Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Background and Perspectives of Periodontal Program Directors in the US: A Survey

Hani Mawardi, Lena Elbadawi, Ardavan Fateh

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to survey the demographics and perspectives of periodontal program directors (PD) in the US. Methods: A 30-item web-based survey was distributed to 54 periodontal PDs via email starting September 2012. The data collected were analyzed, and percentages were calculated. Results: There was a 50% response rate. Most respondents (81.4%) were males, >46 years old (77.7%), who mostly used to be full-time faculty prior to holding the position of a PD. All PDs reported accepting residents with more than average academic achievements and clinical experiences or expertise. Conclusion: This survey reports on periodontal PDs’ background and perspectives. Most periodontal PDs are confident with the level of knowledge, clinical training and research experience provided to graduating residents. An educational barrier exists between specialties within the same institute in terms of sharing knowledge and clinical experiences in addition to planning and management of treatment. Future and follow up studies are needed to determine program trends and long-term outcomes