Visiting Scholar/Dentist

Participants will enjoy a rich and unique cultural environment due to the diverse population we serve and the different backgrounds of the faculty and students. They will be able to interact on a daily basis with a renowned pediatric dental faculty as well as our graduate and dental students. They will be able to participate in most educational activities being offered at the time of the visit in both the pre-doctoral and graduate level. Lectures, seminars, case presentations and discussions focus on literature reviews of classic and contemporary articles, clinical care options, preventive strategies and research related to oral health for children and adolescents with and without special health care needs.

Observation of clinical care of patients will be done at The Center for Pediatric Dentistry clinic, including its faculty practice. Clinical care may include the use of nitrous oxide and/or conscious oral sedation. Dental care under general anesthesia may be observed at our Dental Surgery Center (DSC) if appropriate scheduling arrangements are prepared in advance. In addition to observing the pediatric dental faculty and students, participants may also have the opportunity to interact with other dental specialists who participate actively in the delivery of care to our patients.

Summer

• Fundamentals of Pediatric Dentistry* (which includes introductory topics in caring for children with special health care needs, hospital dentistry, pediatric medicine, behavior guidance, and advocacy)
• Interprofessional Education*
• Craniofacial Development (online)
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Head and Neck Anatomy

Fall

• Fundamentals of Pediatric Dentistry* (which includes topics in prevention, caries diagnosis and risk assessment, health promotion, trauma prevention, and fluoride)
• Interprofessional Education*
• Behavior Management
• Research Methods
• Orthodontics
• Practice Management*

Winter

• Fundamentals in Pediatric Dentistry* (which includes topics in restorative care, use of curing lights and lasers, review of various dental materials such as glass ionomers, child abuse and neglect, child advocacy and social determinants of health)
• Interprofessional Education*
• Principles of Sedation
• Trauma
• Orthodontics

Spring

• Fundamentals in Pediatric Dentistry* (which includes topics in oral pathology, oral medicine, oral surgery, periodontics, and advocacy)
• Interprofessional Education*
• Pulp Therapy
• Pediatric Oral Radiology
• Global Oral Health

Most didactic courses are for the first-year residents, but second-year residents also attend the courses with an asterisk* – i.e., the quarterly Fundamentals of Pediatric Dentistry classes, the Interprofessional Education classes, and the Practice Management course. Course selection and timing are subject to change

In addition to the program fee (see table below), visiting scholars and dentists are responsible for their own housing, food, and medical/dental insurance fees as well as for visa, travel and personal expenses. Neither the School of Dentistry nor The Center for Pediatric Dentistry has funds to assist participants with their travel or living expenses, or staff to help them secure outside funding. For visa purposes, visiting scholars must be able to show that they can meet the minimum support requirements for themselves and their dependents. Fees must be paid before arrival; if the Visiting Scholar/Dentist is staying for longer than one week, the first week’s fee will be waived.

Program Fees:

• $2,000/week
• $5,000/month
• $9,000/quarter (three months)
• $16,000/six months/two quarters
• $30,000 /year/four quarters

The program application which can be found on The Center’s website, should be submitted together with a non-refundable fee of $100 made out to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. After application materials have been reviewed by the committee, a phone interview with the

Visiting Scholar/Dentist Program Director and/or Department Chair will be required before admittance. In addition, applicants must provide the following materials requested on the Application Form:

