60 Minute Seminar

Educational Programs, Workshops, Seminars, New Idea Session, and Small Group Discussions

CD-011 - Lesions and Lasers: Educational Impact of an Interdisciplinary Clinical Course

Presenter(s)

• 

  Juliana Barros, D.D.S., M.S.

  University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
• 

  Shalizeh Patel, D.D.S.

  University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
• 

  Ngozi Nwizu, B.D.S., M.M.Sc., Ph.D.

  University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston
• 

  Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., M.S.

  The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

Target Audience: Faculty

Learning Focus: Curriculum Development

Dental Education: Oral Pathology  

Section/SIG: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, Lasers in Dentistry

General dentists must detect, diagnose and manage common oral lesions in their patients. As students, practitioners have limited clinical opportunities to manage oral pathology. There is a definite need to increase students' exposures to understand and perform uncomplicated oral biopsies. To address this educational dilemma, an interdisciplinary elective course, combining laser technology and oral pathology, was designed and implemented in our institution. This presentation reflects upon creation, implementation and outcomes of this course. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the value of an interdisciplinary clinical course where a team of faculty from different dental specialties teach senior students to diagnose, plan and perform uncomplicated biopsies.
• List the opportunities and challenges one may face when implementing a new course in already-packed dental curriculum.
• Explain the immediate outcome of such interdisciplinary collaboration.