Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

Dr. Yaara Berdan evaluates lab work for international dentistry student Shubha Pewa using a high-powered microscope.
Photo by Nate Jensen.

Departments 

• Craniofacial Biology  
• Advanced Programs in Dental Education  

Since 1897, the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC has provided students with unique, intensive clinical experiences using the most advanced techniques and technologies in the field. Graduates form a tightly knit community of proud alumni provide top-notch patient care, conduct world-class research, and lead the oral health field.

The school’s strength is its educators. Their world-renowned expertise, combined with innovative curricula, gives students the intensive clinical education they need to become accomplished oral health professionals. The curricula include the Doctor of Dental Surgery program and postdoctoral advanced programs in endodontics, general practice residency, operative and adhesive dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orofacial pain, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology and prosthodontics. Other programs include an advanced standing program for international dentists; doctor of philosophy degrees in craniofacial biology; online master of science degrees in geriatric dentistry, orofacial pain and oral medicine, and community oral health; online graduate certificate programs in geriatric dentistry, orofacial pain, oral pathology and radiology, and community oral health.

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry’s celebrated status as a well-funded dental and craniofacial research unit enables students to enrich their education through laboratory-based studies and bolster their clinical skills with strong scientific foundations.

Through community service, the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry provides valuable clinical experiences to the students while helping disadvantaged individuals improve their oral health. Serving the surrounding community helps students develop clinical competence and learn to treat all members of diverse communities with care and compassion.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
dentistry.usc.edu

Administration

Avishai Sadan, DMD, MBA, Dean

Mahvash Navazesh, DMD, Executive Associate Dean for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs

Yang Chai, DDS, PhD, Associate Dean of Research

Casey Chen, DDS, PhD, Associate Dean of Applied Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Co-Chair, Department of Endodontics and Periodontics

Glenn Clark, MS, DDS, Associate Dean of Distance Learning and Telehealth

Sillas Duarte, Jr., DDS, PhD, Associate Dean of Comprehensive Care; Interim Chair, Department of Prosthodontics

Roseann Mulligan, MS, DDS, Associate Dean of Dental Public Health and Community Outreach 

Douglas Solow, DDS, MBA, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs

Mark Urata, MD, DDS, FACS, FAAP, Associate Dean of Surgical and Hospital Affairs

Alexander Alcaraz, DMD, Co-Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Yaara Berdan, DDS, FACD, Co-Chair, Department of Endodontics and Periodontics

Amy Merrill-Brugger, PhD, Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Jin-Ho Phark, DDS, Dr.med.dent., Chair, Department of Operative Dentistry

Glenn Sameshima, DDS, PhD, Co-Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Parish Sedghizadeh, MS, DDS, Co-Chair, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine

Piedad Suarez, MS, DDS, Chair, Department of Geriatrics, Special Needs and Behavioral Sciences

James Tom, DDS, MS, DADBA, Co-Chair, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Anesthesia and Emegency Medicine

Kim Austin, DDS, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion

Anita Tourah, DDS, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs

Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

pt.usc.edu

James Gordon, EdD, PT, FAPTA, Associate Dean and Chair, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

chan.usc.edu

Grace Baranek, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Associate Dean and Chair, Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Faculty

G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery Dean’s Chair in Dentistry: Avishai Sadan, DMD, MBA

George and Mary Lou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Molecular Biology: Yang Chai, DDS, PhD

Wayne G. and Margaret L. Bemis Endowed Professorship in Endodontics: Rafael Roges, DDS

Ralph W. and Jean L. Bleak Professor of Restorative Dentistry: Winston Wan-Li Chee, BDS

Violet S. Bonney Professor of Dental Hygiene: M. Diane Melrose, BSDH, MA

Mrs. T.H. Chan Professorship in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy: Grace Baranek, PhD

Charles M. Goldstein Professor of Community Dentistry: Roseann Mulligan, DDS, MS

Carl Rieder Endowed Professorship in Restorative Dentistry: Cheryl Park, DDS, FACP

