Appendix F: Descriptions of Elective Honors and Student Teacher Programs

STUDENT TEACHER
(FUTURE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM)

Selection Criteria for Student Teacher Honors Program

Students must apply to the Incentive Program Director by October 15 to become a Student Teacher.

Selection criteria will be as follows:

• Students must be recommended by the practice coordinator, clinical faculty and/or Dr. Odlum and/or relevant course faculty.
• In order to be selected, applicants must have demonstrated excellence in preclinical skills, patient management and communication skills.
• Class rank, National Board scores, leadership and community service experience will also be taken into account.
• Students must be up to date in competency examination completions (Departments will be consulted).
• Students interested in didactic Student Teacher programs must demonstrate excellent performance in the course and related courses and be approved by the Course Director.

Student Teacher programs are offered in the following areas: 1) Emergency Clinic, 2) Group Practice/Preclinical, 3) Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and 4) Pediatric Dentistry and 5) Didactic Courses.

Students who participate in the Student Teacher programs:

1. may be called upon to assume some faculty-level administrative responsibilities, including interviewing predoctoral admissions candidates, proctoring examinations for didactic courses, conducting infection control audits and tutoring. The goals for this effort are to help augment the school’s administration with necessary teaching resources and to create beginner level competency in the multifactoral teaching/evaluation skills. Students are evaluated as to the appropriateness of their fit with the skills and professionalism required as a possible future faculty member.

2. are required to wear a Student Teacher name tag/badge in the clinic.

3. are required to wear a yellow lab gown in preclinical courses.

4. are required to abide by the Tufts University consensual relationships policy.

Year 4 (Future Faculty) Student Benefits:

1. Continue to build confidence and self-esteem.
2. Opportunity to share their knowledge in proper delivery of care.
3. Opportunity to further use the knowledge and the clinical experience learned over the past three years.
4. Development of teaching skills.

Year 3 Student Benefits:

1. More relaxed environment to learn in.
2. Improved communication skills.
3. More inclined to listen and remember.
4. More involvement in decision-making.
5. Less apprehensive to make suggestions and more forth coming in their questions.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

All Student Teacher participants (except didactic course) work on the clinic floor. Additional responsibilities involve being assigned to student teach in the emergency clinic, group practice, a preclinical lab course, radiology clinic or pediatric dentistry.

1. Emergency Clinic
The goal of this program is to improve and enhance the teaching and learning of the students during their emergency clinic rotation. This program is rewarding to those Year 4 students who are achievers and beneficial to the Year 3 students who are assigned to this rotation. The program involves Year 4 incentive students in the emergency clinic assisting Year 3 students. The Year 4 students that are chosen will continue to gain clinical experience as well as learning to mentor or teach Year 3 students.

This program would assign 4-5 Year 4 students to emergency for one-half day per week. He or she will assist the Year 3 student in taking medical and dental histories, in addressing a patient's complaint, and in designing the treatment plan. The instructor will then review this plan with both students and after discussion the Year 3 student will execute the final plan. The students will both sharpen their awareness and ability to communicate, diagnose, plan and treat the many dental complaints that present themselves in the emergency clinic. This will be of great benefit to all of the students when they begin their dental careers.

Based on recommendations from Dr. Odlum, 4-5 students are selected to participate in this program at any one given time.

2. Group Practice/Preclinical Courses
Group Practice duties will be as follows:

• Will be assigned by their PC or clinical faculty to work with low point Year 3 or Year 4 students in their own practice.
• Responsibilities may be to help with paperwork, patient management, time management, scheduling patients, fee collection, knowing when to discontinue a patient, learning how to go beyond the XMRT, facilitating the accomplishment of non-quality monitoring steps, helping the treatment to be finished at that visit (stepping in to help the student make the second impression in order to eliminate the need for a third impression), helping with infection control procedures, conducting infection control audits, helping students to be organized, improving patient communication or organizing lab work.
• Can sign for dispensing materials such as burs, impression material and amalgam/composite material for the student they are helping.

