ACS Fellowship for Single-Degree OMS

ACS Fellowship for single-degree OMSs; dual-degree case log review

AAOMS and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have worked together to establish a new pathway that allows eligible single-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeons to apply for ACS Fellowship. ACS has agreed to waive the dual-degree requirement for single-degree OMSs, provided all other requirements for Fellowship have been met.

AAOMS is now offering assistance with case log review for dual-degree OMS applicants. Dual-degree surgeons will still directly apply to ACS. The change merely provides case log review for dual-degree applicants. Case logs for dual-degree applicants should be sent to [email protected] by May 1.

Preliminary ACS Fellowship Application Requirements for Single-degree OMSs

Waiver Application Process

Interested OMSs must submit proof of having completed the following requirements directly to AAOMS. A committee of AAOMS fellows will review all submitted materials and provide ACS with confirmation of the applicant’s eligibility. The 2022-23 single-degree OMS waiver application cycle is now open.

Once the waiver application has been forwarded by AAOMS, the ACS Membership Department will begin the definitive fellowship application process. All applications will be reviewed following the College’s normal fellowship evaluation procedures, and a request to submit an application for fellowship will be communicated to you by email. The ACS Board of Regents makes the final decision on eligibility for fellowship and will notify applicants of the decision by email.

Please note: Acceptance of a waiver does not guarantee fellowship in ACS. Acceptance of a waiver offers the opportunity to apply for fellowship during the normal application cycle for December 2022-October 2023 induction.

Initial Application: Electronically submit the following information to [email protected] by June 1:

1. Current CV.
2. Proof of Diplomate status with the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). You must have achieved Diplomate status at least 12 months prior to the ACS application deadline which is typically the end of December of the year during application.
3. Proof of DDS or DMD degree.
4. Proof of full and unrestricted dental license in your state.
5. Three letters of recommendation from Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. (Letters may be submitted by any current ACS fellow, OMS or otherwise.)*
6. Current appointment on the surgical staff of a hospital with privileges as defined by the scope of the specialty.
7. A consecutive 12 month listing (from the date of application) of the procedures performed as a surgical attending with responsibility for your portion of the patient’s care. The surgical log will be evaluated based on volume and scope. Specific instructions for the surgical list are below. (See ACS-OMS Surgical Criteria for ACS Fellowship Application.)

*Two additional recommendation letters will be required by the ACS once approved through the AAOMS waiver process. 
When preparing your surgical list, note the following:

1. Use an Excel spreadsheet format that can be electronically submitted. (See Sample Surgical Log);
2. Surgical lists may not contain confidential patient information due to federal privacy guidelines;
3. Include every operative case performed during the 12-month period (exclude any dentoalveolar procedure such as extractions, implants or socket/sinus grafting procedure in preparation for dental implants).
4. Although no specific number can be assigned relative to volume, 50 major OR cases are generally needed to meet this requirement.
5. Exclude all non-operative contacts, such as E&M or pre-and post-op visits.
6. Provide a written description of the procedure, date of the procedure, CPT code and the age of the patient (See simple examples below.)
7. Cases done while in residency or fellowships may not count as part of your surgical log.
8. Cases done on mission trips away from your primary hospital may not count towards the case log numbers.

Upon receipt of the application and documentation, the AAOMS designated committee will review your request. If complete, AAOMS will forward your application to the ACS Member Services Director. All ACS applications will be reviewed following the College’s normal Fellowship evaluation procedures. The ACS Board of Regents makes the final decision on eligibility for Fellowship. You will receive notification of the ACS decision via email.

Please note: Acceptance of the initial application by ACS does not mean a potential applicant will be approved for Fellowship. A second application instituted by the ACS will be required.  Questions or comments regarding the initial application to AAOMS should be directed to [email protected].

ACS Fellowship Application – 12-month sample surgical list, date of procedure, CPT code(s), age of patient, description of procedure

EXAMPLES

Sample Surgical Log

ACS-OMS Surgical Criteria for ACS Fellowship Application

The AAOMS Parameters of Care recognizes the following major surgical categories as contemporary scope of practice for oral and maxillofacial surgery.  Examples are intended as general guidelines and not meant to be a complete listing for each category. This surgical case log will serve as an index to the volume, variety, and character of the applicant’s surgical experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Trauma Surgery (e.g.: craniomaxillofacial fracture reduction, craniomaxillofacial soft tissue laceration repair, surgical airway/tracheotomy)

Correction of Soft and Hard Tissue Deformities (e.g.: mandibular osteotomies, maxillary osteotomies, genioplasty, alloplastic augmentation, distraction osteogenesis, primary/secondary cleft lip and palate repairs, primary/secondary craniofacial osteotomies, alveolar cleft bone grafting)

Surgical Management of Pathological Conditions (e.g.: bone cyst marsupialization/enucleation/resection, bone tumor resection, head and neck infection incision and drainage, neck dissection, sialadenectomy/gland excision, soft tissue resections)

Reconstructive Surgery (e.g.: congenital, traumatic, post-ablative, and aesthetic reconstruction involving:  free grafts, pedicled flaps, microvascular flaps, alloplastic grafts, microneurosurgical repairs, cervicofacial skin flaps)

Complex Oral Surgery (e.g.:  frenectomy, frenoplasty, bone grafting, distraction osteogenesis, vestibuloplasty, fistula closure)

Temporomandibular Joint Surgery (e.g.: arthroscopy, arthrotomy/arthroplasty, mandibular condylotomy, total alloplastic or autogenous graft joint replacement, eminectomy)

Surgical Management of Sleep-related Breathing Disorders (e.g.: hyoid suspension, genial tubercle advancement, maxillomandibular advancement, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tracheotomy, partial glossectomy)

The following should NOT be included in the surgical case log: routine dental surgery procedures such as dental implants or extractions, and procedures done outside an approved hospital operating room or approved certified ambulatory surgical center.  If more than one procedure is being done per patient, the procedures should be bundled together by patient, not separated out by procedure.  List all CPT codes related to each patient on the same line.  See sample log for examples.