Pediatric Dentistry Residency

Our pediatric dental residency provides participants broad clinical experience in the treatment of infants, children and teens with a variety of healthcare needs. This includes healthy individuals and those with medically complex conditions, such as cardiac, hematological/oncology, craniofacial, transplant and neurologic conditions.

The didactic seminar series and core curriculum courses are prepared by board-certified dental and medical specialists with diverse backgrounds and expertise. These seminars will also have guest presenters, including local clinicians in private practice and public health settings, as well as speakers from:

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Emory University School of Medicine, Rollins School of Public Health, and Goizueta School of Business
• Georgia State University Center for Health Policy
• Georgia Institute of Technology

Medical rotations provide a full immersion into specific disciplines. The large metropolitan area of Atlanta brings a broad patient population and provides a unique learning opportunity to treat rare pathologies and genetic conditions. We strive to provide each participant the skills and competency necessary for the profession they will lead and compassion for the patients they will treat.

Clinical Experience:

• Hospital Rotations
• Operating Room
• Special Healthcare needs
• Minimal and moderate sedation
• Craniofacial clinic
• Emergency department call
• Oral surgery
• Community outreach
• Anesthesia
• Orthodontics
• Behavior guidance
• Trauma

Didactic experience:

• Weekly seminars
• Literature review
• Pediatric grand Rounds

Teaching experience:

• Case presentations
• Medical students / residents during rotations
• Interdisciplinary session with other health professionals
• Infant oral health
• Conference presentations

Facilities:

• 11 dental chairs/operatories
• 5 Hygienists
• 10 Dental assistants

Program Length and Number of Positions

This is a 24-month certificate program. Two positions are available each year.

Program Type

Hospital-based certificate program

Location

The dental residency will be based at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s three main campuses: Scottish Rite Hospital, Egleston Hospital and the Outpatient Surgery Center at Satellite Boulevard. The pediatric dentistry and orthodontics clinic is on the Scottish Rite Hospital campus; it is co-located with the Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders—one of the busiest craniofacial centers in the nation.

Profile Type: Hospital-based, certificate, full-time
Program director: Board certified
Program faculty: 5 full-time, 5 part-time, 10 board certified
Program Length: 24 months
Program Accreditation: Developing Program
Number of entering positions available: 2
Salary/Stipend: First year $60,884, second year $64,421

Program Strengths:

• Dedicated and experienced faculty
• Innovative healthcare system
• Large, diverse patient population
• Collaborative teamwork across medical disciplines
• Exceptional research opportunity

The didactic component of the residency program is based on clinical practice guidelines, best practices and oral health policies from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Reference Manual. The curriculum also covers the subject domains used for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification examinations.

Seminars are conducted every week of the two-year residency, and some pediatric residents and fellows will take select core curriculum courses. These include:

• Behavior guidance techniques (non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic methods), which are covered through a seminar series and clinical setting.
• Craniofacial growth principles and orthodontic courses, which are taught by board-certified orthodontists and pediatric dentists.

Resident rotations are composed of anesthesiology, pediatric medicine and emergency medicine. Each resident must also complete an original research project suitable for publication.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) initial accreditation site visit was successfully completed in January 2022. For the first year of the program (starting Nov. 1, 2022), all applications must be submitted via the CollegeNet application system. We will begin accepting applications starting on September 5, 2022. Interviews will take place a few weeks later for the Nov. 1, 2022 start date.

For all subsequent years (July 1, 2023 and beyond), applications are to be submitted via the CollegeNet application system by October 1, 2022. The National Matching Services Dental Match system will be used to help applicants secure a residency position.

Admission Requirements

All applicants to the pediatric dentistry residency must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from a United States or Canadian dental school
• Complete an application
• Submit a recent photograph
• Provide a curriculum vitae
• Participate in an interview

Participant in National Matching Service: Year 1 – No; Subsequent years – Yes
Participant in PASS – Year 1, No; Subsequent years – Yes
Only US Citizens from ADA accredited dental schools considered: Yes
US citizens from foreign dental school considered: No
Non-US citizens from ADA accredited dental schools: No
Non-US citizens from foreign dental schools considered: No

• JC Shirley, DDS, MS, MSc, Director, Dental Services / Program Director* (FT)
• Karen Uston, DDS, MS, Associate Program Director* (FT)
• Jack Thomas, DDS, Pediatric dentist* (FT)
• Brittany R. Waters, DMD, Pediatric dentist* (FT)
• Nikky Shotwell, DDS, Pediatric dentist* (PT)
• Michael Minyard, DMD, MPH, Pediatric dentist* (FT)
• Alpesh Patel, DMD, MS, Orthodontist* (PT)
• Rob Crawford, DMD, MS, Orthodontist* (PT)
• Patricia Mullins, MD, Pediatrics*
• Deborah Andresen MD, Pediatrics*
• Bruce Miller, MD, Pediatric Anesthesiology*
• Joseph Williams, MD, Director, Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders, Craniofacial / Plastic Surgery*
• John Riski, PhD, Speech and Language Pathology*
• Colin Brady, MD, Craniofacial / Plastic Surgery*
• Magdalena Soldanksa, MD, Craniofacial / Plastic Surgery*

Board Certified *

Full-time (FT)

Additional questions regarding the residency should be directed to:

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders
5461 Meridian Mark Rd., Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone (404) 785-3697
Fax (404)785-5892
Email: jc.shirley@choa.org

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

As the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the trusted leader in caring for kids. The not-for-profit organization’s mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow through more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals, and leading research and technology. Children’s is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing nearly one million patient visits annually at three hospitals, Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics and neighborhood locations. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has impacted the lives of kids in Georgia, across the United States and around the world for more than 100 years thanks to generous support from the community.