Preclinical Course duties will be as follows:

Serve as Student Teachers in the lab practical portions of the preclinical courses: Dental Anatomy/Occlusion, Fixed Prosthodontics and Operative. Student’s teachers are assigned by the Course Director to work under the supervision of one of the course faculty to assist one of the laboratory groups in the course. Student teachers provide guidance and assistance, make suggestions for improvement on the lab exercises and projects and may be asked to provide extra weekend or evening tutorial help prior to practical examinations.

3. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Responsibilities include:

• Guide and assist, if needed, the students in rotation while they are imaging patients.
• Perform panoramic and cephalometric imaging.
• Assist and verify the film mounting done by students in rotation.
• Make sure that strict infection control procedures are followed within the radiology clinic.
• Assist Radiology faculty with the ICE seminars.

4. Pediatric Dentistry
Responsibilities include:

• Assist faculty members and/or residents by assisting Third Year students in the diagnosis and treatment planning of both new and recare pediatric patients.
• Participate in departmental seminars.

5. Didactic Courses

This program should interest the student seeking classroom didactic experience. Exceptional students may serve as a Student Teacher for a didactic course. They must have honored the course, have provided tutorial assistance for the course previously, and be recommended/approved by the course faculty/director. Ideally, the Student Teacher will be mentored by the course faculty to give one of the scheduled lectures in the course.

Responsibilities are as follows:

• will be assigned by the course director to assist faculty both during the course and especially in the remedial process by providing tutorial assistance to failed students prior to reexamination.
• will conduct individual and group tutoring sessions.
• will proctor examinations.
• will aid in course administration tasks.

6. Infection Control audits (part of clinic student teacher responsibilities)

Participation in the Infection Control Audit process includes the following duties:

• Obtain audit forms; they are in an envelop with the Practice Assistant. Forms with the student’s name already present are those that need to be completed as soon as possible to meet competency requirements. Blank forms can be completed for any student.
• Complete the entire top portion of the form, especially your name as “Auditor”.
• Check the appropriate “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable” box for each item. (Remember the requirements. It is best to be fair and check off accurately.)
• Note any comments on the sheet.
• Give the yellow copy to the student.
• Place the white copy in the yellow envelop on the door of DHS-415 for grading.

Additional Student Teacher Responsibilities

In addition to the responsibilities described for the Student Teacher positions, all Student Teachers will also participate in Admissions Interviewing and Exam Proctoring.

Predoctoral Admissions Interviewing
The Admissions Office with the support of the Admissions Committee has initiated a “Student Admissions Interviewer” program in conjunction with the Student Teacher and faculty training incentive program.

A well-planned and implemented student interviewer program now provides the Admissions Office and Admissions Committee with a reliable reserve of interviewers.

Along with the expansion of qualified interviewers, the “Student Admissions Interviewer” incentive program will have the following benefits:

1. The Admissions Committee will have the capacity to interview applicants in a timelier manner, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of acceptances offered on December 1, a critical deadline date in dental admissions nationally.

2. Students know the strengths and weaknesses of their classmates, and therefore will be able to contribute to the Admissions Committee’s goals of admitting applicants that most closely embody the characteristics of the “ideal” student – sufficient academic preparedness, motivation, maturity, and interpersonal/communication skills.

3. The school will be contributing to the development of another important skill set that will aid in the students’ professional development.

Students selected for the incentive program will possess the characteristics of the students Tufts aims to accept – motivated, mature, strong interpersonal communication skills and public speaking skills, and a solid academic background. The selected students also must possess the ability to convey an honest, yet positive impression of Tufts, to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism.

Exam Proctoring
Students will be assigned for this by Student Affairs.

ELECTIVE HONORS PROGRAM

ESTHETIC DENTISTRY
Dr. Samer Kastali

Prerequisite:
Completion of the following Advanced Restorative Dentistry seminars/hands-on workshops:

• Adhesive Dentistry/Direct Composite Resins
• Resin Cements/Laminate Veneers
• Porcelain Laminate Materials/All Ceramic Crowns
• Advanced Technology Cerec System

Esthetic Dentistry workshops are given by Drs. Aboushala and Kugel. These workshops are held on Tuesday evenings, 4:30 – 7:00 in DHS-8 or DHS-9.

Guidelines:

Student must provide a patient.

