Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Medical Doctorate program
To further our core mission of adding physicians to critically underserved areas of healthcare, we established an integrated 6-year Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS)/Medical Doctorate (MD) parallel curriculum program.
This new program builds on the strengths of Geisinger’s MD program and OMS residency program. In our new combined OMS-MD program, you’ll gain a deeper foundational knowledge of medicine, integrated with your subspecialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Application process
Application to the Geisinger OMS-MD program is available through the American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS). All completed applications are reviewed holistically, and select candidates are invited to interview for the OMS-MD program track.
The MD Admissions Committee, whose membership includes representation from the OMS Residency Program, has the ultimate authority regarding candidate acceptance into the OMS-MD program. Once the MD Admissions Committee selects candidates for admission to the MD program, the OMS Residency Program director generates a rank list and submits it to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Matched applicants will matriculate into the combined program to begin their training.
OMS-MD program overview
The 6-year integrated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Medical Doctorate program includes the awarding of:
- Medical degree (MD) from Geisinger School of Medicine
- Certificate in general surgery
- Certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery
Accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the OMS-MD track has been carefully designed to provide a comprehensive approach to the medical school and residency components of the program.
As a trainee in the OMS-MD program, you’ll be awarded your MD diploma at the end of your third year (OMS-MD 3), before starting your general surgery preliminary internship. Upon completing the program, you’re eligible for examination by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
You must pay medical school tuition during years 1 through 3 of the combined program. You’ll begin receiving a stipend and benefits at the start of the third year of the combined program.
Program outcomes will be monitored by the Geisinger School of Medicine Medical Curriculum Committee, the OMS Residency leadership, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Medical school
Your Total Health Curriculum will start with the Transition to Phase One (medical school orientation) course, held in the Medical Sciences Building in Scranton. Then you’ll complete all components of the Phase One curriculum, including Integrated Science (ISC) and Patient and Physician Centered Care (PPCC) courses, also in Scranton.
During Phases Two and Three, you will be based at the Northeast Regional Campus/Learning Community and will complete the majority of your clinical rotations at:
- Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (Wilkes-Barre – Level I Trauma Center)
- Geisinger Community Medical Center (Scranton – Level II Trauma Center)
Both centers are part of the OMS Residency Program. Faculty at Geisinger Medical Center (Danville – Level I Trauma Center) will offer added clinical experience.
You are expected to complete:
- USMLE Step 1 after finishing Phase One
- USMLE Step 2 after completing Phase Two
- USMLE Step 3 during your Preliminary Surgery Internship year
Residency
Besides fulfilling all MD program requirements, as a trainee in the dual degree program, you will complete other clinical training components outlined by CODA. These include:
- 120 weeks of clinical OMS training (including 52 weeks at the senior level)
- 20 weeks of Anesthesia, with 4 weeks dedicated to Pediatric Anesthesia
- 8 weeks of Medicine
- 16 weeks of Surgery
Clinical rotations and electives in the OMS curriculum are carefully selected to build upon your foundational training in the MD program. These rotations include:
- Adult and Pediatric Anesthesia
- Internal Medicine
- Acute Care and General Surgery
- Critical Care
- Neurosurgery
- Otolaryngology
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
This comprehensive training prepares you to practice oral and maxillofacial surgery confidently and competently. You’ll also develop the ability to critically evaluate and report scientific literature, as well as work effectively within multidisciplinary teams to diagnose, plan treatment and manage complex patient cases.