Postgraduate Program in Pediatric Dentistry 
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry
Howard University
600 W Street, N.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20059
Phone: (202) 806-0308
Fax: (202) 806-0354
Email: latoya.barham@howard.edu

Program Length and Number of Positions

This is a two year program beginning the first of July of each year. Six positions are authorized for the first-year class.

Program Type

University-based certificate program.

Application

The PASS application is the only application required. There are no application requirement waivers and there is no supplemental application. 
PASS Application
Official Dental School Transcript 
2 PEF Evaluations
National Dental Score Report 
The program accepts foreign trained dentists. Each applicant must submit their TOEFL stcores through the PASS

Description

The Pediatric Dental Residency program at Howard University is school based with tuition cost of               $42,631 each year. Traditionally, there is no tuition assistance provided, unless a grant has been awarded. Currently, the program has been awarded a Postdoctoral Training in Pediatric Dentistry Grant from HRSA that offers yearly tuition assistance for residents through 2025. This grant has a special focus on the underrepresented (African American, Hispanic, American Indian) minority trainee to increase this demographic in the pediatric dental workforce. The program emphasizes the application of biological, physiological, and psychological principles during the periods of physical and emotional development of the infant, child and adolescent and patient with special health care needs. An appreciation for and understanding of the role of preventive measures, community dental health programs for children, growth and development and orthodontics, and exposure to sedation, hospital practice and research are also areas of emphasis. Residents also take a series of sequenced graded courses that provide the necessary didactic background for appropriate evidence-based dentistry.

Residents participate in numerous community events to include but are not limited to: Special Olympics Special Smiles, Give Kids A Smile, and Health Science Outreach Program Yes (H.O.P.E. Yes) in addition to multiple oral health screenings and community education events throughout the Washington Metropolitan areas to provide much needed service to the underserved and uninsured. Participation in organized dentistry is emphasized in the program along with service in the local and global communities.

Core Values: Teaching. Learning. Service.

Curriculum

The program's goals include: 

  1. To produce pediatric dentistry graduates who have clinical and didactic experiences that will equip them with the skills, knowledge and competence needed to practice and teach pediatric dentistry.
  2. To prepare pediatric dentistry residents to participate in and successfully complete the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) board certification examination and achieve Diplomate status following matriculation from the program.
  3. To encourage residents to participate in organized dentistry on a local, state and/or national level.
  4. To prepare matriculating postgraduate residents to make meaningful contributions to the body of knowledge through quality evidence based research.


The curriculum is designed to encompass the progressive graded sequence of formal courses and hospital experiences in the theory and practice of pediatric dentistry at the postgraduate level.

The residents participate in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of patients in the various clinics they rotate through during their matriculation in the program. They provide comprehensive and preventive dental treatment to the patients and make appropriate referrals to specialists as needed. The hospital rotations provide the residents with the experience in the areas of anesthesia, trauma, emergency management and medical assessments for the pediatric and special needs patients.

Program Stipend and Tuition

First year tuition and fees is $42,631. Second-year tuition is $42,631.

Facilities

The residents matriculate in a variety of facilities during the 2 years which include the following:
The Howard University College of Dentistry
The Howard University College of Medicine
The Howard University Hospital
The Children’s Hospital National Medical Center
The Spanish Catholic Center
Mary's Center Dental Clinic 

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have available the following items to be considered for admission:

  1. D.D.S., D.M.D., or non-U.S. equivalent from an accredited dental school
  2. Dental and preprofessional education transcript
  3. letters of recommendation
  4. National Board of Dental Examination Scores (Part I and Part II)
  5. Non-English speaking applicants require the TOEFL/must demonstrate proficiency in the English Language and mastery of concepts of procedures which are basic to the practice of dentistry, if the applicant possesses a foreign dental degree
  6. Must possess at least a 3.0 GPA in dental school

Program Strengths

The Pediatric Dental Residency Program at Howard University is proud to offer a diverse faculty and staff. All current dental faculty are board certified in pediatric dentistry and one is double board certified in pediatric anesthesiology. In addition, the program offers a full-time faculty attending with a PhD in Epidemiology to increase research efforts. Located on the main campus of Howard University, the program has access to various schools and colleges on campus, to include the new state of the art Howard University Health Sciences Simulation Center, to enhance interprofessional collaboration and body of knowledge.

Program Faculty

Dr. LaToya Barham*, Department Chair and Postdoctoral Program Director 
Dr. George Thomas*, Professor and Chair Emeritus

Full-Time
Dr. Jonathan Bacon*
Dr. Bianca Dearing*
Dr. Stephen Grimm III*
Dr. Debra Jeffries* 
Dr. Leslie Lawrence*, Predoctoral Program Clinical Director 
Dr. Jennifer Wilson*

Part-Time
Dr. Stella Chukwu*
Dr. Shorheh Sharif*

* Board Certified

School Profile

 

Program Type: University-based
Certificate
Program Director: Full-Time
Board Certified
Program Faculty: 7 Full-Time
2 Part-Time
9 Board Certified
Program Length: 24 Total Months
July 1 Start Date
Program Accreditation: Approved
State Licensure: Restricted License Available
Number of Entering Positions: 6
Tuition In-State: 42,631 First Year
42,631 Second Year
Tuition Out-Of-State: 42,631 First Year
42,631 Second Year
Salary/Stipend:  
Application: 25 Fee
October 1 Deadline
Participant in National
Matching Service:
Yes
Participant in PASS: Yes
Only US citizens from ADA 
accredited dental schools 
considered:
No
US citizens from foreign dental 
schools considered:
Yes
Non-US citizens from ADA 
accredited dental schools 
considered:
Yes
Non-US citizens from foreign 
dental schools considered:
Yes
Acceptance Applicant Ratio: 1:15
Clinic Experience: Orthodontics
Conscious Sedation
Hospital Rotations
General Anesthesia
Emergency Call
Operating Room
Oral Surgery
Infant Oral Health
Medically Compromised
Mentally Disabled
Craniofacial Disorders
Physically Disabled
Community Clinics
Outreach
Public Health
Minimal and Moderate Sedations
Special Health Care Needs
Behavior Guidance
Didactic Experience: Seminars
Literature Review
Courses
Case Conferences
Lectures
Research Requirement: Data Collection Project
Teaching Experience: Yes Clinic Half-Days
Yes Lecture/Presentations
Facilities: 12 Chair/Operatories
1 Clinic Receptionist
3 Dental Assistants
1 Dental Hygienists