Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

  • DDS or DMD degree from an American Dental Association approved dental school
  • Must have passed the INBDE or Part 1 and Part 2 National Board Dental Examination to apply 
  • Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT) is recommended

Interview

Some applicants will be chosen for admission interviews, which are required before acceptance.

Match

The General Practice Residency Program participates in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program.

Second-Year

The second-year (PGY2) option in the General Practice Residency Program is open to residents who have or will successfully complete an appropriate accredited PGY1 program. Applicants outside of this program are accepted on a competitive basis.

The second-year program does not participate in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program. Applicants should submit:

  • Letter of intent
  • Resume
  • Letter of recommendation from their program director
  • Two letters of recommendation from faculty members of their dental school or their first-year program

The above information should be sent to:

Dr. Gregory Bunza
College of Dental Medicine
P & S Box 20
630 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
gnb3@columbia.edu
212-305-7626

Selection Criteria

The program’s admissions committee uses the following criteria for evaluating the candidates’ applications:

  • Academics and class standing
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Honors and awards
  • National Boards Scores
  • Interest in hospital dentistry
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Professional experiences
  • Research and publications

Appointment Requirements

Before an applicant can be appointed to the program on July 1st of program year, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital will require the following:

  • New York State limited permit or valid New York State dental license
  • Copy of dental school diploma
  • Medical clearance through NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Occupational Health Service
  • Successful completion of the hospital’s orientation process

Policies

  1. Non-Discriminatory Policy
    It is the policy of the General Practice Residency Program to provide equal opportunity to all applicants for appointment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, age, sex, sexual orientation or affectional preference, and without regard to disability or handicap of qualified persons, within the meaning and subject to the conditions applicable federal, state and city laws.
  2. Diversity Mission Statement
    To establish the General Practice Residency as a program that attracts, supports, and retains diverse residents, demonstrated through its commitment to social justice, its respectful and vibrant community, and its encouragement and support of each individual in the achievement of his or her full potential.
  3. Policy Statement on Infectious Diseases
    1. New York State law requires newly appointed residents to provide proof of immunity to Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (MMR). If immunity to MMR cannot be documented, immunization must be initiated immediately.7
    2. Newly appointed residents must present to the Occupational Health Service an original or verified copy document of a laboratory titer test result demonstrating immunity to the Hepatitis B virus. If the applicant has a negative titer, i.e. has not been immunized nor has had Hepatitis B or such documentation is not available, applicants must begin the immunization process immediately. Immunization requires 3 injections over several months. (Please note that a “letter” from your physician is not acceptable as evidence of sufficient antibody levels; an actual copy of the laboratory report giving exact antibody levels to the hepatitis B virus is required.)
    3. It also is required that residents be tested for tuberculosis annually. The Occupational Health Service performs this test. If a positive reaction occurs or if the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine was received more than six years before, six months of isoniazid therapy is to be started immediately.
    4. All of the above matters are and will remain confidential.

Licensing

Attending this program in New York does not necessarily allow students without a DDS/DMD from an ADA accredited program to practice dentistry in the US. For more information about licensing issues, please contact the responsible State Department of Education or the American Dental Association.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine does not and will not provide a letter certifying that an international student who has completed this program is qualified for a US DDS.

How To Apply

  • The application deadline is October 15th of the year prior to program admission.
  • Students must apply to the program through the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS), via the PASS website.  All information including recommendation evaluations and National Board scores should be submitted through PASS.
  • Send a 2x2 inch photograph to:

Dr. Gregory Bunza
College of Dental Medicine
P & S Box 20
630 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
gnb3@cumc.columbia.edu
212-305-7626