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Dental residents, fellow graduate from AF training program

  • Published
  • By Sue Campbell
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Twenty-four dentists, representing four branches of military service, graduated from the 59th Dental Training Squadron's residency and fellowship program June 24 during a ceremony in the Gateway Club here.

The Air Force, Army, Navy and Canadian graduates represented six residencies and one fellowship. They will be assigned to military dental clinics throughout the world, providing clinical dentistry for eligible beneficiaries, teaching at military graduate dental residency programs, or serving as dentists-in-charge of military dental clinics.

"This was an excellent experience," said Col. (Dr.) Michael Morris, endodontics resident and one of the graduates. "The first year I studied at the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School here in San Antonio and the second year I studied at Lackland. I had the best of both worlds with a lot of different experts to draw information from."

There are six residency programs and two fellowship programs at Lackland AFB. They include two-year residencies in Comprehensive General Dentistry, Endodontics, and Orthodontics; three-year residencies in Periodontics and Prosthodontics; a four-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; a one-year fellowship in Maxillofacial Prosthetics; and a two-year fellowship in Hospital Dentistry.

"The primary function of our graduate programs is to train outstanding specialist clinicians and educators, in addition to providing experience in cutting edge research," said Col. Thomas Schneid, 59th Dental Training Squadron commander.

Board certification procedures vary among the programs.

"After completion of residency training, additional specialty board certification is not required in order to practice their dental specialty," Colonel Schneid said. "Graduates of Air Force dental residencies have an extraordinarily high board certification rate, especially in Periodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, who have had 100 percent board certification for their graduating residents over at least the past three years."

The June 24 event marked the 52nd graduation ceremony the program has conducted. The guest speaker was Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Gar S. Graham, 79th Medical Wing commander, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. General Graham also serves as the Air Force Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services.

"Our programs rank among the best in the country," Colonel Schneid said. "Our residents consistently score among the top in the country on national in-service residency examinations and annually compete for, and often win, many research awards."

Ninety-five percent of the faculty is board certified in their specialties and many hold Master's of Science degrees, in addition to their specialty certificates. They frequently lecture in the local community, nationally and internationally.

"Our residents and fellows are great students, dedicated officers and have outstanding work ethics," Colonel Schneid said. "They and their families have made a joint commitment and many sacrifices to complete their education over the past one to four years. Our graduates are well prepared and will provide great care for their patients and great mentorship to young dentists."