The University of Washington’s Schools of Dentistry (UWSOD) and Medicine (UWSOM) are pleased to announce a new collaborative initiative. The two renowned health education entities will join forces to embark on development of an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program. The program will be housed under UW Medicine’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office and include partnerships with community health partners.
A key feature of the one-year residency program will be its deep connection to community health partners around the state and the placement of residents in those communities for the duration of their clinical training. The UWSOD Office of Educational Partnerships is in talks now with community partners to establish these clinical sites.
There is growing demand locally and nationally for advanced general dentistry education – both from recent graduates seeking experiential training and certification in advanced general dentistry, and from community health thought leaders in the region who want a locally-sourced AEGD program of excellence.
“While AEGD programs currently exist in the region, our program would offer access to UWSOD’s world-class faculty and expertise in dental specialties,” says Dr. Amy Kim, Director of the School of Dentistry Office of Educational Partnerships. “An AEGD program at UW also has the potential to recruit and retain newly graduated dentists to underserved communities in our region, benefitting our communities and helping us fulfill our School’s mission of Advancing Oral Health for All.”
“We are excited to launch the AEGD program in partnership with UWSOD,” says Cindy Hamra, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education in the UW School of Medicine. “Providing world-class training for dentists and physicians at UW Medicine is a crucial part of our mission of improving the health of the public.”
Stay tuned for more information about the UW AEGD program development and announcements of our community partner sites, once the program is officially approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).