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For Students

Graduate residency program

Introduction

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Upon successful completion, the program awards a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and the UW Graduate School awards a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD).

Graduate Program

The Department of Pediatric Dentistry shares the University’s overall mission to generate and disseminate knowledge and to serve the community. Through its exemplary educational, research and service programs the Department:

  • Educates pediatric dentists for a lifetime of continuous learning and leadership;
  • Generates new knowledge through basic and clinical research;
  • Promotes effective preventive measures to ensure a lifetime of oral health; and
  • Collaborates with other disciplines and organizations to develop policies to increase access to oral health care for all people.

The advanced education in pediatric dentistry program at the University of Washington  is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Successful completion of the two-year program leads to a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD). We strongly encourage all graduates to seek APBD Board Certification upon graduation.

This is a joint Certificate/Master’s degree program. Students must be accepted to the Pediatric Dentistry Program and the Graduate School at the University of Washington. The research component will result in the award of a Master of Science in Dentistry.

The majority of training is carried out in two primary teaching sites: The Center for Pediatric Dentistry and Seattle Children’s Hospital (SCH), which are 2.3 miles apart. SCH is a highly regarded tertiary care pediatric medical center.

The Center for Pediatric Dentistry Clinic:

  • Continuity clinic for healthy children
  • Continuity clinic for children with mild/moderate special healthcare needs
  • Daytime emergencies clinic
  • Autism clinic
  • Sedation clinic
  • Dental surgery center for oral rehabilitation under general anesthesia
  • Teaching clinic for UW undergraduate dental students

Seattle Children’s Hospital:

  • Continuity clinic for children with severe special healthcare needs
  • Inpatient consults
  • Emergency Department (after-hours dental emergencies)
  • Craniofacial team
  • Medical subspecialties
  • Hospital main operating room for oral rehabilitation under general anesthesia
  • Odessa Brown Community Clinic

Application Prerequisites

  • Applicant must hold a DDS or DMD degree from accredited college/university in the United States or equivalent degree from a foreign institution.
  • Must be eligible for state dental limited license.
  • Must have passed Part 1 of the National Board exam.
  • Must be proficient in the English language and meet the requirements as described by the UW Graduate School.
  • Student’s record should be strong with an average of grade B or better.

  1. The program participates in the PASS (Postdoctoral Application Support Service), phone 202-667-4015. The deadline for PASS applications is September 17 preceding matriculation. Our program does not require the ADA Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT) but will accept the scores as part of the application.
  2. The program also participates in the National Matching Program, phone 716-282-4013. The program code for the UW Pediatric Dentistry residency program is 4363.
  3. We recommend waiting to apply to the UW Graduate School until after the Match (late January). The application is online  and the phone is 206-543-5900.
  4. Send directly to the Department:

An application processing fee of $50.00 (check or money order) made to UW Department of Pediatric Dentistry with your full name and PASS ID number in the memo and mailed to the Program Manager (address below).

Cheryl Shaul
Graduate Program Manager
The Center for Pediatric Dentistry
6222 NE 74th Street
University of Washington
Seattle WA 98115

Your application must be complete in order to be reviewed by members of our selection committee.

Interviews

If you are selected as an interview candidate, you will be notified by phone and/or mail. Interviews will be by invitation after review of all applicants.

Stipends are available for U.S citizens, holders of certain visas, and for permanent residents of the U.S. For fiscal year 2024-25 stipends are as follows:

  1. First year: $76,032
  2. Second year: $78,660

Stipends will be increased each year if approved. Students are expected to pay their own tuition. US citizens will be eligible for an out-of-state tuition waiver for the first year so they may establish residency to qualify for in-state tuition. Tuition for the academic year 2024-25 will be approximately $29,000 for in-state residents and $51,000 for out-of-state residents. Non-supported students must be able to demonstrate the ability to pay all university expenses.

Use this application checklist to help determine when your application is complete:

For questions about the program or the application process, please contact Cheryl Shaul, Graduate Program Manager, 206-543-7906.