Extramural fellowship program--the Oregon model.

Surveys of recent dental graduates indicated they were not ready for solo private practice immediately after completing their formal dental education. After assessment of the regional external and internal environment, the School of Dentistry, Oregon Health Sciences University established a voluntary one-year extramural fellowship program in a non-traditional setting. The program requires the fellow to spend 80% of his or her time in a general dentistry office and 20% in a public service setting. The preceptor dentists pay a stipend competitive with other residency programs. The advantages of this transition year are: 1) the fellow further develops technical and diagnostic skills and confidence in a general dentistry setting; 2) the fellow receives first-hand experience about the many business decisions made when running a successful dental office; and 3) the preceptor dentist has the opportunity to teach a fellow eager to learn, who could become an associate in the practice after completion of the program.