INTRODUCTION
This program is intended to train and graduate specialists who can competently work in the Dental Schools and Health Care Institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and indeed anywhere else. The training program aims to achieve a balance between the theoretical aspects, the technical and diagnostic aspects of the discipline, the development of critical thinking and investigative skills and the establishment of the highest level of professional practice and attitude in the practice of OMF Pathology, OMF Radiology or Oral Medicine in candidates undertaking the program.
At the successful completion of the requirement of the program, the graduate student trainee shall be awarded a Masters’ degree of King Saud University and a Specialty Certificate in either Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology or Oral Medicine of the College of Dentistry of King Saud University.
OBJECTIVES
The goal of the program in Diagnostic Oral Sciences of King Saud University is to train world class specialists in the dental specialty of OMF Pathology, OMF Radiology and Oral Medicine for service in the relevant educational, diagnostic and health service settings especially for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The objectives of the Program are:
1. To provide an international level training to suitably qualified candidates who are committed to pursuing a career in oral and maxillofacial pathology, or who wish to undertake training in this field as an adjunct to other related disciplines.
2. To produce end-point candidates who have acquired high level specialist skills and attitudes in OMF Pathology as an attestation of the competence of the trainee to diagnose, and contribute to the management of patients with oral and maxillofacial diseases.
3. To produce end-point candidates who possess professionally correct attitude that recognizes the specialty of OMF Pathology as an integral discipline within the health sciences and therefore a discipline that must have, as a fundamental aim, the improvement of the general, oral and dental health of the community.
4. To produce a highly trained and diagnostically competent pool of individuals who can contribute to dental and health education and to clinical health care in both educational and health service provider Institutions in the Kingdom.
PROGRAM DURATION
The program is structured for completion in three academic years including the “summer” months without prejudice to allowing the graduate student to have vacation periods during the summer period.
SYLLABUS
The curriculum of the training program has the following components:
- Biomedical and Biodental Core courses
- Specialty courses
- Advanced specialty courses
- Research and Thesis
The presentation of the courses shall be by:
Lectures/Seminars
Some courses will be presented in a didactic lecture/seminar format. Two contact hours will normally be allocated to the subjects presented in this format.
Laboratory and Diagnostic Training Sessions
This will be organized to encompass laboratory-based training sessions, for example, in anatomic pathology, surgical OMF Pathology, Microscopy and Cytology. A session shall normally be three clock hours.
Clinical Sessions and Attachments
These sessions will involve clinical attachments in disciplines such as oral pathology [clinical oral diagnosis/medicine], OMF Surgery, ENT surgery, general surgery and dermatology. A session shall normally be three clock hours.
Opportunity for elective courses or programs of study will be available in the program. There is also provision for library and “free” hours in the program during which times students have the opportunity to do extensive reading and to avail themselves of internet, intranet and computer-based learning opportunities.
List of Courses