Phillip Maurer Tennis Professorship in Clinical Dentistry: George C. Cho, DDS

USC Associates Assistant Professor of Dentistry: Sanaz Fereshteh, DDS

Professors: Yang Chai, DDS, PhD; Chih-Kuang (Casey) Chen, DDS, PhD; Glenn Clark, MS, DDS; Pinghui Feng, MD, PhD; Tina F. Jaskoll, PhD; Roseann Mulligan, MS, DDS; Mahvash Navazesh, DMD; Janet Moradian-Oldak, PhD; Michael Paine, BDS, PhD; Ilan Rotstein, DDS; Avishai Sadan, DMD, MBA; Michael L. Schneir, MS, PhD; Jorgen Slots, MBA, DDS, PhD, DMD; Malcolm L. Snead, DDS, PhD

Associate Professors: Winston Wan-Li Chee, BDS; Jianfu Chen, PhD; George C. Cho, DDS; Sillas Duarte, Jr., DDS, PhD; Amy Merrill-Brugger, PhD; Glenn Sameshima, DDS, PhD; Arnold Tiber, DDS, PhD; Jian Xu, PhD

Assistant Professors of Dentistry: De-Chen Lin, PhD; Zhaoyang Liu, PhD

Professors of Clinical Dentistry: Loris Abedi, DDS; Khalid Al-Hezaimi, BDS, MSc; Joyce Galligan, RN, DDS; Mina Habibian, DMD, PhD; Michael Jorgensen, DDS; M. Diane Melrose, BSDH, MA; Michael J. Mulvehill III, DDS, MBA; Ramon Roges, DDS; Douglas Solow, DDS, MBA; Mark Urata, DDS, MD

Professor (Instructional): Reyes Enciso, PhD

Associate Professor (Clinical Scholar): Stephen Yen, DMD, PhD

Associate Professors of Clinical Dentistry: Tae Ahn, DDS; Alexander Alcaraz, DMD; Kim Austin, DDS; Gardner Beale, DDS; Laura Elizondo, DDS; Sanaz Fereshteh, DDS; Alon Frydman, DDS; Julie Jenks, MS, MPH, DDS; Kian Kar, MS, DDS; Tae Kim, DDS; Theresia Laksmana, DMD, MS; Daniel Miller, DDS; Amirali Mirenayat, DDS; John Morzov, DDS; Mariela Padilla, DDS; Anthony Park, DDS; Kristine Parungao, BSDH; Jin-Ho Phark, DDS; José Polido, DDS; Lisa Popkoff, DDS; Elham Radan, DMD, MSc; Rafael Roges, DDS; Daniel Romo, DDS; Parish P. Sedghizadeh, DDS; Piedad Suarez, DDS; Marlene Talley, DDS; Thanh Tam Ton, DDS; Anita Tourah, DDS; Stefan Zweig, DDS

Assistant Professors of Clinical Dentistry: Abier Abdulwahab, DDS; Sarah Al-Saleh, DDS, MS; Nissim Benbassat, DDS; Yaara Berdan, DDS; Nam Cho, DDS, MD; John Costandi, DMD, MD; Narine Danielian, DDS; Rebecca Dayanim, DDS; Christine Edwards, PhD; Nazanin Forghani, DDS, MS; Helia Hooshangi, DDS; Allen Huang, DDS, MD; Boris Keselbrener, DDS; Rebecca (Chae Hyun) Kim, DDS; Gerald Lee, DDS; Chun Jun (Stuart) Lee, BDS, MFDS; Richard S. Lin, DDS; W. Michael Madden, DDS; Ali Ostadali Makhmalbaf, DDS; (Mehdi) Mohammad Mohammadi, MPH, DDS; Rebecca Ortiz Bodensteiner, BSDH, MA; Cheryl Park, DDS; Catherine Pham, DDS, MPH; Gelareh Ronaghi, DDS; Jenny Son, MS, DDS; Justin Urbano, RDH, MA; Anette Vistoso Monreal, DDS, MS; Nineli Zadourian, DDS

