Description

The externship program is designed for junior and senior level dental students as well as students in post graduate certificate programs (e.g. AEGD, prosthodontics) that desire additional training in oral surgery and exposure to outpatient and hospital-oriented oral and maxillofacial surgical care. For students inclined towards oral and maxillofacial surgery as a career, the externship provides an excellent opportunity for students to participate within the framework of the residency training program. Externs will be supervised by the OMS faculty and residents.

Specific goals

1. To learn the scope of OMS
2. To obtain experience in management of the hospitalized patient
3. To obtain experience in ambulatory dentoalveolar surgery
4. To obtain experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning of OMS diseases and conditions
5. To have the opportunity to evaluate the OMS residency program at Mayo Clinic

Activity outline

Students will work in the operative setting at least half of the time during their visit. The other half will be spent in the outpatient procedure area on Gonda 7. In addition, students may have the opportunity to assist with patient care in the outpatient clinical setting on Mayo 12. Externs will be expected to attend morning conferences, participate in hospital rounds as well as assist with on-call duties.

Method of evaluation

Students are evaluated by faculty and residents using an online evaluation tool. The assessment includes the following: 

• Fund of OMS and medical knowledge
• Engagement in clinical activities during the rotation
• Motor skills (suturing / assisting)
• Understanding and preparedness for OMS residency
• Interpersonal skills

Per Mayo Clinic institutional policy, faculty and residents will not complete any outside evaluations. The extern will be provided an electronic performance evaluation via Mayo Clinic’s MedHub portal. A final summative evaluation will be sent to the extern and their school official upon completion of the clerkship.

Application process

Eligible candidates must:

• Attend a dental school in the United States or Canada and be in their junior or senior year at the time of the externship
• Attend a certificate program after graduating from a dental school in the United States or Canada
• In good academic standing with their school
• Review and understand eligibility requirements for Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

How to Apply

The Mayo Clinic Visiting Dental Student Externship Program uses Recruit, a third-party application service. Applications are reviewed on a continual basis throughout the academic year. Applicants must submit their application a minimum of 60 days prior to their preferred date of rotation.

Complete the following steps to apply through Recruit:

     1.  Create an account to begin the online Application for Admission
               a.  Select the following when creating your account:
                           i. School of Study: Visiting Medical / Dental Student Programs
                          ii. Area of Interest: Visiting Dental Student Clerkship / Externship
     2.  Select “Create a New Application”
     3.  Select “Start the Visiting Medical / Dental Student Form”
     4.  Complete each section of the form and submit

After submission:

• Select “View” next to your application
• Select “Supplemental Items & Documents” next to your application
  • Upload your Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae
  • Upload Dental School Transcripts (unofficial)
  • Upload CBSE Score Report (if available)
  • Upload Letter of Recommendation (optional)
  • Initiate the Dental School Verification request. The dental school representative will receive an email with a link to complete the verification form

Completed applications will be reviewed by the program director, and applicants will be notified within three weeks of submission to confirm the details of their externship.