Educational Program for Dental Medicine in Tbilisi State Medical University
Dentistry (Stomatology) also known as Dental or Oral Medicine is considered as one of the most important directions of Medicine and health care. That consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention of disease, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity. Dental Medicine is not limited to dentition, but also the oral mucosa and of adjacent and related structures/tissues, such as maxillofacial area and craniofacial complex. It aims at protecting the oral cavity, to maintain and improve human health as a whole. All the above-mentioned can be achieved only by providing medical/dental education according to the international standards that require development of educational program (and curriculum) based on the modern, latest information of the field and envisaging the demands of the society.
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Tag: Health Care, Medical Education, Patient Care.
Title of the Educational Program
Level of the Higher Academic Education
Qualification to be awarded
Program Volume/Credits
Duration of the Program
Language of the Study
The Structure and Content of Medical Doctor Program
- The program is designed using the methodology of planning and developing educational programs at TSMU. The program’s content fully covers the requirements for admission and learning outcomes.
- The educational program includes teaching plan and appropriate Modules / Syllabuses. The learning outcomes of the educational program are in line with the Higher Education Qualifications Framework and Sectoral standards. (Decision of council of the Higher School of Education of Medicine, 18.07.2017). The program sets learning objectives, learning outcomes and the qualification. The program is developed in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
- The objectives, tasks and outcomes defined within the educational program are achieved through the cycle of theoretical and practical (including curation) sessions. During developing academic knowledge, a future Doctor of Dental Medicine assimilates theoretical subjects within the hours allocated for independent work, while the contact hours are dedicated to the seminars, working in simulation environment, hands-on teaching at dental techniques and role playing
- The students are actively involved in the study process. Development of sectoral skills is started at pre-clinical cycles of educational process. Prior to involvement in the process of counseling, examination, diagnosis and management of dental diseases on patients, under the supervision of University professors and invited teachers, dental students are given opportunity, from the very beginning of their studies, to develop their manual/practical skills and perform different type of dental manipulations on the phantoms and models, artificial and extracted teeth. At the seminar-sessions, students prepare abstracts, presentations and actively participate in solving illustrated tasks.
- Educational process for future Doctor of Dental Medicine in clinical environment is based on case-based learning (CBL), Case-based clinical reasoning (CBCR), participation in role playing games (role of dental practitioner, dental assistant, patient, relatives of the patient).
- The program is designed logically. The program components are adequate to appropriate level of education. Each component assumed to maintain its own knowledge and skills, already assimilated by the students and on the other hand, they are considered as prerequisites for “successor" component /course assimilation. According to the curriculum, prerequisite and “successor" disciplines are not taught in parallel. neither during the repeated course (subject). Successful study of all basic and preclinical disciplines, according curriculum, in the first - fourth semesters of the educational program of Doctor of Dental Medicine is a necessary prerequisite for student’s admission in the fifth semester. This kind of landmark barrier implies the confirmation of the student’s gradually accumulated knowledge in the biomedical and preclinical fields, that is necessary for the beginning of the valid study of clinical, first and foremost – sectorial disciplines. However, in the first and fourth semesters, a student (with academic debt) may repeat/study the “failed” course only until the end of the established stage barrier.
Aims of the Educational Program
Educational program, Dental Medicine” is designed to prepare a highly qualified, competitive, Doctor of Dental Medicine with the competence relevant to modern requirements. In other words, the program aims to equip graduates with knowledge and skills based on which a Doctor of Dental Medicine will be able to hold a working position in dental clinics, continue education on the next level of higher and/or professional education (residency, doctoral degree (PhD)) and specialization, as well as, realization and career advancement in public or professional activities.
