Our Advanced Education Program in Periodontics offers the students a broad-based clinical and didactic experience that prepares them for the study and practice of periodontics in an academic or practice setting. We offer customizable programs including a 3-year certificate and a Master's degree program as well as other advanced education.

We strive to create a collaborative working environment and look for residents who are seeking the highest levels of excellence in clinical and didactic learning environments.

Our residency accepts applicants through the ADEA PASS website. For more information, go to the ADEA PASS website.

Our Application deadline is August 1, 2026 (for UAB Perio class of 2030). This is the deadline for all application materials, including those submitted to ADEA PASS.

Interviews for our program will be held August through October.

Official Transcripts should be uploaded to ADEA PASS (all colleges, other education, and dental school). If you have attended a non-U.S. college/university, it is required that all international transcripts be evaluated by either ECE or WES foreign credentialing services.

At least two Professional Evaluation Forms (Letters of Recommendation) must be included in the PASS application.

Institution Evaluation Form (formerly called the Dean’s Letter) submitted by the Dean’s Office to ADEA PASS. This form will include GPA, Class Rank and National Board Examination results, if applicable.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) scores uploaded to ADEA PASS, for international applicants who did not receive their dental degree training in English. TOEFL test scores taken more than 3 years before application date will not be accepted.

A curriculum vitae (CV) must be submitted to ADEA PASS.

Application Fee of $25.00. This can be paid through this secure link or Ms. Susie Moorer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) in the UAB Admissions office will provide a personalized payment link by email if she is contacted. We also accept checks drawn on a US Bank or money orders. All checks must be in U.S. Dollars and must be issued by an American bank. Please make any checks payable to “University of Alabama at Birmingham” or “UAB” and send the check to the following address: Ms. Susie Moorer, UAB School of Dentistry, Office of Admissions, 1720 2nd Avenue South, SDB 124, Birmingham AL 35294-0007 telephone number 205.934.5470.

Pay Application Processing Fee

If you have questions regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the Program Director, Dr. Mia L. Geisinger (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or our Administrative Associate, Ms. Patrice Headington (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). They can be reached at telephone (205) 934-4984.

If accepted into the program, a $100 deposit is required to hold your position.

• ADEA PASS Application with Transcripts and Professional Evaluation Forms
• Curriculum Vitae
• Institutional Evaluation and Professional Evaluation Forms
• Application Deadline: August 1, 2026

Our tuition for the Certificate in Periodontology was $14,116.00 as of 2024-2025 academic year (data subject to change). Tuition and other expenses related to the Graduate School are listed in the Graduate School bulletin and are in addition to the School of Dentistry tuition and fees.

Books and supplies may also be required. Documentation of clinical cases requires high-quality clinical photography and specific photographic equipment will be recommended prior to arrival to the program. The cost of this equipment may vary and the department and faculty will work with residents to select the best fit for their needs.

Other expenses associated with special courses or conferences should be expected. Each student must annually take a national In-Service Examination at a current cost of $140 for American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Student Members. Students are required to be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Students are encouraged to join appropriate professional organizations and Student membership in the AAP is required while enrolled in the program. Current cost is $145; these fees vary yearly.

Students may be eligible for various loans. These might include the Student Loan Fund of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Fund of Dental Education, Minority Student Loan, and loans under the Higher Education Act Loan Program. The application and arrangement of student loans will be the responsibility of the student.

International students can be considered only if they are able to provide affidavits of ability to support themselves financially.

We are committed to allowing our residents to concentrate on their studies and work with you for your financial aid package. Our financial aid office can be reached by visiting www.uab.edu/cost-aid/types-of-aid.

Kathlyn Powell, DMD, MD

Program Director
Associate Professor
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Patrick Louis, DDS, MD

Chair
McCallum Endowed Professor
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OMFS Full-Time Faculty

UAB participates in the ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) program. The match program is sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and administered through the National Matching Service.

Details

UAB offers an alternative OMS residency track for graduates of medical school. This seven year DMD/Certificate program provides a very similar curriculum as our traditional route, but in a different order. Residents in this track start with their surgical internship year which is comprised of both general surgery and anesthesia. Upon successful completion of this post-graduate year, they enroll in the UAB School of Dentistry for a total of three years to earn their DMD degree. The resident then completes three more years of dedicated time on the oral surgery service functioning as an intern, senior resident and finally a chief resident. For more information, please contact our Education Administrator Senior, Karen Waits This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

UAB Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is home to renowned researchers in both clinical and translational research. Our department employs three-full time Ph.D and NIH funded researchers engaged in cutting edge molecular biology related to clinical disease. Residents are paired with faculty mentors and collaborate on numerous research projects. It is a requirement that residents complete at least one research project during their training.

