What Our Residents Are Saying
Andrea J. Cox, DDS
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
"Deciding to do a general practice residency has been an excellent decision for me. As a resident, I have had the opportunity to work closely with experienced attending dentists as well as get excellent didactic training. Because of this I have been able to take on complex cases that I otherwise never would have been able to take on as a new graduate. I have gained experience that would have taken me years to gain on my own in private practice. Besides gaining dental knowledge, I have also gained knowledge about the business side of dentistry, because the residency has a large private practice component.
During my first year I did several different rotations including an OMFS rotation, health department rotation and family medicine rotation. All of which helped me become a better clinician. I also pulled from my experiences during these rotations to help design a program that teaches doctors and nurses to apply fluoride and do cavity screenings on children that are not able to be seen by a dentist.
By doing a second year I feel that I will have the opportunity to hone my skills further. I will able to apply the skills I learned in my first year to cases that I am doing this year as well as continuously learn as a dentist. I also have been given the opportunity to create some unique rotations. I am currently working on starting an OB/GYN and vet rotation. I hope to learn about the pre-natal needs of my patients and dental needs of household pets. I am looking forward to an excellent second year."
A. Nicole Barnett, DMD
Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine
"I am so glad to have the experience of the UT General Practice Residency program. The program has everything I could want in a GPR, as I have had the opportunity to gain more experience in all aspects of general dentistry, hospital dentistry, forensic odontology and all the dental specialties. I have been able to treat patients in a day-to-day private practice setting as well as in the OR, ER and hospital. The one-on-one mentorship from faculty I have received has been invaluable, and I have learned so much in the short time I have been here. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a well-rounded General Practice Residency."
Christopher A. Laing, DDS
Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
"I decided to come to the University of Tennessee for residency because it best modeled my career goals in the practice of dentistry. My short stint in residency thus far can only be considered invaluable. General Practice Residencies are more or less optional in dentistry, but I feel that residency was the platform to best develop myself as a new dentist. In addition to expanding my knowledge, I value my post graduate training at UT as an opportunity to develop efficiency in critical thinking, diagnosis and treatment. I am also confident that residency was the best atmosphere for me to develop my skills in patient management. I was most intrigued by more involved restorative techniques and treating patients in the OR setting with hopes to be able to treat patients who are otherwise unmanageable in the traditional setting. All in all, I truly believe my decision to attend UT will resonate throughout my career."
R. Kendall Peebles, DMD
University of Louisville School of Dentistry
"After graduating from dental school, I wanted to further my training and gain more experience, especially with medically compromised patients, before I entered into the work force on my own. I chose the UT GPR program because I will not only gain the knowledge and experience of managing medically compromised patients but also learn the inner workings of a private practice setting. The faculty are very experienced, and through them I am learning a plethora of knowledge and techniques that I will be able to apply to my own patients. I am very happy with my choice of programs. I know I will be well-versed in all aspects of the dental field after completing this program and will be able to give my patients the best care. "
Kathryn L. Sumner, DDS
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
"The UT GPR has helped to improve my clinical decision making skills when treating patients' oral health needs. It has also helped me to gain confidence and speed in treating patients. The training in this GPR program has given me the opportunity to manage more difficult cases and treat medically compromised patients. I know that once I leave this GPR I will be much better prepared for private practice."
