GPRs in Cali

[teethmonkey]

Hey guys,

I'm from the east coast and am looking into applying for GPRs/AEGD out in Cali. It's hard to get info from them so I was wondering if anyone can help out and let me know what they've heard about any of these programs - basically all the programs in Cali. Thanks! Any info about these would help a lot.

1. Cedars Sinai Medical Center
2. Community Medical Center - Fresno, California
3. King Drew Medical Center - Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science
4. Loma Linda Veterans Administration Medical Center
5. Ranchos Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
6. University of California, Los Angeles
7. University of California, San Francisco
8. University of Southern California
9. V. A. Long Beach Healthcare System
10. V. A. Medical Center, San Francisco
11. V. A. Medical Center, West Los Angeles
12. V. A. Northern California Health Care System, Mare Island
13. V. A. San Diego Healthcare System
14. V. A. System of Clinics - Sepulveda
15. V.A. Palo Alto Health Care System
16. AEGD UOP

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Becker92]

I can only comment on the ones I know:

6. UCLA-unless you want alot of hospital dentistry and alot of late night calls, I wouldn't apply to this program
9. VA LB-great program, have alot of implant experience
13. VA Sepul-great program, more like a mixture of AEGD/GPR, some hospital dentistry but mostly private practice feel

 

[crazy_sherm]

I'll be starting a GPR on July 1st at the VA at Mare Island. I don't have too much information, but from talking to past residents and from my interview, it is about as clinic based as GPRs come. There are 6 positions total, 3 are based at Mare Island (Vallejo) and 3 are based in Sacramento. You spend most of the time at one of the many VA clinics spread throughout Northern California. There's one month of hospital and one month OS at Highland hospital in Oakland. There seems to be a big prosth emphasis at Mare Island. We get to place and restore our own implants.

Of the 3 VA programs in my area, the Palo Alto one seems to be the most popular due to the location, facilities, and organization. I'm not sure exactly how the program in Palo Alto is, but I know they also send a resident to Highland for one month. You get to restore implants there, but not place them.
http://www.palo-alto.med.va.gov/docs/DentalResidency.pdf

I had a neighbor that did her GPR at the SF VA. She loved it and said she got to place her own implants and restore them.

UOP used to have 3 AEGD programs, but they just closed the SF program, so it's only the Stockton and Union City clinics now.

Have you tried contacting the directors of each program or asking to speak to current or residents? That will probably give you the most insight into each program. There seems to be so much variety from one program to another. One thing to consider is how the patient's treament is funded. The VA for example will cover pretty much everything as long as its clinically appropriate. The worst thing is going to an AEGD/GPR where most of the patients are on Medi-Cal because then you're just running around doing paperwork. You don't want an extra year of dental school.

 

[TimR]

I'll be starting a GPR on July 1st at the VA at Mare Island. I don't have too much information, but from talking to past residents and from my interview, it is about as clinic based as GPRs come. There are 6 positions total, 3 are based at Mare Island (Vallejo) and 3 are based in Sacramento. You spend most of the time at one of the many VA clinics spread throughout Northern California. There's one month of hospital and one month OS at Highland hospital in Oakland. There seems to be a big prosth emphasis at Mare Island. We get to place and restore our own implants.

Of the 3 VA programs in my area, the Palo Alto one seems to be the most popular due to the location, facilities, and organization. I'm not sure exactly how the program in Palo Alto is, but I know they also send a resident to Highland for one month. You get to restore implants there, but not place them.
http://www.palo-alto.med.va.gov/docs/DentalResidency.pdf

I had a neighbor that did her GPR at the SF VA. She loved it and said she got to place her own implants and restore them.

UOP used to have 3 AEGD programs, but they just closed the SF program, so it's only the Stockton and Union City clinics now.

Have you tried contacting the directors of each program or asking to speak to current or residents? That will probably give you the most insight into each program. There seems to be so much variety from one program to another. One thing to consider is how the patient's treament is funded. The VA for example will cover pretty much everything as long as its clinically appropriate. The worst thing is going to an AEGD/GPR where most of the patients are on Medi-Cal because then you're just running around doing paperwork. You don't want an extra year of dental school.

Hey Sherm, how competitive are these particular VA residencies? What type of applicants are getting in? any info on the admissions/applications would be great. Congrats on starting yours soon!

 

[teethmonkey]

Thank you so much for your fast replies. How do you contact current residents at programs? Is there a list that I can look up at VA's or do I just contact the program director?

Also, do you know if Cali programs - VA tend to favor students who graduate from Cali dental schools? Does graduating from an east coast school become a disadvantage when applying to GPRs in Cali?

Thanks.

 

[crazy_sherm]

Hey Sherm, how competitive are these particular VA residencies? What type of applicants are getting in? any info on the admissions/applications would be great. Congrats on starting yours soon!

I believe the VA residencies are a bit more competitive as GPR/AEGDs go. I know during my interview, they were pretty interested in my board score, class rank and number of molar endos I've done. My classmate that's going to the VA in Palo Alto graduated with honors. I believe the San Francisco VA used to only consider people with 90+ on part I. I'm not sure how it is now.

The UOP AEGDs aren't as competitive, but they tend to give preference to UOP grads.

Thank you so much for your fast replies. How do you contact current residents at programs? Is there a list that I can look up at VA's or do I just contact the program director?

Also, do you know if Cali programs - VA tend to favor students who graduate from Cali dental schools? Does graduating from an east coast school become a disadvantage when applying to GPRs in Cali?

Thanks.

I think you have to contact the program unless you know some residents via other routes. You can find the name of the program directors along with their emails here: http://www.va.gov/dental/residency.asphttp://www.va.gov/dental/residency.asp

I don't think they favor California grads, but they're probably more familiar with the schools as they get more applicants from CA schools. I know at least one of my co-residents is from an east coast school -- U of MD.

 

[thesellsword]

bump