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Early introduction into clinical settings, under the
preceptorship of clinical group leaders and other faculty
members, enables the student to achieve a better
understanding of the dynamics of the patient/dentist
relationship and reinforces classroom instruction in the
basic and behavioral sciences, enhancing management
and delivery of comprehensive dental health care.
Students are thus taught the importance of teamwork
in an efficient and modern health care delivery system.
In addition to the above-described dental program,
the College of Dental Medicine offers a postdoctoral
program for dentists in advanced general dentistry, as
well as specialty programs in endodontics, oral and
maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry,
periodontology, and prosthodontics. The College of
Dental Medicine has a limited number of seats available
in its International Dental Graduate Program. This
program offers graduate dentists of foreign dental schools
the ability to earn a D.M.D. degree in three years,
allowing them to then qualify for licensure anywhere in
the United States.
For practicing dental professionals, the college presents
ongoing continuing education in current advances in
dentistry. These courses are of varying length and have
added an educational component for practicing dentists,
both nationally and internationally.
The College of Dental Medicine, located on the Health
Professions Division campus of NSU, is housed in
a 70,500-square-foot, three-story building containing
171
modern dental operatories units, in addition to
completely equipped diagnostic, radiographic, and oral-
maxillofacial surgical suites, and 35 modern dental
units at the North Miami Beach campus of NSU. Four
biomaterial and biological laboratories provide facilities
and opportunities for research.
The college has formulated a community dentistry
mission and will provide dental care to indigent and
underserved patients. The college also serves as a
professional community resource for dentists. Through
continuing education programs, library services, and
other technical and clinical assistance, the college helps
professionals stay current in their fields, even while
practicing in remote sites.
The College of Dental Medicine, founded in 1996,
strives to embrace the overall educational goals of NSU
while providing fully accredited dental education in the
United States.
College of Health Care Sciences
The College of Health Care Sciences is committed
to preparing quality health care professionals for roles
on the health care team. The Physician Assistant
Programs, located on the main campus and in Fort
Myers, Jacksonville, and Orlando, Florida, are accredited
by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education
for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The program in
Fort Lauderdale was granted the maximum accreditation
status of an additional seven years in March 2008. The
program awards a Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.)
in Physician Assistant degree.
Physician assistants (PAs) are health care professionals
who practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs
take medical histories, perform physical examinations,
order and interpret laboratory tests, diagnose and treat
illnesses, suture wounds, and assist in surgery. They can
also write prescriptions in every state.
The primary care-oriented program combines 15 months
of didactic studies with one year of comprehensive
clinical training. After completion of clinical training,
graduates must take the Physician Assistant National
Certification Examination for licensure.
The Occupational Therapy Program, accredited by
the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy
Education, opened in 1994. Occupational therapists
provide services to enhance and restore function and
life satisfaction to people whose daily life performance
has been interrupted or jeopardized by disease, injury,
disability, life stress, or other factors. The 29-month
Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) Program is
among the nation’s most clinically intensive M.O.T.
programs, with an integrated first-year curriculum, four
clinical rotations in year two, and six months of required
clinical internships.
The doctoral program in occupational therapy began
in 1995 and offers three doctoral courses of study. The
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.OT) Program
prepares practicing clinicians for leadership in a targeted