The Division of Endodontics became an independent entity 1965 after having been a part of the Operative Division. The postgraduate education started shortly thereafter. During this time Endodontics Departments were formed at most American universities. The development of Endodontics as a specialty markedly progressed after the formation of separate, independent departments of Endodontics. Columbia University's Endodontics postgraduate program has always been attractive. During the years the number of applicants has steadily increased. Presently, there are more than 22 applicants for each available slot.
Academic/Professional responsibilities/Organization
The Division of Endodontics is responsible for predoctoral education, postdoctoral/specialty education, and patient care within the field of Endodontics carried out by pre- and postdoctoral students. The Division is also responsible for research and development within or related to the field of Endodontics. In order to carry out these tasks the Division has two programs, an undergraduate program and a postgraduate program. In addition to these programs the Division is responsible for its own development and for its participation in the functions of the School of Dental and Oral Surgery.
Predoctoral Program
The predoctoral program consists of three courses: a preclinical course, a junior clinical course, and a senior clinical course.
The goal of the predoctoral endodontics program is to educate the student through a planned sequence of courses and supervised clinical training to make the student an endodontically qualified general practitioner.
Postdoctoral Program
The two track endodontics postgraduate program offers the following:
1. a 24 months certificate program
2. a 36 months combined certificate and Master of Arts degree.
The goal of the postgraduate Endodontics program is to educate the student through a planned sequence of advanced courses and supervised clinical training to make the student a qualified endodontist, who has sound biomedical knowledge combined with proficient clinical skills.
The postdoctoral students are taking core courses together with the other postgraduates. This gives the opportunity to discuss topics from different vantage points. An interdisciplinary seminar series brings them together for treatment planning, treatment sequencing, and discussions. Clinically the postgraduate clinics work closely together. Often treatments are carried out by two postgraduates from different areas both doing their special form of therapy and also assisting each other.
DIVISION OF ENDODONTICS
The Division is headed by a director, who presently also is the program director for the postdoctoral endodontics program. There is a director for the undergraduate endodontics program.
Programs offered by the Division:
Predoctoral Program
Postdoctoral Program
Area of Concentration
Continuing Education
Predoctoral Program
The predoctoral director and five part-time faculty members are totally committed to the predoctoral program. The three other full-time faculty members participate in undergraduate teaching, but also in the other programs.
Postdoctoral Program
The division director/postgraduate director devotes most of his time to the postgraduate program. Two full-time faculty members participate in the program. Nineteen part-time faculty devote their teaching time to the program.
Area Of Concentration
One part-time faculty member is totally committed to the program. The division director participates to a certain extent. Second year postgraduate students also teach in this program.
Continuing Education
The division director is responsible for the program. The division gives courses, accepts foreign dentists for time periods of different lengths, and faculty members lecture outside the CDM.
Contribution to other parts of the University/Medical Center.
The Postgraduate Program has two tracks the certificate program and the combined MA-certificate program. The MA degree is given in cooperation with the the School of Arts and Sciences.
The Division of Endodontics has a research project in the making with the Columbia University Engineering School.
Drs Hasselgren, Calev are participating in a major project run by the Department of Epidemiology of the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University.
Drs Hasselgren and Calev participate in the newly formed Center for Oral, Facial, and Head Pain. This is a multispecialist center which already has triggered interspecialty cooperations not only in patient care, but also in research.
For information about the programs - email Dr. Gunnar Hasselgren |
