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SHORT COURSE IN ORAL SURGERY FOR GENERAL DENTISTS

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHORT COURSE IN ORAL SURGERY FOR GENERAL DENTISTS

Dr. Michelle S. Segarra

Course Coordinator 2014-2016

The short course in Oral Surgery for General Dentist was the brainchild of former dean Natividad C. Gervasio and Dr. Irma L. Parajas, an alumna and former Professor at the UP College of Public Health. They have been in negotiation with the Department of Health represented by Dr. Blesilda  Sanchez, a DOH Dentist from Region III and an alumna of the Diploma in Dental Health Program of UP-CPH, about the possibility of the College to offer a short course in surgery for government  hospital dentists. Pre-tests were already conducted by Dr. Parajas and Dean Gervasio among  government hospital dentists and to determine what topics will be taught. 

However, their plans materialized only in 2014, when both Dean Gervasio and Prof. Parajas had already retired. The negotiations were continued by Dr. Michelle Segarra, during the term of Dean Vicente Medina III. 

The course was finally offered in June 2014 with 17 government hospital dentists from Region III. 

It was an intensive 6-day course and the training team of the PGH Dental Department were invited as part of the faculty of the course. The second offering in July 2015 was attended by 32 government hospital dentists from all over the country. 

Soon, other dentists, not necessarily government hospital dentists, heard about the course and started inquiring about it. Due to the demand, the course was offered again in September that year to almost 40 participants, not necessarily government dentists but also private practitioners, from all over the country. In 2016, actual odontectomy on patients were added to the requirements of the course. 

The course was offered once or twice a year until it was temporarily discontinued because of the COVID pandemic. To date there are around 300 graduates of the course. 

Details of the course can be found at www.upcdoscourse.weebly.com

*For additional information, you can contact Dr. Irma Parajas and Dean Natividad Gervasio