The program will focus on the following areas:

• Materials update including the latest in research in an ongoing form of literature review.
• Hands on workshop with the latest esthetic material, how to chose, when to use and how to use.
• Tooth whitening as it applies to the overall treatment plan presented in the context of a treatment plan workshop.
• Hands on clinical experience with a chance to work up, prepare and place laminate veneers.
• Dental photography.
• Develop/Improve clinical skills with modem esthetic dental materials and techniques.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact

Dr. Samer Kastali
samer.kastali@tufts.edu
617 636-2739

IMPLANT DENTISTRY
Dr. Louis Rissin
GOAL:

To take exceptional senior dental students and immerse them in Implant Dentistry for a concentrated period of time.

OBJECTIVES:
1. Observe screening, diagnosis and treatment planning procedures utilized in the IMPLANT CENTER.

2. Reinforce students' knowledge in the diagnostic and clinical procedures leading to the placement of implant fixtures including:

1. CT scans
2. Fabrication of surgical template
3. Consultations with the surgical team and observation of implant placement procedures
4. Observation of Stage II surgeries
   

3. Reinforce the clinical procedures necessary in the fabrication of implant retained or supported prostheses including:

1. Re-evaluate 2-3 weeks after second stage surgery
2. Observe and make (when possible) final impressions for implant retained or supported prostheses
3. Prepare master casts and laboratory prescriptions
4. Try-in and evaluation of implant retained or supported frames/crowns
5. Observe and, when possible, placement of implant retained or supported prostheses

DURATION:
Second semester senior predoctoral students who have finished their requirements for graduation and express an interest in implant dentistry will have the opportunity to spend 1-3 months, 2-3 days per week in the IMPLANT CENTER prior to graduation to learn some of the clinical procedures required in implant dentistry.

AVAILABLE SPACE:

The IMPLANT CENTER can accommodate up to two senior students at a time January through May of Year 4, on a space available basis.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR IMPLANT DENTISTRY HONORS PROGRAM:

M T W TH F
AM 8-9:30 Perio-pros Treatment Planning9:30-noon Implant Center Screening Exams 8-9:30 Implant Seminar9:30-noon Observation and Patient Care
PM 1-4 Observation and Patient Care 1-4 Screening Exams and Patient Care

IV SEDATION
Course Director
Dr. Chris Maller
Dr. Mort Rosenberg

Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Richard Sobera
Dr. Stu Gould
Dr John Morgan
Dr. Michael Thompson

Goal:
To offer one exceptional, interested senior dental student an intensive didactic and clinical experience in conscious sedation techniques (oral, inhalation and intravenous) meeting the criteria promulgated in the American Dental Association Guidelines for the use of conscious sedation, deep sedation and general anesthesia.

Prerequisite:
Successful completion of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Objectives:
Oral Sedation
Participation in the Oral Sedation Clinic in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry

Nitrous Oxide - Oxygen Sedation
Participation in the nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation program and attending nitrous Oxide-oxygen sedation certification course

Airway Management
Participation in selected general anesthesia cases in NEMC and in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Intravenous Sedation
Participation in postdoctoral intravenous sedation procedures
predoctoral sedation clinic, Fernald sedation program.

Requirements:
1. Participant to be identified by Drs. Thompson and Rosenberg.
2. Attendance:
a. 1 day/week generally Fridays
b. May be excused for externship rotation
3. Oral and written examination at end of program

Resources:
Tuition for ACLS course

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGY
Dr. Michael Kahn

Goal:
To familiarize an exceptional and motivated senior dental student with the practice of clinical and surgical oral and maxillofacial pathology with special attention to practice in an academic setting.

Objectives:
At the end of the incentive period the student should:

• Be familiar with oral histology and able to render a correct histopathologic diagnosis on simple pathologic entities.
• Be familiar with clinical differential diagnosis criteria and have developed the ability to identify the most commonly encountered pathologic entities of the head and neck upon clinical presentation.
• Be able to assess clinical laboratory work required in aid of a clinical or histopathologic diagnosis.
• Be comfortable with the most common treatment modalities used in the management of oral diseases.
• Be comfortable in consulting with a patient's physician or surgeon.

