
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) proudly provides a six-year dual degree residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Founded in 1948, we are one of the oldest and most robust oral surgery residency programs in the country. Our broad scope of training and large patient volume creates a rich surgical training experience. We have numerous full-time faculty, several with subspecialty training within OMS. UAB provides care for the Birmingham metropolitan population of over one million residents, as well as serving as a distinguished quaternary referral center for the Southeastern United States. UAB Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in the United States with 1,207 beds. Our residents get first hand experience in our Level 1 Trauma Center while also caring for patients at Children’s of Alabama, UAB Highlands Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, UAB Hoover Clinic, and UAB School of Dentistry. UAB OMS surgeons are nationally recognized as leaders, educators, and researchers in the field. Our residents graduate from the program well-prepared for any career within the scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Residency Curriculum

Year One
Interns work closely with senior residents and faculty in the management of both inpatients and outpatients. They are assigned to hospital care and take primary call. Surgical training includes mainly outpatient and minor surgeries. Residents are expected to master dentoalveolar surgery and pain control. The formal didactic program for the first year includes an IV sedation course as well as education involving physical diagnosis, dentoalveolar surgery, infection control, surgical implants, growth and development, oral pathology, and head and neck anatomy. One major objective of this year is to successfully complete USMLE Step 1 before advancing to the second year. Interns are provided with 6 weeks of dedicated study time to prepare for Step 1.

Years Two and Three
Enrollment in the UAB School of Medicine begins in the second year of the program. The present curriculum as outlined by the School of Medicine may include rotations in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, neurology, psychiatry, selective/rural medicine, and acting internship in medicine, surgery (critical care) and ambulatory care. Additionally, electives and off-site rotations are available. Expected academic performance is on par with the other medical students. USMLE Step 2 is also taken during this period. Following successful completion of this program, the resident is awarded their M.D. degree. Following this period, the resident returns to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for a four month period on the oral surgery service.

Year Four
The fourth year of the program involves intensive training in surgery and anesthesia. This year fulfills the medical licensure requirement of one year of post-medical school surgical internship training. The program includes six months of general surgery and six months of anesthesia. General surgery rotations may include trauma surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, and oncologic surgery. Anesthesia rotations may include rotations at UAB Highlands, UAB Neurosciences ICU, and Children’s of Alabama. In addition, the resident should successfully complete USMLE Step 3 during this period.

Year Five
In year five, residents return to the oral surgery service for the remainder of their residency training. These senior residents will take on increased responsibility in the clinics, operating room, and inpatient service. Typically, the residents will rotate with different faculty each month, gaining exposure to the full-scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Fifth year didactics focus on advanced implantology, maxillofacial pathology, orthognathic surgery, reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial trauma and cosmetic surgery.