Associate Professors of Research: Matthew K. Lee, MD; Yan Zhou, PhD

Clinical Professors: Ralph B. Allman, MS, DDS; Margarita Zeichner-David, PhD

Clinical Associate Professors: Gabriela Anderson, DDS; Vartuhi Avanesian, DDS; Nasrin Bahari Chopiuk, PhD; Sibel Dincer, DDS, MS; John Kishibay, DMD, PhD; Alena Knezevic, DMD, MS, PhD; Bach Le, DDS, MD; Lisa Oshiro, RDH; Lucille Rotstein, BChD; Carlos Sanchez, RDH; Hovhanness Shnorhokian, DMD, PhD; James W. Tom, DDS, MS; Fabiana Varjao, PhD; Xin Wen, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professors: Marwa Abulhasan, DMD, MS; Azadeh Ahmadieh, DDS, MS; Mainul Ahsan, PhD; Mahsa Alavi, DMD, MS; Neema Bakhshalian, DDS, PhD, MS; Audrey Boros, DDS; Elizabeth Brummel, BA, MPH; Sangho Byun, DDS; Sylvia Carlos, DDS; Raymond Choi, DDS, MS; Xiao Mei Cui, DDS; David Datu, DDS; Howard Fleiner, DDS; Ellen M. Grady, BA; Melina Grigorian, DDS; Michael Gu, DDS; Jun Han, MS, DDS, PhD; Lisa Hou, DDS; Viola Iskarious, DDS; Daniel Jacob, BA, MSW; David Kang, DDS; James McAndrews, DDS; Michaela Nguyen, RDH; Naomi Nguyen, DDS, MS; Camille Nishikawa, DDS; Ivan Pinto, RDH; Narendranath Ravindranath, PhD; Daniel Schechter, DDS; Daniela Schmid, DDS, PhD; Arezou Shahbazi, DDS, MS; J. Denise Tefft, PhD; Xun Xu, PhD, DDS; Kiyomi Yamazaki, DDS, PhD; Danhong Zhu, MD, MS, PhD

Clinical Instructors: Joiakim Bakhoum, DDS; Cristy Boehm, RDH; Brandon Gauthier, DDS; Shahrokh Jedian, DDS

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degrees Offered

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry awards the following degrees and certificates: Master of Science, Craniofacial Biology; Master of Science, Biomaterials and Digital Dentistry; Master of Science, Biomedical Implants and Tissue Engineering; Doctor of Philosophy, Craniofacial Biology; Doctor of Dental Surgery; Advanced Operative and Adhesive Dentistry Certificate; Advanced Orthodontics Certificate; Advanced Pediatric Dentistry Certificate; Advanced Periodontology Certificate; Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Advanced Orofacial Pain; and Advanced Prosthodontics Certificate. A minor in Craniofacial and Dental Technology is also offered jointly by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry awards the following online degrees and certificates: Master of Science, Geriatric Dentistry; Master of Science, Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine; Master of Science, Community Oral Health; Orofacial Pain Certificate; Oral Pathology and Radiology Certificate; Geriatric Dentistry Certificate; and Community Oral Health Certificate.

General Information

The Grading System

Grades are issued by members of the faculty to indicate to students their level of achievement and to provide information to committees given the responsibility of reviewing a student’s total academic record and assigning honor or deficient status.

Newly admitted students to all programs in the school are bound by the university grading system (excluding plus/minus grades), which is detailed in the Academic Standards  section of this catalogue.

Grades used by course directors of advanced clinical classes are: “Cr” — credit and “NC” — no credit. Other notations appearing on the transcript are: A — excellent; B — good; C — minimum passing in courses for graduate credit; F — failed; “IN” — incomplete work; “MG” — missing grade; and “W” — withdraw. Students pursuing a Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Biology, and Doctor of Dental Surgery classes should refer to the Academic Standards  section of this catalogue.

Probation and Disqualification

A student evaluation policy has been developed that outlines methods by which the faculty can recognize outstanding achievements by students and identify those who have difficulty meeting the school’s academic standards.

