Pediatric Dentistry Externship Program

This opportunity is a non-funded, voluntary program, offering no academic credit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The Division of Pediatric Dentistry of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and Department of Dentistry of Nationwide Children’s Hospital offer the opportunity third- or fourth-year dental students and practicing dentists to visit our program and spend up to three days in Columbus, Ohio, observing activities related to pediatric dentistry.

Update for 2024

We have brought back in-person externships! See information below to apply. We also will be hosting Virtual Open Houses in Summer 2024. Dates TBD. 

If you are not interested in an in-person externship, but interested in learning about us virtually, you can express interest in those here and we will send you the Zoom links a week prior to each. 

Applicant Process and Qualifications

Applicants must first complete the application online. Then, the following should be emailed to the program: 

  1. A current CV
  2. A brief essay
  3. Observation agreement form
  4. Compliance with health regulations and proof of required vaccinations

Once received, reviewed, and approved, we will confirm your externship dates. Please allow several months to complete the process.

Academic Activities

Depending on the dates, the externship offers a variety of experiences. Externs will have the opportunity to observe patient care in the following locations within Nationwide Children's Hospital:

  • Pediatric Dentistry Clinic: Students will observe pediatric dental residents provide comprehensive care to infants, children and those with special health care needs
  • Sedation: Externs may will shadow residents in the oral sedation clinic
  • Trauma: Externs may observe care of patients who have experienced oro-facial trauma
  • General Anesthesia: Externs may observe residents or faculty in the operating room during the provision of dental care under general anesthesia

In addition, externs can elect to attend didactic courses when in session and shadow the on-call dental resident in the Emergency Department clinic for cases of dental trauma or facial cellulitis. 

Accommodations, Transportation, and Other Logistic Considerations

Externs will need to secure and fund their own lodging and transportation. Meals and other costs incurred during the externship are the responsibility of the extern. Due to our 5-year HRSA grant, we are able to provide a limited number of travel stipends to interested applicants who qualify as a underrepresented minority in dentistry. More details will be provided if you choose this designation on the application form.

Academic Activities

Faculty and Residency Information

The externship program will expose students to a number of full- and part-time faculty representing academic and private practice pediatric dentistry. A list of faculty members and information about our residency program can be found on the following sites:

Inquiries

All externship inquiries should be addressed to:

Pedsdentresidency@nationwidechildrens.org 
Phone: 614-722-6024

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.