Year Six
The chief residents are directly responsible for the management of all surgical patients on the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery service. The chief residents assign all major oral and maxillofacial surgical cases to residents and perform administrative duties as assigned. Total time in the program is based on satisfactory performance as determined by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the School of Medicine and normally encompasses six calendar years. In addition, the resident must complete a research project in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Training Summary by Months
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: 40 months
Medical School: 20 months
General Surgery: 6 months
Anesthesia: 6 months
Program Details
-
Leadership & Faculty
Kathlyn Powell, DMD, MD
Program Director
Associate Professor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Patrick Louis, DDS, MD
Chair
McCallum Endowed Professor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
-
Application
UAB participates in the ADEA Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) program. The match program is sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and administered through the National Matching Service.
Details
Program Type: Dual Degree
Credentials Achieved: MD & Certificate
Program Length: 6 Years
Matching Program: PASS
Application Deadline: October 1
Program #: OMS01011
Available spots per year: 4
Questions?
Karen Waits
Education Administrator Senior
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
205-934-5334
- DMD/Certificate Track Curriculum
UAB offers an alternative OMS residency track for graduates of medical school. This seven year DMD/Certificate program provides a very similar curriculum as our traditional route, but in a different order. Residents in this track start with their surgical internship year which is comprised of both general surgery and anesthesia. Upon successful completion of this post-graduate year, they enroll in the UAB School of Dentistry for a total of three years to earn their DMD degree. The resident then completes three more years of dedicated time on the oral surgery service functioning as an intern, senior resident and finally a chief resident. For more information, please contact our Education Administrator Senior, Karen Waits
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .- Research Opportunities
UAB Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is home to renowned researchers in both clinical and translational research. Our department employs three-full time Ph.D and NIH funded researchers engaged in cutting edge molecular biology related to clinical disease. Residents are paired with faculty mentors and collaborate on numerous research projects. It is a requirement that residents complete at least one research project during their training.
For information regarding active research projects, please contact our research coordinator Noah MatthewsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Resident Research Sampling:
Bertot AA, Dammling CW, Souccar NM, Louis PJ, Zhai G, Kinard BE. A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Andrews’ Analysis in Caucasian and African American Subjects. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;82(12):1528-1536. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2024.08.059
Haws L, Ma B, Godfrey T, Waite PD, Kinard B, Powell K. Complication rates of the anterior iliac crest bone graft donor site for 426 pediatric patients undergoing alveolar bone grafting. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. May 19, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.05.006
Le JM, Hofheins J, Rana M, Ponto J, Morlandt AB, Ying YP. Oncological Outcomes Following Computer-Aided Reconstructive Jaw Surgery. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2025;18(1):8. doi:10.3390/cmtr18010008
Loh LHJ, Sesanto RL, Catlin KA, Oster RA, Louis PJ. Does the Levasseur-Merrill Retractor Provide Reliable In Vivo Guidance for the Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;80(11):1740-1746. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2022.08.002
Mathews AT, Dammling CW, Waite PD, Kinard BE. Does the rigid external distraction device alter maxillary pitch in cleft maxillary distraction? Cleft Palate Craniofac J. June 22, 2022:10556656221109412. doi:10.1177/10556656221109413
Ritchie CA, Hayes L, Zhai G, Kinard BE. Evaluation of lingual fracture pattern following sagittal split with the low and short medial osteotomy. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025;83(6):670-680. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.03.002
Rose J, Ma B, Rojas EM, Castro-Núñez J. Comparing academic productivity and Instagram presence in oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025;29(1):60. doi:10.1007/s10006-025-01354-2
Rose J, Rojas EM, Broadie J, Ma B, Sittitavornwong S. Risk factors associated with complications in treated mandibular fractures: A retrospective cohort study. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. April 21, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2025.04.008
Weber TM, Sinojia S, Shao C, Chu DI, Kinard BE. What is health literacy among orthognathic surgery patients? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;82(4):434-442. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2024.01.004
Dammling C, Powell K, Repasky T, Kinard B. Validation of andrews analysis in the virtual environment. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. April 11, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2023.04.004
Le JM, Gigliotti J, Ying Y, Kase MT, Morlandt AB. Computer-Assisted Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction and Implant Rehabilitation of the Maxilla—Treatment of a Rare Post-orthognathic Complication. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. January 6, 2021. doi:10.1007/s12663-020-01492-y
Le JM, Gubarev D, Ying Y, Morlandt A. Does Nodal Metastasis and Perineural Invasion Affect Local Control in Hyalinizing Clear Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity? A Case Report with Long Term Follow-Up. Head Neck Pathol. 2021;15(2):649-656. doi:10.1007/s12105-020-01204-5
Loh LHJ, Sesanto RL, Catlin KA, Oster RA, Louis PJ. Does the Levasseur-Merrill Retractor Provide Reliable In Vivo Guidance for the Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;80(11):1740-1746. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2022.08.002
Mathews AT, Dammling CW, Waite PD, Kinard BE. Does the rigid external distraction device alter maxillary pitch in cleft maxillary distraction? Cleft Palate Craniofac J. June 22, 2022:10556656221109412. doi:10.1177/10556656221109413
Stratton M, Waite PD, Powell KK, Scopel MM, Kukreja P. Benefits of the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for orthognathic surgery. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;51(2):214-218. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.04.008- Externship Opportunities
Externing is a great way to gain first hand experience at UAB OMS. Externs routinely assist in the operating room and clinics. Externs also take primary call with residents which includes assisting with consults, trauma activations, and other hospital duties.
The following is a list of requirements to apply for an externship:
- Current curriculum vitae
- One letter of recommendation for an externship from a full-time faculty member or the Chair of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the student’s school
- Copy of the student’s malpractice insurance and letter stating it will cover the student during the externship
- Dental School transcript
- Provide the exact dates you would like to extern
Please send the above information to Education Administrator Senior, Karen WaitsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We look forward to having you experience UAB!- Salary and Benefits
UAB offers salary and benefits for our Residents based on PGY Level.
Our Residents
-
Year 6
John Hofheins
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Rolla, MO
Undergrad: University of Missouri
Dental School: University of New England
Medical School: UAB
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gilbert Austin Meadows
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University
Dental School: UAB
Medical School: UAB
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Qingcong Zeng
D.D.S., M.D.
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Undergrad: Johns Hopkins University
Dental School: Columbia University
Medical School: UAB
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
Year 5
Andrew Bertot
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergrad: University of Central Florida
Dental School: University of Pittsburgh
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kaylie Catlin
D.D.S., M.D.
Hometown: Oviedo, FL
Undergrad: University of Florida
Dental School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Holton Deatherage
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University
Dental School: UAB
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Rae Sesanto
D.D.S., M.D.
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Undergrad: Santa Clara University
Dental School: University of California, San Francisco
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Timothy Weber
M.D., D.M.D.
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City
Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
-
Year 4
T. Cale Kreger
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Alex Mathews
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Florence, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University
Masters: Auburn University
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Collin Ritchie
D.M.D., M.D.
Hometown: Okemos, MI
Undergrad: Brigham Young University
Dental School: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Jamie Rose
D.D.S., M.D.
Hometown: Beckley, WV
Undergrad: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dental School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
Year 3
Simon Luu
D.M.D.
Hometown: Ozone Park, NY
Undergrad: Lehigh University
Dental School: Columbia University
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Eduard Popa
D.M.D.
Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Dental School: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
Year 2
Taylor Hall
D.D.S.
Hometown: Cookeville, TN
Undergrad: Sewanee: The University of the South
Dental School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Henry Kendrick
D.M.D.
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergrad: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Reed Thomas
D.M.D.
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergrad: Centre College
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
Year 1
Parker Griffin
D.M.D.
Hometown: Dothan, AL
Undergrad: University of Alabama
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Seth Hofheins
D.D.S.
Hometown: Rolla, MO
Undergrad: Saint Louis University
Dental School: University of Missouri - Kansas City
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mena Morcos
D.M.D.
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Undergrad: University of Detroit Mercy
Dental School: Case Western Reserve University
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Edward Wun
D.D.S.
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Undergrad: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Dental School: University of Missouri - Kansas City
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
-
DMD/Certificate Program
Timothy Weber
M.D., D.M.D.
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City
Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City
Dental School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Year 6 of 7Kirav Patel
M.D.
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergrad: University of Texas at Dallas
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Year 3 of 7
- DMD/Certificate Track Curriculum