1997-1-Editorial - Saudi Dental Journal

ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558

The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel.	966-1-467-7328
Fax.	933-1-467-7308 / 966-1-467-7534
Email	saudidj@ksu.edu.sa

Editorial

The possibility of Non-university based Postgraduate Dental Training in Saudi Arabia

For known reasons, historical evolution of advanced training programs in dentistry took a completely different path from that of clinical medicine. Over the years, hospitals were the only easily accessible training institutions for residents in all specialities of medicine but clearly not so for dentistry until recent times, consequently, different countries went through different experiences in formulating their approaches to higher qualification and advanced clinical training in dentistry.¹²

Common to most countries, however, was the fact that structured advanced training in any specialty of dentistry was initially and invariably confined exclusively to the university dental colleges or schools. For one reason, these dental colleges had the challenging and pioneering task of training teachers, clinicians and researchers to staff the dental colleges. For another reason, these institutions had no other readily accessible arrangement to generate the needed manpower for their educational objectives. In other words, if these dental colleges did not produce their needed manpower, no other Institutions could conveniently do so for them.

As time went on, hospitals, health research institutes, armed forces health care facilities and health-related industries became the additional alternative training grounds for dentists to acquire postgraduate and specialty training. What emerged from the varied historical national experiences were training pathways that were generally similar in essentials but not necessarily so in details which reflected particular and specific national needs.

Besides the traditional dental teaching hospitals, that is the dental clinics and/or hospitals of dental colleges, Specialty Boards came into existence in the United States and Canada. Faculties of Dental Surgery were founded within the four Royal College of Surgeons in the united Kingdom and the Royal Australasian College. In Europe, India, Nigeria and other countries, comparable and credible specially certifying bodies likewise emerged.

In Saudi Arabia today, there are three university-related but not university-based pathways for postgraduate training in medical specialties.^3,4,s They are (a) the Arab Board for Medical Specialization (1978), (b) the Joint Board for Postgraduate Medical Education (1982), and (c) the Saudi Board for Health Sciences (1992). There are presently no arrangement for postgraduate dental training within the current activities of the Arab Board or the Joint Board. The Saudi Board on the other hand was founded "to supervise all postgraduate training programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and applied medical sciences by establishing a scientific council for every specially. Each scientific council will then be fully responsible for all aspects of training, accreditation of training centers and certification in the relevant specially ".

Hitherto the preeminent center to train Saudi dental specialists within the Kingdom is the King Saud University (KSU) College of Dentistry. Since dental manpower needs of the Kingdom in dental specialties cannot be readily and adequately met by the products of KSU College of Dentistry, postgraduate education and institutions outside the Kingdom, it is time to vigorously explore the possibility of non-university based training programs within the Kingdom. To achieve this, a systemic device must be put in place to identify those existing dental centers in the Kingdom where specific dental specially programs could be undertaken following agreed guidelines. Needless to emphasize, the chosen centers must meet the generally agreed international standard requirements. The Colleges of Dentistry in the Kingdom will, of necessity, play a prominent role in this challenging task. Such role is being performed by academic dental specialists worldwide.

Non-university based training centers are not constrained by the usual rigid requirements of structured courses and credits traditionally mandatory for University graduate education. Outside the University constraints, professional graduate training will enjoy greater flexibility, adaptability and expanded hands-on clinical training. All these can be accomplished pari-passu with research activities but without any ambiguity, primacy will be given to advanced clinical training in such non-university centers. These centers do not and cannot compete with university-based programs. Rather they complement themselves for the varied needs of the society.

For such non-university centers to succeed at the quality level required, a National Dental Council will be the most appropriate body to keep up. Fortunately, the framework is already provided for within the Saudi Board of Health Sciences.

H. A. MOSADOMI
Member, Editorial Board & Diplomate,
American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
And Director of Postgraduate Dental Education
King Saud University College of Dentistry