Observerships

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) observerships at the UT San Antonio School of Dentistry are limited to a maximum of six months and are available to dentists and oral surgeons who have completed dental school. College students with an interest in pursuing a career in OMS may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Observers are permitted to observe, but not participate in, professional and clinical activities. Observers are sponsored and supervised by OMS faculty and may observe activities in OMS clinics, operating rooms and academic sessions.

The UT San Antonio OMS observership provides participants with an opportunity to:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the scope and practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UT San Antonio.
• Gain insight into the organization and structure of the OMS program, including the academic and clinical responsibilities of OMS faculty and the roles of members of the OMS faculty-resident team.
• Observe the broad spectrum of surgical services and clinical cases managed within the OMS program.

Requirements & Agreements

Applicants participating in the OMS observership must meet the following requirements and agree to the terms below:

• Dental Education: Applicants must have successfully completed dental school and earned a dental degree.
• Travel and Accommodations: Observers are responsible for arranging and covering all travel, lodging and other expenses associated with their visit. International observers are responsible for obtaining the appropriate B-1 visitor visa or entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, when eligible.
• Proof of Financial Support: International observers must be prepared to provide documentation to U.S. consular officials and/or U.S. Customs and Border Protection demonstrating sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their stay in the United States.
• Supervision: Observers must remain under the direct supervision of their sponsoring OMS faculty member throughout the observership.
• Patient Care Areas: Observers may not enter or remain in any patient care area without their sponsoring faculty member present.
• Observational Role: Observers are strictly limited to observational activities and may not participate in patient care or clinical activities. This includes, but is not limited to, providing medical or dental care, interviewing patients, obtaining or documenting medical histories, examining patients, providing medical advice, or assisting with any procedure.

Additional Information

• To maintain the quality and educational value of the observership experience, a maximum of two observers will be accepted at any given time.
• The administrative assistant/visa liaison will work with accepted observers to identify alternative dates when necessary.
• UT San Antonio does not provide malpractice insurance coverage for observers. Observers are responsible for obtaining any insurance coverage required for their participation in the program.

Apply

Professionals interested in participating in the OMS observership must complete the required background check, submit the online application and provide all requested supporting documentation. Applications must be submitted at least three months prior to the requested externship date to allow the department sufficient time to review and process the application.

All application requirements and supporting documents must be completed and submitted for an application to be considered. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed or considered until all required materials have been received.

Additional information on OMS observerships or the application process may be obtained through:
Email: oms_support@uthscsa.edu
Phone: 210-450-3131