For information regarding active research projects, please contact our research coordinator Noah Matthews This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Resident Research Sampling:

Bertot AA, Dammling CW, Souccar NM, Louis PJ, Zhai G, Kinard BE. A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Andrews’ Analysis in Caucasian and African American Subjects. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;82(12):1528-1536. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2024.08.059

Haws L, Ma B, Godfrey T, Waite PD, Kinard B, Powell K. Complication rates of the anterior iliac crest bone graft donor site for 426 pediatric patients undergoing alveolar bone grafting. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. May 19, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.05.006

Le JM, Hofheins J, Rana M, Ponto J, Morlandt AB, Ying YP. Oncological Outcomes Following Computer-Aided Reconstructive Jaw Surgery. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2025;18(1):8. doi:10.3390/cmtr18010008

Loh LHJ, Sesanto RL, Catlin KA, Oster RA, Louis PJ. Does the Levasseur-Merrill Retractor Provide Reliable In Vivo Guidance for the Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;80(11):1740-1746. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2022.08.002

Mathews AT, Dammling CW, Waite PD, Kinard BE. Does the rigid external distraction device alter maxillary pitch in cleft maxillary distraction? Cleft Palate Craniofac J. June 22, 2022:10556656221109412. doi:10.1177/10556656221109413

Ritchie CA, Hayes L, Zhai G, Kinard BE. Evaluation of lingual fracture pattern following sagittal split with the low and short medial osteotomy. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025;83(6):670-680. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.03.002

Rose J, Ma B, Rojas EM, Castro-Núñez J. Comparing academic productivity and Instagram presence in oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025;29(1):60. doi:10.1007/s10006-025-01354-2

Rose J, Rojas EM, Broadie J, Ma B, Sittitavornwong S. Risk factors associated with complications in treated mandibular fractures: A retrospective cohort study. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. April 21, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.04.008

Weber TM, Sinojia S, Shao C, Chu DI, Kinard BE. What is health literacy among orthognathic surgery patients? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;82(4):434-442. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2024.01.004

Dammling C, Powell K, Repasky T, Kinard B. Validation of andrews analysis in the virtual environment. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. April 11, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2023.04.004

Le JM, Gigliotti J, Ying Y, Kase MT, Morlandt AB. Computer-Assisted Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction and Implant Rehabilitation of the Maxilla—Treatment of a Rare Post-orthognathic Complication. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. January 6, 2021. doi:10.1007/s12663-020-01492-y

Le JM, Gubarev D, Ying Y, Morlandt A. Does Nodal Metastasis and Perineural Invasion Affect Local Control in Hyalinizing Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity? A Case Report with Long Term Follow-Up. Head Neck Pathol. 2021;15(2):649-656. doi:10.1007/s12105-020-01204-5

Loh LHJ, Sesanto RL, Catlin KA, Oster RA, Louis PJ. Does the Levasseur-Merrill Retractor Provide Reliable In Vivo Guidance for the Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;80(11):1740-1746. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2022.08.002

Mathews AT, Dammling CW, Waite PD, Kinard BE. Does the rigid external distraction device alter maxillary pitch in cleft maxillary distraction? Cleft Palate Craniofac J. June 22, 2022:10556656221109412. doi:10.1177/10556656221109413

Stratton M, Waite PD, Powell KK, Scopel MM, Kukreja P. Benefits of the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for orthognathic surgery. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;51(2):214-218. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.04.008

Externing is a great way to gain first hand experience at UAB OMS. Externs routinely assist in the operating room and clinics. Externs also take primary call with residents which includes assisting with consults, trauma activations, and other hospital duties.

The following is a list of requirements to apply for an externship:

• Current curriculum vitae
• One letter of recommendation for an externship from a full-time faculty member or the Chair of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the student’s school
• Copy of the student’s malpractice insurance and letter stating it will cover the student during the externship
• Dental School transcript
• Provide the exact dates you would like to extern

UAB offers salary and benefits for our Residents based on PGY Level.

Learn more