Honors Programs

Students can apply to research honors at the time of admission to Penn Dental Medicine or the midpoint of their first or second years. Students must have a 3.5 science GPA to apply prior to matriculation as a first year student. Within the research honors program, students must identify a faculty mentor and plan, implement, and execute a hypothesis-driven research project over a one- or two-year period. In addition to their individually developed projects, all honors scholars participate in Research Day during which they must present a poster. In addition, they are required to write a Research honors thesis.

Director: Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, PhD battagli@upenn.edu

The Honor Clinical program provides senior dental students experience in treatment of multidisciplinary coordinated complex restorative cases. Emphasis on occlusion, treatment planning and current restorative concepts. This program also can enlighten students in deciding their future professional path in general dentistry or different specialties.

Contact: Dr. Nicholas Lias (nlias@upenn.edu)

The Honors Program in clinical research is open to talented incoming, second, third, and fourth year students who have an interest in human subjects research (clinical and translational) and wish to gain hands-on experience over a one-year period. Selected students will receive an introduction to clinical research rules and regulations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), study development, and clinical research operations. Students will gain experience in a variety of research settings which may include retrospective projects, observational studies, and clinical trials from different sponsor types. The actual projects available to students will depend on the current portfolio of the Clinical and Translational Research Center. Students will complete a small research project and will be required to present during the annual PDM Research Day.

The Honors Program in the Non-Rotation Clinical Research is open to incoming second, third, and fourth year students who have a clinical research project with a designated mentor that involves patient-oriented data to understand health and disease. Examples include, but are not limited to literature review and retrospective chart review. Students will be required to submit their application and proposal according to guidelines. Each application will be evaluated on the scientific merits of the study proposal, and alignment with CCTR’s goal of advancing understanding of human oral health and diseases. Students are expected to commit approximately 400 hours of research time and a final write up/thesis by March of the student’s D4 year. In addition to meeting with their mentors, students will also be meeting with Dr. Eugene Ko to assess their progress. Finally, students will be required to present during the annual PDM Research Day or ACCE Day.

Program Director: Eugene Ko, DDS (eugko@upenn.edu)

Students can pursue community health honors during their third or fourth year at Penn Dental Medicine. For community health honors, students plan and carry out an in-depth community health experience of at least 140 hours over a one-year period at an approved program site. All programs include a preventive care component as well as a quality improvement initiative at the community site. Approved programs sites include the Homeless Health Initiative of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PennSmiles, Philadelphia FIGHT, PHMC Cedar, Puentes de Salud and Trinity Mercy LIFE.

Director: Dr. Elizabeth Powell (elpowell@upenn.edu)

Open to senior students. Junior students can apply for the Endodontics Honors program in the Fall of their third year. HENDO is designed to provide an overall in-depth knowledge of all aspects of Endodontics above and beyond the graduate program level. Students will be taught endodontic concepts at increased depth, participate in Endodontic seminars, assist surgical procedures, and perform limited molar endodontic treatment. Furthermore, students will be assigned to assist on ongoing research projects, and their completed research project will be presented at the annual PDM Research Day and at the Annual Session of the AAE. The honors students will work closely with the directors.

Directors: Dr. Frank Setzer (fsetzer@upenn.edu); Dr. Sumin Lee (suminlee@upenn.edu).

The Honors in Dental Education and Community Engagement program is designed for dental students in their second, third or fourth years, who are considering a career as an academic clinician in dentistry. As part of this honors program, dental students will work with Career Pathways and the Penn Provost Rising Scholar Success Academy (PRSSA) for one academic year creating and completing an in-depth pre-dental education curriculum of virtual lectures and online interactive learning experiences, as well as providing opportunities for in-person engagement consisting of shadowing, hands-on skills training, simulation activities, and foundational research skills. The curriculum must provide a minimum of 100 contact hours with high school students recruited by the Career Pathways office.

The LEND Honors Program module is a national leadership training program offered through a collaboration between Penn Dental Medicine and the Leadership in Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Fellowship Program through the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The Honors program is open to talented D4 students who have demonstrated interest in the field of Special Care Dentistry and Medicine and seeking to apply to residency programs and/or be involved in advocacy and access to care for children with disabilities in their professional career.

