As subdivision of the Jefferson department Oral and Maxillofacial surgery , the Advanced Dental Education Program in Orofacial Pain will offer a hospital-based experience in the management of complex orofacial pain cases.

The residents will receive high level education and training to acquire appropriate skills in the diagnosis and management of orofacial pain condition.

The content of the didactic curriculum is based on the American Academy of Orofacial Pain Guidelines and the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

The goals of the Advanced Dental Education Program in Orofacial Pain are:

• Provide graduates with adequate preparation for examination and certification in orofacial pain;
  
  The residents should demonstrate the knowledge required in orofacial pain and understand the complexity of the field in order to manage patient care. The education acquired will provide the tolls for successfully pass the examination and board certification in orofacial pain
• Prepare graduates to demonstrate an understanding of the many factors associated with orofacial pain and competency in diagnosis and management of orofacial pain
  
  The didactic activities with relative assessments, and the critical thinking process during clinical activities should demonstrate the understanding of underlying causes of orofacial pain, and the competence acquired by the residents in the formulation of the differential diagnosis, management and treatment of orofacial pain cases.
• Prepare graduates to become specialists and leaders in their field with the desire to improve orofacial pain in all populations
  
  Residents should demonstrate an interest in expanding their knowledge in orofacial pain, an exemplary grasp of didactic and clinical curriculum, and a desire to improve orofacial pain in all patients
• Provide graduates with opportunities to gain knowledge in a variety of subspecialties
  
  Residents are expected to acquire knowledge in a variety of subspecialties thanks to rotations in the Jefferson Health Headache Center – Jefferson Hospital for the Neurosciences, Jefferson Health – Department of Neurological Surgery, Jefferson Health Sleep Disorders Center, Jefferson Health Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Jefferson Health Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Provide residents with opportunities to gain knowledge through hands-on research and scholarly activity
  
  Residents are expected to demonstrate significant involvement in scholarly activities in order to gain and apply knowledge to improving the diagnosis and care of orofacial pain patients. Clinical trials are conducted in the orofacial pain department. The residents will be actively involved in the development and execution of the active research or new projects active in the department.
• Enable graduates to function effectively within both orofacial health care teams and other disciplines to provide quality care for a variety of patients with orofacial pain
  
  Residents are expected to interact with other specialists of the dental and medical fields in a professional and productive manner in order to effectively facilitate patient healthcare.
• Encourage and apply values of professional ethics, patient-centered care, lifelong learning, a commitment to communication, diversity, and respect, and healthcare advocacy throughout all communities
  
  The resident is expected to exemplify the values of ethics and diversity of Jefferson Health and contribute to healthcare advocacy throughout all communities

The resident will be involved in didactic, clinical and research activities. The didactic will be offered as frontal lectures and self-study. The clinical activities involve rotation in the Orofacial Pain Division and in the following Jefferson Health/SKMC entities: Headache Center – Jefferson Hospital for the Neurosciences, Department of Neurological Surgery, Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The students will learn how to critically review a research paper during weekly journal club and will be directly involved in the development of research projects. By the end of the program, the resident has to publish a scientific article on a per-review paper.

Jefferson's Mission, Vision, Values

As an academic medical center within a regional healthcare system, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals are dedicated to excellence in patient care, providing quality clinical settings and positive role models to health professional students, and developing improved methods of healthcare and healthcare delivery in a cost-effective manner.

This mission is achieved through our shared values:

• Excellence and innovation
• Integrity and respect
• Teamwork and communication

Our patients choose us for our advanced medicine and clinical excellence; they will remember our compassion, respect, and outstanding service.

Our shared values and quality standards will be evident in everything we do and say.

Our commitment to learning and discovery will be evident to health profession students and researchers, and in the opportunities we provide to employees for professional and personal growth.