Optional objectives:

• Participation in an oral pathology research project leading to an abstract in the annual oral and maxillofacial pathology meeting.
• Learning to critically review and discuss pathology articles.
• Presentation skills in oral pathology.

Activities:

• Participation in daily histopathologic sign out.
• Participation in histopathologic seminars of selected cases.
• Attendance at clinical consults and clinical oral pathology patients.
• Attendance of tumor board at NEMC.
• Independent study based on cases the student has seen.

Duration:

One to two months. If the student is interested in pursuing specialization in oral pathology after graduation, two months are advisable.

Evaluation:

Once a week, a feedback session will be held between Dr. Kahn and the student in order to assess progress, identify areas that need improvement and address questions.

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Dr. Maria Papageorge

Goal:
To expose the student to complex Oral and Maxillofacial surgical concepts and procedures.

Objectives:

1. Have the student be part of the Oral Surgery team in operating room cases.
2. Have the student be involved with care of clinic patients in a more independent and advanced level than what is usually the case with predoctoral students.
3. Engage the student in advanced treatment planning sessions.
4. Have the student prepare and give presentation of specific topics in the specialty.
5. Interest the student in advanced Oral Surgery.

Duration:

This program normally runs for two to three weeks.

ORTHODONTICS
Drs. Briss and Salem

Goals:
1. To give the predoctoral student a better understanding of the case management and treatment of one orthodontic patient in full treatment.
2. To give the predoctoral student some hands-on orthodontic treatment patient experiences such as: direct banding of brackets, removing and placing arch wires, prescription writing for removable orthodontic appliances and fitting molar bands.
3. To give the predoctoral student a more in-depth knowledge of diagnosis, treatment planning, biomechanics, orthodontic literature, and interaction with other specialties.
4. To give the predoctoral student further knowledge in managing restorative/prosthodontic treatment plans that also involve orthodontic treatment.

Program:

Number of students each month: 2
Length of program: 2 months

8-9 or 10am Seminar	8-9 or 10am Seminar	8-9 or 10am Seminar	8-9 or 10am Seminar	8-9 or 10am Seminar	8-9 or 10am Seminar
9 am –12 noon	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic
1-4:30 pm	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic	Clinic

Student must be present 2 1/2 days at least each week.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Dr. Anthi Tsamtsouris

Goals:

1) The student will assist faculty members and/or residents by assisting Third Year students, and any other students that are indicated, in the diagnosis and treatment planning of both new and recare pediatric patients, seen in the pediatric dental clinic. This involves patients who require periodontal, pulpal, endodontic, and orthodontic intervention. This will be during assigned Third Year rotation times, especially those times where a high number of pediatric patients are seen, or whenever the program director decides. The student will also assist and advise the rotation participants during the basic treatment (basic operative and periodontal procedures) of pediatric patients while remaining under the jurisdiction of the Pediatric Dentistry faculty.

2) The student will participate in all departmental seminars.

3) The student will participate in undertaking prevention measures with the pediatric patients, either with predoctoral or postgraduate residents, including: oral hygiene instruction, fluoride evaluation, nutritional counseling, parental counseling, and preventive diagnosis and treatment planning.

4) The student will also observe and assist residents during Operating Room procedures at New England Medical Center. During this experience, it is the desire that the student becomes accustomed with principles of pharmacology and anesthesiology of the pediatric patient. Furthermore, the student will focus on concepts of behavior management and the various avenues taken by the pediatric dentist.

5) The student will also have the opportunity to participate in and observe the treatment of medically compromised patients. These include patients seen at the Tufts Clinic, as well as at other areas, such as the Coiling School for the Handicapped.

PERIODONTOLOGY
Drs. Hanley and Rudy

The Department of Periodontology is pleased to announce the creation of a new Year 4 selective program in our discipline. The purpose of this program is to provide a unique opportunity to enhance the pre-doctoral program experience in periodontology by exposing a Year 4 student, who is interested and qualified, to:

1) basic science research in periodontology.
2) the practice of periodontics in a private practice setting.
3) post-graduate seminars and literature review sessions.

