oral path

[panino]

I

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[flapaTron]

i actually assisted in an autopsy with the oral path/path residents at Columbia a while ago to get an idea about the program. from what i understand the autopsy requirements are pretty universal for oral path residencies.

1 autopsy was enough for me.

it seems that most go into some sort of academically related position.

 

[Quattro DMD]

I'm almost done third year -- doing some research on what I can do after graduation.

I'm interested in oral path. I tried doing a board search but few posts came up. Any current residents here? Or anyone interested in applying?

I know that likely the pay isn't going to be up there like OMFS and ortho and endo. I'm wondering how difficult it would be to open up an oral path only practice. I see some practice in hospitals - but how often does a position come up there? I see some end up as faculty - but that's because I am still in school and that's all I see.

Or how does one end up doing consultation work? I think I would like to do that, along with a private practice and some hospital work.

I was looking up requirements for Columbia. And...apparently they need to have you do a minimum of 20 full autopsies? Is that...the norm for oral path programs?

BTW, I am Canadian at a Canadian school, but I'm willing to go anywhere in North America.

When you say oral path only practice are you referring to an oral pathology biopsy service or an clinical pathology/oral medicine practice? I know one pathologist at the university is part of their biopsy service but then also ran a clinical oral path practice on the side. Another oral pathologist at the same university practices generally dentistry 1 day a week in private practice. I'm not exactly sure what what the laws are in various states or even Canada, but in certain areas if you advertise your self as a specialist you can't practice general dentistry. However with oral path being a largely laboratory based specialty I'm not sure if it would be an issue. Some hospitals have oral pathologists on staff, however I'm not sure if their are a lot of jobs available. A lot of the oral pathologists are getting at that retirement age so hopefully some more jobs will open up. There's an oral path/oral med residency at UBC as well as 4 programs in NY. Here's some more info. http://www.aaomp.org/continuing-ed/advanced-programs.php?PHPSESSID=73774533f569f3718a6dd6567d879b04

Also, as far as I know 20 autopsies are the minimum for oral path but I heard they're possibly be going to reduce that requirement in the future.

 

[panino]

i actually assisted in an autopsy with the oral path/path residents at Columbia a while ago to get an idea about the program. from what i understand the autopsy requirements are pretty universal for oral path residencies.

1 autopsy was enough for me.

it seems that most go into some sort of academically related position.

.....care to elaborate more on the autopsy? Was it the smell? The emotional drain? The sight? (I know it sounds absolutely ridiculous, especially when it lasts for only 5 months in PGY1, but this is one part that I am intimidated of)

Besides that, what else have you seen/heard in Columbia? How is that program? How do the residents like it?

 

[panino]

When you say oral path only practice are you referring to an oral pathology biopsy service or an clinical pathology/oral medicine practice? I know one pathologist at the university is part of their biopsy service but then also ran a clinical oral path practice on the side. Another oral pathologist at the same university practices generally dentistry 1 day a week in private practice. I'm not exactly sure what what the laws are in various states or even Canada, but in certain areas if you advertise your self as a specialist you can't practice general dentistry. However with oral path being a largely laboratory based specialty I'm not sure if it would be an issue. Some hospitals have oral pathologists on staff, however I'm not sure if their are a lot of jobs available. A lot of the oral pathologists are getting at that retirement age so hopefully some more jobs will open up. There's an oral path/oral med residency at UBC as well as 4 programs in NY. Here's some more info. http://www.aaomp.org/continuing-ed/advanced-programs.php?PHPSESSID=73774533f569f3718a6dd6567d879b04

Also, as far as I know 20 autopsies are the minimum for oral path but I heard they're possibly be going to reduce that requirement in the future.

Thanks a lot. By oral path only, I meant to exclude GP cases, so I guess both clinical and biopsy are fine. I have a research background, and considered reserach and academia, but I have since decided that I don't want an academic position after all (at least, I don't want to be mainly in academia).

I'll look into UBC (and I know U of T has a program too). In term of the States, thank you for that link. Any insight on the stats needed to be comfortable? My school doesn't rank, and I plan on taking the American boards this summer.

 

[Quattro DMD]

Thanks a lot. By oral path only, I meant to exclude GP cases, so I guess both clinical and biopsy are fine. I have a research background, and considered reserach and academia, but I have since decided that I don't want an academic position after all (at least, I don't want to be mainly in academia).

I'll look into UBC (and I know U of T has a program too). In term of the States, thank you for that link. Any insight on the stats needed to be comfortable? My school doesn't rank, and I plan on taking the American boards this summer.

I'm not sure about stats, most of the programs only get a few apps for one spot so I don't think it's terribly competitive. However I think you would need to demonstrate in your application that you can handle the rigor of the program.

I did a limited autopsy at the path lab I worked at, smelled terrible. I had two layers of PPE on and it still got to me. Those fresh bodies aren't as nice as the preserved cadavers!

That's one of the main reasons I won't be applying to Columbia. I don't see the point of doing 5 months of autopsy when you won't be doing them in practice. Dental forensics is a different story. Plus I would rather have more time in the oral path lab. A year and a half of general path seems too long.