In this policy, the procedures dealing with the assignment and consequences of academic status, including academic probation and disqualification, are outlined in detail. It is hoped that the development of specific guidelines will eliminate confusion and minimize the amount of time spent in determining the student’s status, thus allowing faculty and students to concentrate on their primary responsibility — the training of dental health professionals. Copies of Student Professional Performance Evaluation Committee guidelines are available online on the Dental School intranet.

DDS (including Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists)

A student will be placed on academic warning (“AW”) if: (1) the GPA of a given Academic Time Unit (ATU) falls below a 2.0; (2) a failing course grade in a course of 1 unit or less is received; and/or (3) if in the judgment of the Student Professional Performance Evaluation Committee, such a warning is warranted for other reasons, such as poor attendance or consistent tardiness.

A student will be placed on academic probation (“AP”) if: (1) a failing grade is received in 2 or more units completed in one ATU; (2) a second consecutive academic warning is warranted: (2) two conditions that justify academic warning are met in a single ATU or if a single condition is met twice in an ATU; and/or (4) a student receives a failing score or an F in a module that results in an MG. A first-year student in trimesters I, II or III will be placed on academic probation if: (1) the quality of preclinical work is unsatisfactory as reflected by a failing score or an F in a module; (2) the quality of preclinical work is poor enough to jeopardize the student’s timely transition to clinic with the rest of the class; (3) warranted by other factors related to the quality of preclinical/clinical work such as poor attendance, unprofessional behavior and/or poor performance in written examinations; (4) in the judgment of the Student Professional Performance Evaluation Committee, probation is warranted by other academic factors; and/or (5) recommended by the group practice director, due to the quality of clinical work.

A student may be placed on clinical probation upon recommendation of the group practice director, associate dean for Clinical Affairs, or any other faculty who have supervised the student’s clinical activities if a failing score is received in any of the graded categories of group practice performance, or, in the judgment of the group practice director, the associate dean for Clinical Affairs, or any other faculty who have supervised the student’s clinical activities, probation is warranted by other factors related to the delivery of health care or clinical accomplishment.

A student will be considered for disqualification if: (1) at the end of any trimester during the first year (trimesters I, II, III), a student’s continued lack of preclinical accomplishment is significant enough to suggest a deterioration of preclinical skills; (2) a second academic probation is warranted; (3) a failing grade is not reconciled; (4) at the end of the academic year the grade point average for the preceding year is below 2.0; (5) academic probation is warranted while repeating a trimester on probation; (6) a deficiency in any area is determined by the Student Professional Performance Evaluation Committee to be insurmountable; (7) at the end of the second trimester of the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID), the cumulative average is less than 2.0; (8) it is recommended by the group practice director, based on severe and irreconcilable deficiencies relating to the quality and/or quantity of patient treatment; and/or (9) at the end of any trimester following trimester VI, a student’s ongoing lack of clinical accomplishment is significant enough to suggest a deterioration of skills and/or inadequate treatment of patients assigned to the student’s care.

Advanced Clinical Programs and Online Master of Science Degrees and Online Certificate Programs 

A student will be placed on academic probation if a failing grade is received in any course or if, in the judgment of the program director, a student’s performance warrants such status due to academic or other factors. A student may be disqualified if: (1) the stipulations of a probationary period are not met by the required deadline; (2) a failing grade is not reconciled in the period specified by the course director; (3) if a student is placed on second academic probation; and/or (4) a deficiency in any area is acquired that is determined by the program director to be insurmountable. A student who is placed on academic probation a second time can continue in the program only with the approval of the program director and the Advanced Student Professional Performance Evaluation Subcommittee.

Advanced Clinical Programs Graduation Requirements

A minimum program GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate from the following advanced clinical dentistry programs: endodontics, operative and adhesive dentistry, orofacial pain, periodontology and prosthodontics. 

Honor Status

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry recognizes excellence in achievement by assigning special honor status during the course of study and by presentation of awards upon graduation.

