Drexel University College of Medicine
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program
Division Chair: Michael A. Bianchi, DDS
Program Director: Nabil A. Abaza, DMD, M.S., Ph.D.
Program Coordinator: Dale D. Dool, EFDA
Overview of the Residency Program
The six-year Drexel University College of Medicine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program is an accredited advanced dental specialty program. It is designed to prepare the resident for practice, consultation, subspecialty training, and academic leadership within the field of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS).
This intensive M.D./OMFS Program integrated two years of medical school with the remaining four years for integrating general surgery, and clinical/didactic Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training into a single, six-year program whereby successful graduates will:
- Obtain a medical degree
- Complete two years of general surgery residency
- Receive certification as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon meeting all ABOMS requirements
- Become eligible to sit for the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Examination
Our graduates are trained to:
- Interact with peers and colleagues in dentistry, medicine, and surgery
- Practice the full scope of the OMFS specialty with a broad-based world view of the health science
- Provide holistic care and maintain compassionate and ethical relationships with patients, peers, and the support staff
- Identify disease/disorders not generally in the immediate scope of their expertise and make appropriate referrals
- Teach effectively and become members of the teaching faculties and obtain American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Certification
- Be a lifelong learner
The Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program
Program Overview
Oral and maxillofacial surgery, as defined by the American Association of Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons, is the specialty of dentistry that 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. It is the goal of the Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine to provide the best possible learning environment, resources, instruction and clinical exposure wherein residents may develop the broad knowledge base and clinical expertise needed to practice the full scope of the OMFS specialty.
As an M.D./OMFS integrated program, our medical school provides the basic science and medical knowledge base: general surgery and OMFS provide training in the total management of the surgical patient and OMFS specialty. Elective clerkships during medical school, coupled with rotations during general surgery, meet the program’s requirements in anesthesia, head and neck surgery, and plastic surgery. Special courses provide additional training cosmetic, microsurgery, and cleft lip/cleft palate surgery.
Year One
The first-year resident will examine and treat patients in the outpatient clinic, maintain the in-house patient census, rotate on the call schedule 10 to 12 days monthly and assist/observe in the operating room when assigned. The resident actively participates in the very active ambulatory general anesthesia patient load. Medical school training also begins during the first year with the Introduction to Clinical Medicine courses, which helps prepare residents for Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and advanced standing admission to the medical school.
Year Two
Having been accepted with advance standing to the medical school, the OMFS residents begin third-year medical clerkship during the second year. Continuation as a medical student depends upon successful completion of the USMLE Step 1. Failure of USMLE Step 1 results in removal from the clerkship pending reexamination in the fall.
Year Three
The third year of residency is the last year of medical school and consists of senior medical clerkships, including clerkships in oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesia needed to meet the requirements of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program. Residents receive their medical degree and take the USMLE Step 2 at the end of this year.
Year Four
Residents spend their fourth year in the General Surgery Residency Program as a PGY-2 staff member. This is not merely a rotation, as the resident is officially part of the general surgery service. At the end of this year, USMLE Step 3 is taken.
Year Five
Residents spend their fifth year as a PGY-3 staff member of the general surgery residency. A total of six months must be oral and maxillofacial surgery rotations during this year.
Year Six
The final year is chief resident year. The chief resident has significant responsibilities for managing patients, covering the outpatient clinical and assisting in the training of junior residents. Completion of research and a publication of a paper are expected during this year, and participation in additional subspecialty training courses is available to residents demonstrating interest and accomplishment.
Please note that residents are employed by and insured by the hospital; they are not employees of Drexel University College of Medicine.
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