Our mission is threefold: (1) Deliver the highest quality care to our patients, (2) Provide excellent training to our residents and students, and (3) Engage in high quality research.
These guiding principles ensure that our graduates emerge as competent, ethical surgeons proficient in serving their patients in private and hospital settings throughout their careers, become leaders in our field, and further our specialty.
Welcome to the Advanced Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (Temple OMS).
Our program is founded on a commitment to excellence in patient care, surgical education, and research.
At Temple, we take pride in training residents in the art and science of oral and maxillofacial surgery through a carefully structured curriculum that integrates rigorous didactic instruction, comprehensive clinical experience, and meaningful research exposure. This balanced approach ensures that residents develop the knowledge, judgment, and technical expertise required to practice the full scope of the specialty.
Our ultimate goal is to cultivate surgeons who are lifelong learners — individuals who advance the specialty through innovation, leadership, and excellence in patient care.
Thank you for your interest in our program. We invite you to learn more about our training environment and the opportunities that define Temple OMS.
Dr. Pooja Gangwani, DDS, MPH, FACD Diplomate of American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associate Professor and Program Director, Advanced Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
Temple OMS is defined by its academic rigor and its service to a diverse patient population. Through high-volume clinical exposure and mentorship from a dedicated multidisciplinary faculty, residents acquire the skills and judgment required for independent surgical practice and lifelong learning.
The didactic curriculum is designed to provide residents with a comprehensive foundation in the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery while fostering lifelong learning and preparation for independent practice. Through weekly protected academic time, residents participate in a structured educational program that integrates foundational knowledge, clinical decision-making, and board preparation.
The curriculum encompasses all core domains of oral and maxillofacial surgery and is organized into monthly topic-based modules that promote progressive learning throughout residency. Educational experiences include faculty-led lectures, presentations by invited subspecialty experts, multidisciplinary conferences, and collaborative learning opportunities with colleagues from related surgical and dental specialties. In addition, residents participate in monthly medical emergency simulations designed to reinforce the recognition and management of perioperative and office-based emergencies.
Residents participate in monthly journal club sessions focused on the critical appraisal of contemporary literature and the application of evidence-based principles to patient care. Regular case-based discussions, board-style review sessions, and monthly mock board exercises reinforce clinical reasoning and prepare residents for certification by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition, residents complete annual mock oral board examinations designed to simulate the board-certification experience and assess readiness for independent practice.
Collectively, these educational experiences cultivate surgical knowledge, sound clinical judgment, professionalism, and the lifelong learning habits essential to success in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Research Curriculum
The Advanced Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry is committed to developing surgeons who not only provide exceptional patient care but also contribute to the advancement of the specialty through scholarly activity and evidence-based practice.
Scholarly activity is an integral component of the Temple OMS residency experience. While all residents are expected to participate in research, our program provides a structured framework and individualized mentorship to support scholarly development throughout training.
Under the guidance of the Program Director and faculty mentors, residents receive stepwise instruction in the research process. Beginning with the identification of a topic of interest, residents learn how to conduct a comprehensive literature review, critically evaluate existing evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, formulate a research question, and develop an appropriate study design. Residents are subsequently mentored through Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission, data collection, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, and dissemination of findings.
Research projects are tailored to each resident's interests and stage of training and may include systematic or scoping reviews, retrospective chart reviews, survey-based studies, case reports, quality improvement initiatives, and clinicopathologic conference (CPC) manuscripts. These scholarly activities are intentionally integrated throughout residency, allowing residents to progressively develop the skills necessary to conduct meaningful research and contribute to the scientific literature. The ultimate goal of the research curriculum is to cultivate surgeons who are engaged scholars, effective contributors to the academic literature, and lifelong learners committed to advancing the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
At Temple, residents become part of a close-knit community united by a shared commitment to learning and service. The program’s culture and structure fosters teamwork across all levels of training, encouraging mentorship, mutual support, and professional respect. Faculty maintain an open-door policy, ensuring residents have consistent access to guidance, feedback, and mentorship in both clinical and academic settings.
Temple’s location in the heart of Philadelphia provides an unparalleled learning experience. The city’s vibrant medical community, rich history, and cultural diversity further enhance the residency experience.
Beyond the hospital and clinics, residents enjoy a strong sense of camaraderie and work-life balance. Social gatherings, wellness initiatives, and informal mentorship events strengthen the bonds among residents and faculty, fostering a collegial environment that supports both professional and personal well-being.
Resident life here is characterized by purpose, perseverance, and pride — a reflection of Temple’s enduring mission to educate skilled, compassionate surgeons who lead with excellence and integrity.