Dean’s List

Students in the doctoral dental program who complete all course work by a prescribed deadline and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or above for a trimester are eligible for and will be considered for placement on the Dean’s List for that ATU. Placement is not automatic and is not based on any single marker of performance. Students shall not be placed on the Dean’s List if they are on academic warning, academic probation or continued academic probation at any time during that trimester, or are under active ethics sanctions as a result of having been found guilty of or engaged in a direct resolution of an ethics violation.

Graduation Awards

There are numerous awards made each year at graduation to recognize excellence in members of the graduating doctoral and ASPID classes. A complete list is available at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.

Voluntary Withdrawal/Leave of Absence

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry recognizes that in some special instances it may be necessary or beneficial for a student to interrupt or discontinue dental education. A student wishing to withdraw from School or request a leave of absence must contact the Office of Academic Affairs for procedures to be followed. An approved leave of absence will not be granted for more than one year.

Students at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry who have not been formally dropped by the school, are considered enrolled each term unless they have submitted a letter of intent to withdraw. A student’s verbal indication that the student intends to withdraw or failure to settle a fee bill are not sufficient to eliminate the student from class rosters. Final course grades will be collected for students who do not have a letter of intent to withdraw on file with the Office of Academic Affairs.

A student who withdraws at any time during the first three weeks of a trimester will receive no grades for enrolled courses. A student who withdraws after three full weeks of an Academic Time Unit (ATU) will receive a mark of “W” for all enrolled courses not completed. Withdrawal is not permitted after the 12th week of a trimester.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The University of Southern California recognizes and acts in full compliance with regulations set in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Amendment). A student may have access to all records about him or her maintained by the university except those considered confidential under the act. Students of the School of Dentistry wishing to review records or to appeal for a change in those records should contact the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry or USC Registrar. A small charge may be made to cover the time and costs of duplication of the record.

Tuition and Fees (Estimated)

Tuition at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry is charged on a flat fee basis for enrollment in the regular degree and advanced certificate programs of the school. Exceptions do not apply to students who have courses waived based on their prior education. In such cases, students are charged the standard flat fee for the program in which they are enrolled.

Auditors pay the regular tuition rate. Auditors are not required to participate in class exercises (discussions and examinations); they receive no grades or credit.

The information outlined here is for Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry fees and tuition deposits only. For information about Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry tuition and university fees, refer to the Tuition and Fees , Fall 2023 section of this catalogue. The university reserves the right to assess new fees or charges as it may determine.

Student Issue

Figures shown below are approximate. The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry reserves the right to change fees at any time.

DDS Program

Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists Incoming

Advanced Dentistry Programs

Financial Aid

Detailed information concerning financial aid programs available to dental students can be obtained by contacting the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Office of Financial Aid at (213) 740-2861 or financialaid@ostrow.usc.edu.

Programs

• Craniofacial and Dental Technology Minor

• Advanced Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine (MS)
• Biomaterials and Digital Dentistry (MS)
• Biomedical Implants and Tissue Engineering (MS)
• Community Oral Health (MS)
• Geriatric Dentistry (MS)

• Advanced Orthodontics Certificate
• Community Oral Health Certificate
• Geriatric Dentistry Graduate Certificate
• Oral Pathology and Radiology Certificate
• Orofacial Pain Certificate

• Dental Surgery (DDS)

Courses

• SURG 702a Seminar: Review of the Oral Surgery Literature
• SURG 702b Seminar: Review of the Oral Surgery Literature
• SURG 708a Orthognathic Surgery
• SURG 708b Orthognathic Surgery
• SURG 721 Surgical Anatomy
• SURG 761a Clinic: Advanced Oral Surgery
• SURG 761b Clinic: Advanced Oral Surgery
• SURG 761c Clinic: Advanced Oral Surgery
• SURG 761d Clinic: Advanced Oral Surgery
• SURG 763a Clinic: Advanced Hospital Oral Surgery and Anesthesia
• SURG 763b Clinic: Advanced Hospital Oral Surgery and Anesthesia
• SURG 763c Clinic: Advanced Hospital Oral Surgery and Anesthesia
• SURG 763d Clinic: Advanced Hospital Oral Surgery and Anesthesia