Ten new residents arrived at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry in July to begin specialized training.
The School offers advanced education programs in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics to individuals who have earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree to prepare them for advanced patient care in their selected field.
The endodontics program welcomed Dr. Austin DiNofrio, a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Dr. Jackson Downey, a graduate of the University of Nevada School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Saaya Sakoda, a graduate of Tokyo Dental College. The 26-month program focuses on four areas of emphasis – education, patient care, research, and service – to prepare graduates for practice in the specialty.
The orthodontics program welcomed Dr. Conrad Harness, a graduate of the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dr. Collin Kerr, a WVU alumnus, and Dr. Cade Morrow, a graduate of the Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine. Throughout the 34-month program, enrollees receive comprehensive training in diagnosis, treatment planning, and biomechanics to prepare them for orthodontic practice.
Dr. Adam Fleckenstein, a WVU graduate, and Dr. Mohammad Ayyub, a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, joined the periodontics program. The three-year program is organized into five components – biomedical science didactics, periodontal science didactics, clinical science activity, research, and teaching – to train well-qualified dentists in all aspects of periodontal and implant therapy.
Dr. Matthew Vicini, a WVU graduate, and Dr. Ana Waleska Pessoa Barros de Aguiar, a graduate of the Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, began their training in the prosthodontics program. Advanced training in the three-year, integrated education program is designed to provide both knowledge in the dentally applied basic sciences and experiences in the clinical science of prosthodontics.
Residents in the advanced education programs provide care at WVU Dental, the clinical practice component of the WVU School of Dentistry.
All WVU School of Dentistry programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Upon completion, residents will earn a Master of Science degree and be prepared for specialty board certification.
In addition to its advanced education programs, the WVU School of Dentistry offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and GME residency programs in general practice, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and pediatric dentistry.
To learn more about the advanced education programs at the WVU School of Dentistry, visit dentistry.wvu.edu/students/master-of-science.
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jw/7/15/25
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