Participation Guidelines:
1) completion of pre-doctoral clinical requirements in periodontology.
2) class standing: candidate must be in upper half of class.
3) didactic course average must be 84 or higher.
4) student must be available 2 days per week for 6 weeks.
5) maximum # of students will be 3 in any given six-week period.
6) personal interviews with periodontal faculty advisory group.
7) a letter stating interest of candidate in the senior pre-doctoral selective program; this letter should be submitted directly to Dr. Terrence Griffin or Dr. Tim Hempton.

PROSTHODONTICS
Dr. Kiho Kang
Dr. Nui Chaimattayompol

Goal:
The primary goal of a prosthodontics elective honors program is to take exceptional Year 3 (summer Year 3) and Year 4 dental students and expose them to an advanced level of prosthodontic care.

Objectives:
1) To help the student understand screening, diagnosis and treatment planning procedures for advanced prosthodontic cases.
2) To familiarize the student with prosthodontic concepts by attending lectures or seminars provided by PG prosthodontics.
3) To learn advanced clinical procedures and skills by observing PG residents and instructors.
4) To introduce the students to advanced laboratory procedures.
5) To assign these students advanced prosthodontics patients when possible.

Duration:
The exceptional Year 3 students (identified by Drs. Chapman and Nui) and/or Year 4 predoctoral students who have shown an interest in advanced prosthodontics will have the opportunity to spend time in the PG prosthodontic clinic on the 2nd floor and treat advanced patients, when possible.

The second floor program consists of 2 days (Tuesday and Thursday) a week, seminar participation and clinical observation. This can be done at any time during the fourth year. The clinic care can be assigned anytime starting in spring of Year 3 and at the latest February of Year 4. The clinic care section of this program will be limited to very few students at the discretion of Dr. Chapman.

Guidelines:
The second floor portion of this program will consist mainly of attending lectures or seminars and of observing in the clinic and the laboratory. It will be focused upon the individual student's interest among the following areas:

• Identification of the complexity of prosthodontic cases.
• Understanding of treatment planning procedures.
• Familiarization of prosthodontic phase treatment case management.
• Exposure to advanced clinical laboratory procedures.

Schedule of lectures and seminars:

* Fall Trimester (September - December)

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM	Interdepartmental Seminar (8-9)	Perio-prostho Literature Review (8-9)		Prosthodontic Seminar (8-11)
PM		Advanced Prostho Seminar (5-6:30)

*Winter Trimester (January – May)

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM	Interdepartmental Seminar(8:00-9:00)	Implant Prosthodontics (8:00-9:20)		Prosthodontic Seminar(8:00-11:00)
PM		Advanced Prostho Seminar (5:00-6:30)

For the Patient Care portion of this program, Drs. Nui and Chapman will assign the patients and determine the schedule with each individual student.

An additional evening Diagnosis and Treatment Planning session may be added and offered to any Year 4 student applying to a PG program.

SPECIAL CARE
Dr. John Morgan

Goal:
The Elective Honors Program in Special Care is designed to provide clinical experience in the management of the oral health needs of people with developmental and other disabilities.

Objectives:

1. Gain direct patient care experience in assessing and managing the oral health needs of patients with mental retardation and physical disabilities.

2. Have exposure to pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of anxiety and behavior management for patients with developmental and other disabilities.

3. Under direct supervision provide dental care in the operating room environment.

4. Promote oral disease prevention for patients in the clinical environment as well as in community settings by doing oral disease risk assessments and customizing prevention programs.

5. Develop an appreciation for the medical, dental, and social needs of special needs patients and the development of appropriate care plans taking these factors into consideration. These include: legal issues such as guardianship and consents; staffing and coordination for the provision of dental care to the special needs population; education of caregivers providing day to day oral care to these patients so good oral health is maintained between dental visits.

6. Develop the ability to evaluate special needs patients for appropriate referral if unable to provide care in the current dental setting.

Duration:

3-week rotation at the Tufts Dental Facility Sites at Wrentham, Northwoods, or Fernald.

Guidelines:
The program will consist mainly of clinical experience while working closely with one of the Special Care attendings. Specialty clinics in oral surgery and periodontics are available. Exposure to IV sedation techniques and treating patients in the operating room environment can be incorporated into this rotation. Attendance at Special Care lectures is available and encouraged.

Click Here to Download a PDF version of the Application (shown below).