The resident completed a 3-year oral and maxillofacial surgery program with extensive clinical training including minor oral surgeries, radiology interpretation, rotations in related fields like ENT and plastic surgery, and assisting in major surgeries like neck dissections. The training emphasized clinical skills, decision making, and managing patients independently. The resident also spent 2 months at Tufts University gaining experience in the US. As an assistant professor, the resident helped develop a new maxillofacial unit, taught undergraduate students, and independently performed minor oral surgeries and assisted in major cases involving head and neck pathology and reconstruction.

1. Training and work experience as an Oral and Maxillofacial resident:
Aarathi Ravish Rao
The residency program included three years of extensive training in O ral and maxillofacial surgery and
related fields of medicine.
The first year comprised of comprehensive understanding of core basics of human anatomy, applied
anatomy, physiology, clinical pathology and microbiology. The clinical training included management
of minor oral surgical procedures with academic training in major oral surgical procedures. I was
trained to independently perform minor oral surgical procedures under local anesthesia such as
complicated and uncomplicated extractions, impactions, maxillofacial infections, cyst and minor
pathological conditions management. The training emphasized exclusively on decision making in oral
and maxillofacial surgery and understanding the core concepts. The first year training included human
cadaveric dissections which involved anatomical dissections and advanced learning of raising flaps and
performing procedures in cadavers.
The second year included adjunct rotations to strengthen our overall clinical understanding. It included
medical hospital rotations alternating with rotations in the craniofacial unit.
Clinical rotations Duration
(Months)
Experience and training
General Medicine 1 Academic understanding of assessment of patients vitals,
training to detect basic CVS, CNS, muscular pathology and
their management in dental office.
General Surgery 1 Training in raising flaps, tissue management, suturing and
wound management. The training advanced to working as first
assistants in surgical procedures under GA. Clinical training
also involved attending resident’s presentations, clinical rounds
and assisting on call residents.
Radiology 1 Involved intense training in understanding radiology basics
including CT, MRI and ultrasound. I was independently able to
interpret radiographs, CT and MRI images. The training
included assisting on call residents and presenting a case study
with emphasis to radiological procedures.
Ophthalmology 15 days It involved training to detect ophthalmic conditions which were
commonly associated with trauma and craniofacial defects. We
were trained to assess the basic visual field and diplopia
assessment and also had an in detail understanding of lateral
canthotomy procedure as a emergency management of
compartment syndromes.
Pediatrics 15 days This posting trained us to understand basic pediatric
management protocols in the hospital. The training included IV
access to infuse fluids and in hospital fluid management in
pediatric patients.

2. Orthopedics 1 This training involved assisting in surgical management of
orthopedic conditions with keen emphasis on trauma
management and assisting trauma on call residents.
Plastic and craniofacial
unit
1 Involved intense training in head and neck procedures. We
worked as first assistants in all procedures under GA and also
involved diagnostic training and assessment of craniofacial
defects. I was trained to raise local flaps under guided
supervision.
Head and Neck Cancer
unit
3 This training involved in house training in diagnosing, medical
and surgical management of head and neck cancer. Procedures
assisted are: Local resection of jaw tumors and neck
dissections- SOHND, RND and FND. Reconstruction with: Pec
major flaps, RFFF and fibula flaps. I was trained to perform
local resection and SOHND under guided supervision. This
training included working as first on call resident.
Neurosurgery 3 This training involved diagnosis of neurological conditions,
working as first assistant in neuro surgeries: Hematoma and
trauma management, brain and spinal cord tumor resections and
assisting on call residents and in charge of patients ward
management. This training period honed my basic surgical
skills and improved understanding of neurological conditions
associated with craniofacial procedures.
Anesthesia and pain
management
1 The training included airway assessment and management in
emergency and under GA, fluid management and anesthesia
medications. I was trained to intubate pediatric and adult
patients and with emphasis on sub mental intubation under
supervision of the faculty. The training involved working as
first hand assistants in tracheostomy procedures and difficult
intubations.
I had an opportunity to extern in the department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery in Tufts school of
dentistry, Boston, MA for 2 months. It was perfect blend of academic and clinical courses which
broadened my perspective about Oral and maxillofacial surgery. It was a great learning experience and
I was involved in academic sessions, clinical procedures and surgical procedures under GA. I was also
given an opportunity to present a case study and was involved in working as assistant to on call
residents.
Third year of residency comprised of training in the craniofacial unit. The training involved didatic
presentations, clinical study, and journal club and thesis presentation. I was actively involved in daily
morning rounds, grand rounds, on call duties, patient diagnosis, initial pre op work up, surgical
management and post-operative management of the patients. We were trained exclusively in the
management of cleft lip and palate and associated conditions.
Surgeries performed under guided supervision are: Cleft lip, cleft palate, mandibular, zygomatic, nasal
and orbital trauma, pathology resection and local reconstruction, BSSO, le fort 1 and 2 osteotomies and
genioplasty.

3. Surgeries assisted include: Head and neck cancer – RND, SOHND, FND, and local and free flap
reconstructions. Complicated cleft lip and palate cases and craniofacial syndromes, alveolar bone
grafting, iliac, rib and cranial bone grafting. The residency was finished to completion by thesis
submission and licensing examinations.
Work experience as Assistant professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Working as an Assistant Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery was a rewarding experience as I
could utilize the gained knowledge in an effective manner. Joining a budding institution helped in many
ways as I was actively involved in developing a maxillofacial unit in the institution. Since it involved
administrative skills, I went through a semester of hospital management course to keep me current on
the management skills. I was involved in undergraduate teaching program and their academic and
clinical assessment. I enjoyed working as a clinical instructor and providing one to one teaching to
students. It was great sense of satisfaction to kindle the interest in Oral surgery in students.
My clinical work experience included diagnosis and management of minor and major oral and
maxillofacial surgical procedures. I was independently performing minor oral surgical procedures,
trauma and head and neck pathology resection and reconstruction with local flaps. I worked in
conjunction with ENT and department of plastic surgery on a few interesting and rare head and neck
deformities.