• Curriculum Vitae (It should be up to date, including all training, publications, and experiences that might be relevant to an experience at theUW Department of Pediatric Dentistry.)
• Statement of Purpose (It should be a statement of intent that outlines your goals for your visit to Pediatric Dentistry. In short, why do you want to visit and why is the UW Department of Pediatric Dentistry a preferred site to attain your goals.)
• Faculty Advisor Approval (A UW School of Dentistry faculty member who has expressed interest in working with the Visiting Scholar must verify interest to the Visiting Scholar/Dentist coordinator in writing for inclusion in the application file. If no faculty member is noted on the application, the Coordinator will attempt to identify faculty advisors or mentors based on faculty availability and will try to match a faculty member with the interests and goals of the applicant.  In any case, a host member of the UW School of Dentistry must be identified prior to application approval.)
• Two letters of recommendation (Letters should come from faculty or other professionals in dentistry who can best evaluate you for a positive experience in the United States. Letters should be addressed to the Visiting Scholar/Dentist Program Director, Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario.)
• Letter of Financial Support from Sponsoring Institution/Employer (Evidence of sufficient funding to support the Scholar’s/Dentist’s living and transportation costs is required for all non-U.S. applicants to process visa requests. Support required currently stands at $2,100 a month minimum for the Visiting Scholar/Dentist, $1,200 for accompany spouse, and $600 per child. Funding may not be provided solely by personal or family funds.  Personal and family funds may supplement but not substitute for institutional, governmental or agency funding. All financial documents must be submitted in English with the visiting scholar’s name, funding source, and the exact amounts in U.S. dollars. For specific details, please see information on Funding for J-1 Visa Exchange Visitors.)
• Proof of Highest Academic Degree ((photocopies sufficient) is required to process visa requests.  Documents should be in English or be translated into English.)
• J-1 English Proficiency Requirement (All J-1 exchange visitors must be proficient enough to participate successfully and are subject to this requirement.  Sponsoring departments are required to document English proficiency through one or more objective measurements as outlined in the International Scholars Office website.  Please see J-1 English Proficiency Requirement for information and documentations needed to meet the English proficiency requirement.)
• A Copy of a Current License (from the applicant’s home)

Applicants will not be allowed in the program until all documents have been received and verified. We regret that not all applicants can be accepted into the program.

If selected, the Visiting Scholar will provide the following materials before beginning the program:

1. Documentation of health insurance coverage during your visit here
2. Proof of required immunizations
3. Data Security and Patient Confidentiality Understanding form
4. Proof of malpractice liability coverage during your visit here

Benefits

• Faculty Interactions: Discuss areas of common interest in education and research with Pediatric Dentistry faculty, residents, dental students, and faculty in other departments.
• Office Space: Office space may be available at The Center for Pediatric Dentistry, generally on a shared-office basis.
• Computer Access: Computer access is available in offices; however, visitors may be required to use their own computers.
• Didactic Courses: Visiting Scholars/Dentists are encouraged to attend lecture courses, journal club, and seminars in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
• Observing Clinics: Visiting Scholars/Dentists will be allowed to observe clinical activities at The Center for Pediatric Dentistry. Visiting Scholars/Dentists must be accompanied at all times by the host or other faculty and with clear ID and the proper clinical attire. Observation in the Faculty Practice Clinic at The Center will be at the discretion of the faculty practicing that day. Visiting Scholars/Dentists must meet all federal and state compliance guidelines (training, immunizations, etc.) prior to observations in any clinic.
• Research: All Visiting Scholars/Dentists are encouraged to attend research seminars in the Department. If the Visiting Scholar/Dentist is interested in participating in ongoing research projects at The Center, he/she must discuss it with the Visiting Scholar/Dentist Program Director prior to arriving to discuss his/her interests. Data relating to research done at UW is property of the University and may not be used elsewhere without authorization. All publications resulting from participation in the program must be approved by the principal investigator or faculty mentor, and published according to prevailing ethical and professional standards.
• Other: Visiting Scholars/Dentists may also be interested in participating in the Summer Institute in Clinical Dental Research. Participation is competitive and separate from this program. Attendance at any regional, national or international conferences is encouraged, but the Visiting Scholar will be responsible for all costs associated with such meetings (membership, registration, travel, etc.).
• Parking: there is free parking around The Center for Pediatric Dentistry

Responsibilities and Limitations

• Living Arrangements: Visiting Scholars/Dentists are responsible for all housing, transportation, and personal costs while at the University of Washington. They must make their own living and transportation arrangements. The department may be able to guide the applicant to various resources but will not be responsible for those arrangements.
• Employment at the University and/or at The Center: participation in the program does not warrant any employment opportunities or acceptance into the graduate program in pediatric dentistry.
• Patient Treatment: Scholars/Dentists may not participate in any clinical care while at the
• Professional Behavior: Scholars/Dentists are expected to conduct themselves within all standards of ethical and professional behavior while at the Professional attire is required at all times while at The Center.
• Health Insurance: Scholars/Dentists are expected to have health insurance coverage while they are at the University.
• Licensure: Completion of the program does not qualify participants for licensure in the US nor credentials them as pediatric dentists. Participants will receive a departmental letter at the end of the program stating their date of participation. No diploma or certificate will be issued.