Contact: Alicia Risner-Bauman (arbdds65@upenn.edu)

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery honors program allows selected 4th year dental students to learn about and perform more advanced surgical procedures (i.e. preprosthetic surgery, complex dental extractions, biopsies, etc.). This program allows honors students to enhance their clinical skills in oral surgery procedures, gain exposure to OR procedures, and better prepare them for possible careers in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Contact: John B Lankalis (John.Lankalis@pennmedicine.upenn.edu)

The Orthodontics Honors Program is open to fourth- year students. Students will be taught Orthodontic concepts at increased depth, participate in Orthodontics Postgraduate Lectures and assist clinical procedures. Students will actively participate in Orthodontic treatment including exposure to a variety of appliance usages, philosophies and techniques with the postgraduate residents under the supervision of attending clinical faculty. Additionally, students may be exposed to a variety of postgraduate Orthodontic lectures including multidisciplinary treatment, Craniofacial Anomalies, Biology and Biomechanics of Tooth Movement, Treatment planning seminar and Cephalometrics.

Contact: Michael Perillo (mperillo@upenn.edu)

Description of Programs

Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program (“Clinical Honors”) (D4 Year)

Open to fourth- year students ONLY. Students may apply for the Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program in their 3rd year.

This honors program allows the students to expand their knowledge about comprehensive treatment planning and pediatric patient care by participating in the advanced pediatric dentistry seminar series with the Pediatric Dental Residents and by using more advanced behavioral management procedures such as nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation. The honors students will enhance their clinical and didactic skills in pediatric restorative procedures such as stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies, pulpectomies, indirect pulp capping, anterior aesthetic restorations, etc. They will also have the opportunity to observe patients treated under oral conscious sedation or general anesthesia. All these activities will better prepare honors students for a residency program in Pediatric Dentistry. Students complete the Pediatric Dental honors requirement within the Pediatric Clinic and the Sedation Suite.

First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program with Exposure to Advanced Pediatric Dentistry Behavior Guidance Techniques (“First Five Clinical + Sedation Honors”)(4th Year)

Open to fourth-year students ONLY. Students may apply for the First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program in their 3rd year.

In this honors program, the students will be exposed and gain knowledge in sedation and operating room procedures as well as preventive dentistry practices in children under the age of six. They will increase their knowledge with behavioral and caries management techniques. The activities will enhance the honor students’ understanding of a residency program in Pediatric Dentistry. Students complete the D4 First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors requirements within the Pediatric Clinic and the Sedation Suite.

First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program with focus on Oral Disease Preventive Practices (“First Five Clinical Honors”)(3rd or 4th Year)

Open to third-year or fourth-year students. Students may apply for the First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program in their 2nd year or 3rd year, respectively.

In this honors program, the students will be exposed and gain knowledge in clinical preventive dentistry, behavioral, and caries management techniques throughout their rotations. The activities will give students opportunities to experience if a residency program in Pediatric  Dentistry is for them. Students complete the D3 First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors requirements within the Pediatric Clinic.

Student Selection Criteria and Process

• Students apply for the honors program in Pediatric Dentistry during their Second or Third Year in Dental school, depending on the program desired.
• Students must maintain a minimum 50 GPA throughout their Honors Program.
• Selected applicants will be interviewed by a Committee, composed by faculty members of the Pediatric Dentistry Division and Ms. Deanne Wallaert.

Application Requirements – Personal Statement

Students must submit a personal statement with their application. The personal statement must contain a detailed program plan, which describes the applicant’s scope, goals, objectives, and expectations of their involvement in the Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program.

Program Requirements

Clinical Pediatric Dentistry Honors (“Clinical Honors”) Requirements (4^th Year)

Once selected for the Honors Program, the selected students (2) will be required to spend one day every week in the Pediatric Clinic for 20 weeks (this schedule is arranged by Academic Affairs and is subject to change) under the supervision of the faculty assigned to teach therein. Additionally, the selected students will need to attend their D4 Pediatric Rotations throughout their senior year. Their transcripts will note their Honors designation.

The requirements for students in the Clinical Honors Program are as follows:

• Adhere to all General Honors requirements
• Attend clinic session as scheduled by Academic Affairs on
• Attend at least 5 Pediatric Dental Resident Seminars at Penn Dental Medicine (Fridays from 1-5PM)
• Complete at least 1 pediatric full mouth restorative case in the Pediatric Dental Clinic under nitrous oxide
• Observe at least 2 cases (1 rotation date) of Full mouth rehabilitation under General

Anesthesia at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)or at PDM

• Observe at least 2 cases of Oral/Intranasal Conscious Sedation at Penn Dental Clinic or Oral Sedation Suite
• Present a pediatric comprehensive treatment planning case to the Pediatric Dental residents and attendings during a Pediatric Dental Seminar (Fridays from 1-5PM)
• Attend the Kelner Conference at Albert Einstein Medical Center
• Present a pediatric comprehensive treatment planning case at Student Oral Health Fair
• Assist/Lead in the Pediatric Restorative Lab to the D3’s
• Have meetings with the Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Director

First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program with Exposure to Advanced Pediatric Behavior Guidance Techniques (“First Five Clinical + Sedation Honors”) Requirements (4^th Year)

Once selected for the Honors Program, the selected students will be required to attend rotations as assigned (this schedule is arranged by Academic Affairs and is subject to change) under the supervision of the faculty assigned to teach therein. Additionally, the selected students will need to attend their D4 Pediatric Rotations throughout their senior year. Their transcripts will note their Honors designation.

