title: Educators' and Applicants' Views of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Admission Process: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: The postdoctoral application and matching process in dental education is a high-stakes and resource-intensive process for all involved. While programs seek the most qualified candidates, applicants strive to be competitive to increase their likelihood of being accepted to a desirable program. There are limited data regarding either subjective or objective factors underlying the complex interplay between programs and applicants. This qualitative study sought to provide insight into the stakeholders' experiences and views on the matching process. Telephone and in-person interviews were conducted with ten pediatric dentistry program directors and ten recent applicants to pediatric dentistry programs in the United States in 2013-14. Participants were selected to represent the geographic (five districts of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) and institutional (hospital- or university-based) diversity of pediatric dentistry programs. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Veracity and need for more information were the themes most often articulated by both groups. The program directors most valued teachability and self-motivation as desirable applicant characteristics. The applicants relied primarily on subjective sources to gather information about programs and prioritized location and financial factors as pivotal for their rankings. Both groups appreciated the uniformity of the current application process and highlighted several weaknesses and areas for improvement. These results shed light on the postdoctoral matching process in pediatric dentistry via a qualitative description of stakeholders' experiences and viewpoints. These insights can serve as a basis for improving and refining the matching process.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. kricker@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ricker
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mihas
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Jessica Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guthmiller
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ricker is in private practice in central North Carolina and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Mr. Mihas is a Qualitative Research Consultant, The Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Lee is Demerritt Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; Dr. Guthmiller is Dean and Professor, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. Roberts is Henson Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry; and Dr. Divaris is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Kimon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Divaris
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000124:Achievement; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006040:Goals; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D009042:Motivation; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities
keywords: advanced dental education; dental education; graduate dental education; pediatric dentistry; school admission criteria