Externships and Visits

The Postdoctoral Periodontal Program welcomes visits from interested candidates and offers formal externship opportunities to qualified U.S. or Canadian dental students.

Periodontal Postdoctoral Externships

The Postdoctoral Periodontal Program at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry offers formal externship opportunities to qualified U.S. or Canadian dental students. The purpose of the externship is to expose dental students to advanced study in periodontics as well as postdoctoral periodontal students and faculty. An externship is ideal for students considering a career in periodontology to find out if this is the field for them.

A periodontal externship at Ohio State can vary in length from a few days to two weeks. There is no cost to the students associated with the externship. However, students pursuing an externship at Ohio State are responsible for their own travel, lodging and meals. A limited number of externship travel grants are offered to qualified dental students. Please see below for eligibility requirements and travel grant application information.

Depending on length, a periodontal externship at Ohio State will expose the dental student to the following aspects of the postdoctoral program: didactic portions of the program, periodontal literature seminars, treatment plan and/or surgical seminars, and clinical portions of the program. The clinical portion will include participation in the postdoctoral clinic and exposure to non-surgical and surgical techniques, including guided tissue regeneration, soft and hard tissue augmentation, periodontal plastic surgery, dental implant surgery, and IV sedation. It may also include interdisciplinary seminars.

To be considered, interested students should:

  • Contact via email the Program Director (tatakis.1@osu.edu). Students should initiate contact at least four (4) weeks prior to the anticipated externship start date. Include with the email:
  • Current CV
  • Externship/Visit Application

Accepted students will need to provide the following additional documents, which must be submitted (by mail or email) to the Program at least 2 weeks prior to the student's arrival:

  1. A completed Attestation Request Form signed by the appropriate administrative party (i.e., dean, assistant or associate dean).
  2. Completed and signed Confidentiality Agreement and Liability Release
  3. Immunization records (with date of birth) with proof of:
    1. Immunity to Hepatitis B, or have received the first three doses of the vaccine followed by an antibody test to indicate conversion to immunity
    2. Immunity to Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
    3. Immunity to Varicella (chicken pox)
    4. Immunity to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Tdap)
    5. Negative PPD test or medical clearance with positive test, within the past year
    6. During the period of September 1st through March 31st of each year, documentation of the seasonal influenza vaccination

Externship Travel Grants Available

The Ohio State Periodontal Program offers a limited number of externship travel grants ($150 - $400 each) to qualified students. U.S. or Canadian Dental School students in good standing, ranked in the top 25% of their class, committed to and accepted for an externship of one full week at Ohio State are eligible to apply. Travel grant applicants must provide:

  1. official documentation of their ranking; and
  2. a recommendation letter from a periodontal faculty at their dental school

Non-Externship Visits

Although the Externship is only for dental students at U.S. or Canadian Institutions, it is possible for other interested potential candidates to visit. Such visits are considered non-Externship visits. We strongly encourage interested candidates to visit the program prior to the application deadline. A visit will allow prospective applicants to meet and interact with current residents and faculty, and to see the attributes of the program firsthand. Please contact the program director to pre-arrange your visit.

To be considered, interested individuals should:

Contact the program director, Dr. Dimitris Tatakis, at tatakis.1@osu.edu. Contact should be initiated at least four (4) weeks prior to the anticipated visit start date. Include with the email:

After the visit has been accepted and dates agreed upon, visitors will need to submit:

  1. Confidentiality Agreement and Liability Release
  2. Immunization records (with date of birth) with proof of:
    1. Immunity to Hepatitis B, or have received the first three doses of the vaccine followed by an antibody test to indicate conversion to immunity
    2. Immunity to Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
    3. Immunity to Varicella (chicken pox)
    4. Immunity to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Tdap)
    5. Negative PPD test or medical clearance with positive test, within the past year
    6. During the period of September 1st through March 31st of each year, documentation of the seasonal influenza vaccination
  3. Verification of CPR certification. All certifications must be from the American Heart Association, American Health and Safety Institute or the American Red Cross. The certification must be for Health Care Providers and must include AED training.
  4. For dental students (outside the U.S.): Written consent from the student's dental school or college of enrollment that their visit is approved and that they are in good standing at the institution. This can be done by form or by letter and signed by the appropriate administrative party (i.e., dean, assistant or associate dean) and forwarded to the attention of the program director.

Depending on length of visit and other circumstances, you may be required to complete the following online training. Once the above documents have been received and reviewed, you will receive information on whether it is required and, if so, how to complete it.

  • HIPAA Privacy and Security Training
  • OSHA/Annual Bloodborne Pathogens
  • Hazard Communication Training (for non-researchers)
  • Protecting Institutional Data

Please email screenshots or prints of the certificates for each training module to mccallister.2@osu.edu.  Once this documentation has been received, permission will be requested from the College of Dentistry for the dates of your visit, which will be sent in a confirmation email to you, along with pertinent information regarding hotels, parking, schedule and dress requirements.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions at any time during this process.

Dental Emergency Care Clinic

Monday-Thursday
7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Friday
7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Student Dental Clinics

Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Ohio State Dental Faculty Practice

Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Upper Arlington Dental Clinic

Monday
7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Friday
7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.