The goals of the program, in more detail, means to train the student in the following directions:
- Apply and critically understand the basic knowledge of biomedical disciplines, clinical sciences and medical field in process of highquality patient care in relation to the profile issues of dental medicine / dentistry;
- Diagnose the health problems of dental patient timely, in an appropriate and effective manner;
- Take effective measures for the prevention of dental diseases;
- Treat, manage and promote the dental patient with patientcentered care;
- Communicate with the dental patient in an effective and professional way;
- Self-develop within the current legislation based on highly professional and ethical values.
Requirements/Prerequisites to the Program
Procedures for admission one step Educational Program for Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) are public, transparent and accessible. Information can be found on the University website. Student enrollment is carried out in accordance with legislation (Georgian Law on “Higher Education”, Article 52).
Prerequisites for admission DDM program are as follows:
- Applicant who wishes to be enrolled in the program, must have school-leaving certificate which qualifies student for university admission;
- All applicants applying for admission in the program must be interviewed by the relevant commission established by the order of the Rector of TSMU.
- TSMU has set English Language requirements (B1 level) for applicants who are enrolled in the English language educational program: all applicants are required to pass an English language proficiency test/go through the interview to determine English language proficiency according to the designated rules of the University. Applicants will be exempt from taking above–mentioned English language test, if the following criteria are met:
(a) If applicant has graduated school/college/university
(b) When presenting a valid B1 certificate / diploma of English language proficiency in English;
- Enrollment at DDM educational program is also permitted via mobility (Order N10/n of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia 04.02.2010). Rules of external or intra- university mobility of students and recognition of educational credits earned during the study period is established by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, as well as the rules and regulations determined by the Tbilisi State Medical University. English Language requirements (B1 level) are set for those who are enrolled within mobility program. They must be transferred either from English Medium program or they have to provide valid B1 Level English language certificate. Otherwise they have to pass English language test/interview under the TSMU admission rules.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the learning outcomes shall be expressed with general and sectoral competences that have been or should be acquired through the learning process by the graduate.
Sectoral competencies
Sectoral Knowledge:
Has knowledge in:
- Identification of complex problems and principles of its solving in sectoral field
- Clinical dental sciences
- Importance of dentist’s role in maintenance and promotion of human health, individually and as a team member in multidisciplinary professional setting.
Sectoral Skills:
Is able to:
- Appropriately select and use dental materials, devices and instruments
- Provide consultation of dental patients.
- Evaluate clinical cases of dental diseases and discuss disease management.
- Perform simple dental procedures
- Timely identify of characteristic clinical signs of particular (or complex) problems and formulate the necessary conclusion on the basis of existing and obtained information analysis data.
- Differentiate the normal and pathologic conditions, foresee the prognosis and risks
- Communicate with patients, their family members, medical and administrative personnel, healthcare professionals and social workers. Providing unpleasant information to patient and patient calm down as needed
- Engage in polemics, express own position in resolving conflict or controversial issues and/or adopt alternative consideration and recognition
- Provide timely and accurate data production and its presentation if needed
Responsibility and Autonomy:
Is able to:
- Determine the range and depth of own knowledge, realize the gaps, consider needs and mark priorities;
- From the continuous medical education standpoint, utilize all opportunities for obtaining new knowledge to improve personal professional development, enrich the knowledge and advance in career.
- Assess critically his/her and others capabilities and perform medical duties within undergraduate education competency, according to professional responsibility, ethical and legal standards.
- Objectively assess his/her and others attitude towards professional values and be ready to share personal professional experiences
General Competencies
Knowledge and Understanding
- Basic biomedical knowledge required for professional activity, realization of acquired knowledge in regards to the dental disciplines, as well as realization of dentist’s role in maintenance and promotion of human health.
Skills:
- Practical use of clinical skills mastered during learning biomedical and clinical disciplines
- Formulate substantiated conclusions on the basis of analysis academic knowledge, clinical and latest scientific information
- Possess the verbal skills for public relations and medical services considering information and communication technologies.
Responsibility and autonomy
- Study independently, to plan and understand the peculiarities of learning process
- Evaluate self and others attitude to existing values and contribute to establish new values
Areas of Employment
