For many new dentists finding information and deciding on where to go for advanced educational training after dental student is a difficult and delayed process. But help is here!
SUBSCRIBE TO GET INSTANT NOTIFICATIONS & DRHAYES’ VIDEO TIPS
Follow these 6-steps which serve to guide you through the process….
1- LOCATION
Where do you want to live after training? where havent you lived before and where do you want to go to in the future?
Consider a place that will you could or would accept an associate position or even start-up you own practice/office.
2- PURPOSE
Define your purpose for doing a residency and WHAT exactly you are looking to accomplish. This is vital. This serve as your professional GPS as you start your career after school. Also note WHY you feel this is your purpose.
3- CONNECTIONS
Where have others you know trained? What was their experience? What type of feedback did they provide?
This step is critical not only for residency but also throughout your entire existence on this planet. You need others to co-exist with, and they need you too. Maintaining and establishing new friends and colleagues is part of the survival code. Ask graduating students the programs they looked at, applied to and visited. Go to student national meetings of the ADA, NDA, HSA, AGD etc and meet other students from other schools. They are a source of information.
SUBSCRIBE TO GET INSTANT NOTIFICATIONS & DRHAYES’ VIDEO TIPS
4- MAKE A LIST
Go online to ADEA to learn about the nearly 300 AEGD/GPR programs in the country. You can found out programs by state and by residency type: GPR or AEGD. Based on the first 3 steps make a list of 20 programs. Like the application process for dental school, applying to residency can be a numbers game. For example, you applied to 7 dental schools, received invitations to interview at 3 programs, got 2 acceptances at those 3 interviews. There are nearly 300 advanced education general dentistry programs, which is 3 times the number of dental schools (67). So if you applied to 7 schools and got 3 interviews and 2 acceptances, then you need to apply the same formula to the residency application process. You may need to consider applying to 15-20 programs to get the same ratio of interviews and acceptances like dental school. You do the math. The take away message is to just remember that it can be a numbers game depending on your preferences (location, purpose, connections).
5- RESEARCH
Now its time to do your due-diligence. Using the ADEA database and list of programs, start researching your 20 programs. Check GOOGLE too for the websites connected to these programs. Some you will find, some you may not. Therefore, you may need to call directly and inquire about the program and/or its website.
Formulate a list of questions based on your findings online.
SUBSCRIBE TO GET INSTANT NOTIFICATIONS & DRHAYES’ VIDEO TIPS
6- VISIT THE PROGRAM
Yes! Go visit the program. You need to about what you read or didnt read online. Also, this may get you recognized by the program director, staff and residents. All of whom may be involved in the interviewing and selection process at the program.
Ask questions, make observations, see if this environment is a place where you want to be. You need to do this for yourself as a candidate; meaning it will help you with your decision later. Don’t be discouraged about timing, travel costs, etc. Just get there and see for yourself IN PERSON. This is the best advice I can give.
Unfortunately there is not a Residency Guide yet. But it is coming!! Until then follow the 6 steps above and watch the magic happen. If you decide to actually apply to one of the programs you researched and visited, you may find yourself back there for an interview real soon!
