia Board of Dentistry at 478-207-1680 or find more information at www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/dentistry. |
For information concerning the DMD admission requirement or application process, please contact the Office of Students, Admissions, and Alumni, College of Dental Medicine at 706-721-3587 or write to:
Office of Students, Admissions, and Alumni
College of Dental Medicine
Georgia Health Sciences University, GC 5024
Augusta, GA 30912-1020
Fax: 706-723-0233
Email: osaas@georgiahealth.edu
Academic Progress Policies
For a review of Academic Progress Policies for the College of Dental Medicine please select the following link:
College of Dental Medicine APP
http://www.georgiahealth.edu/dentalmedicine/policies
Advanced Dental Education
Admissions Information
For information concerning the application process, please contact the Office of Advanced Education at (706) 721-2251 or write to:
Georgia Health Sciences University
College of Dental Medicine
Office of Advanced Education
Augusta, GA 30912-1000
Fax: (706) 434-6091
Email: cahenderson@georgiahealth.edu
Some of the GHSU Advanced Education Programs use the Postdoctoral Application Support Services (PASS) and the National Matching Serivces (MATCH) in the selection process. Further information about these programs can be found at the following:
Postdoctoral Application Support Service
American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Customer Service: 1-800-353-2237
Or: 202-667-1887
Fax: 202-667-4983
Website: www.ADEA.org
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National Matching Services Inc.
20 Holly Street, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M4S 3B1
Telephone: (416) 977-3431
Fax: (416) 977-5020
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or
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National Matching Services Inc.
P.O. Box 1208
Lewiston, NY 14092-8208
Telephone: (716) 282-4013
Fax: (716) 282-0611
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E-mail: matchinfo@natmatch.com
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