The requirements for students in the First Five Clinical + Sedation Honors Honors Program are as follows:

• Adhere to all General Honors requirements
• Attend clinic session as scheduled by Academic
• Observe at least 10 cases (with patients ages 3-5 years) of use of advanced pediatric dentistry behavior guidance techniques such as use of protective stabilization, oral/intranasal conscious sedation, General Anesthesia at Penn Dental Clinic or Oral Sedation Suite.
• Present a pediatric comprehensive caries management case to the Pediatric Dental residents and attendings during a Pediatric Dental Seminar (Fridays from 1-5 PM)
• Present a pediatric comprehensive caries management case at
• Assist/Lead in the Pediatric Restorative Lab to the D3’s.
• Have meetings with the Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Director and or Ms. Deanne Wallaert
• Work with faculty and pediatric dental residents to complete preventive oral health care with young children birth to age 5 and their families.

First Five Pediatric Dentistry Honors Program with Focus on Oral Disease Preventive Practices (“First Five Clinical Honors”) Requirements (3rd or 4th Year)

Once selected for the Honors Program, the selected students will be required to attend rotations as assigned (this schedule is arranged by Academic Affairs and is subject to change) under the supervision of the faculty assigned to teach therein. Additionally, the selected students will need to attend their D3 or D4 Pediatric Rotations throughout their junior/senior year. Their transcripts will note their Honors designation.

The requirements for students in the First Five Clinical Honors Honors Program are as follows:

• Adhere to all General Honors requirements
• Attend clinic session as scheduled by Academic
• Present a pediatric comprehensive caries management case at ACCE
• Have meetings with the Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Director and or Ms. Deanne Wallaert
• Work with faculty and pediatric dental residents to complete preventive oral health care with young children birth to age 5 and their families.
• Observe the residents during their clinical

Questions regarding the application and review process can be addressed to Dr. Joanie Jean: jeanj@upenn.edu, Dr. Evlambia (Betty Hajishengallis): evlambia@upenn.edu and Deanne Wallaert: Deannew@upenn.edu

The Periodontology Honors Program is open exclusively to fourth-year students. Interested students may apply during the fall semester of their third year. The program provides advanced knowledge and clinical experience beyond the standard predoctoral curriculum. Honors students work closely with the Program Director and other Periodontology faculty members through graduate Periodontics seminars, research activities, hands-on exercises, and individualized mentorship. The program’s goal is to prepare students to perform periodontal surgical procedures under one-on-one faculty supervision. Depending on each student’s progress and clinical readiness, potential experiences may include laser therapy, crown lengthening, open-flap procedures, osseous surgery, and more advanced procedures such as mucogingival surgery and implant placement. Director: Dr. Tun-Jan Wang (tjwang@upenn.edu)

Director: Dr. Tun-Jan Wang (TJ) (tjwang@upenn.edu)

The PROM (PCare, Radiology and Oral Medicine) Honors program is a multifaceted program. It allows selected 4th year dental students to learn extensively about the diagnosis and management of patients with various forms of disabilities, medical complexities and oral medicine needs. It also gives students the opportunity to enhance their comfort levels as relates to diagnosing maxillofacial conditions from imaging studies. Accepted candidates are expected to write a research proposal and present their findings at the annual PDM Advances in Clinical Care and Education (ACCE) Day.

Contact: Temitope Omolehinwa (omote@upenn.edu)

Vulnerable Populations Honors: This program is designed for dental students in their fourth year to serve the vulnerable population patients at PDM. Students apply in the fall of their third year. Students provide treatment to individuals whose social, emotional or health history may require additional interpretation and support. Comprehensive care is delivered to survivors of torture, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. Students will learn and practice trauma informed care, treating dentally complex cases on adults and children. Students work in pairs and participate in clinic one afternoon per week. The requirements to complete the course include clinic attendance, attendance at lunch and learns, and poster case presentation at PDM’s ACCE Day.

Director: Dr. Fairy Baxi (baxif@upenn.edu)