Alternative Career Paths in Dentistry What if I don’t want to own a business? Eric Childs, DDS Who Am I? • General Dentist in Coldwater, Mich. • Private Practice owner • Aspiring Marathoner • Husband and Dad @ASDAnet #ASDAnet What have I done? • High school teacher • Associate dentist • Dentist in a Federally Qualified Health Center • Private Practice owner @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Options… • • • • • • • Residency programs Research Dental Education Associateship Indian Health Service Public Health Service Commissioned Corps National Health Service Corps @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Residency Programs • AEGD or GPR – Most are tuition free with a stipend of varying amounts – Some require taking call and working weekends – Many are in based in hospitals or clinics • VA: http://www.va.gov/dental/residency.asp – Can use Match or apply directly in some cases – Some states use the residency year as a qualification for a dental license @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Residency Programs • Specialty Programs – Vary in cost and time – Many are competitive and require using the Match service. (http://www.natmatch.com/dentres/) – Fewer positions available @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Dental Research • Most commonly require an advanced degree in addition to a dental degree • Lab research – Tied to grants at a university – Expected to pull in monies for the university • Clinical research – Generally tied to university, but not as significant as lab research – Harder because typically the researchers have little or no formal training @ASDAnet #ASDAnet • http://careers.dentalresearch.org/jobseek er/search/results/ • http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/CareersAndTraini ng/CareersinDentalResearch/ @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Dental Education • Job market is vast, but many positions require a PhD or specialty degree • Pay is low if not full time, and even when full time – Part-time pay is low – Sometimes classified as “courtesy faculty” – Difficult for a new dentist with low pay (one source said $40,000/yr for new general dental faculty) @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Dental Education • Tenure Track – A set amount of time to “prove” you are significant to the university – Publishing, research, academically – Evaluated at end of time limit. If not approved, can be terminated @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Dental Education • Clinical Track – Less demand on research – Salary can be low • Contractually agreed upon appointment – Time spent in teaching, research, and service – 60% teaching, 20% research, 10% private practice for example • Benefits provided vary widely @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Associateships • Vary widely in pay, expectation, opportunity, and structure – Buy in/buy out – Employee • Production vs collection • Salary • Some work well, others do not @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Indian Health Service • Federal health services for American Indians and Native Alaskans • Loan repayment up to $24,000 per year for a two year commitment – Only health professions loans • http://www.ihs.gov/dentistry/ @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Public Health Service Commissioned Corps • Uniformed public service position • Similar benefits to military personnel • Two year commitment, possible loan repayment • GI Bill at termination of service • http://www.usphs.gov/profession/dentist/ @ASDAnet #ASDAnet National Health Service Corps • Loan repayment program available • Two year commitment at an approved site—usually in shortage areas at FQHC or other community clinics • Awards depend on HPSA score (healthcare professional shortage area) • http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/ @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Family Health Center of Battle Creek • FQHC • Eligible for NHSC loan repayment • http://www.fhcbc.org/ @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Other options • • • • Group practice Corporate Dentistry Hospital Dentistry Humanitarian Dentistry – http://www.who.int/employment/en/index.html – http://www.medmissions.org/ – Many other opportunities @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Questions? @ASDAnet #ASDAnet Thank You! @ASDAnet #ASDAnet