Editorial
Diversity of Career Paths in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: A Panel Discussion of Advantages, Challenges, and Advice for Residents
Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, Vol.141(1), pp.1-7
01/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2025.09.003
PMID: 41176460
Abstract
Among the many things to consider during a residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (OMP) is what type of future career path to focus on. Although a small specialty, oral and maxillofacial pathology offers a wider variety of career paths than may be immediately apparent. In many cases, residents in training may not be fully aware of different career options outside of academics, and thus may not have the information necessary to determine what skills or experiences to maximize during their residency training that may benefit a specific future career path.
While OMP has often been viewed as an academic focused specialty, even academic careers may vary widely. Academic jobs may be tenure or clinical track, teaching load and involvement in a biopsy service or clinical faculty practice may vary based on institution, and research may be a higher focus in some positions than others. Some OMP may be hospital based. In addition, many OMP providers choose private practice, either in a clinical capacity treating patients or in a private practice biopsy service. OMP practitioners may also focus primarily on laboratory research, which may be a very divergent experience. Many practitioners may even transition from one model to another over different points in their career and seeking to develop flexibility of skillsets can be important to maximize job opportunities.
This panel discussion invites a variety of OMP practitioners across differing career paths to discuss the advantages or benefits and challenges of their chosen path along with advice for residents considering careers in these areas. Some of these broader considerations may also resonate beyond only the OMP specialty and be applicable in many cases to other oral diagnostic science specialties such as oral medicine, oral radiology, and oral surgery who may have similar divergent career options.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Diversity of Career Paths in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: A Panel Discussion of Advantages, Challenges, and Advice for Residents
- Creators
- Sarah G FitzpatrickKurt F SummersgillNidhi Q HandooBrent AccursoMolly Housley SmithAlan R GouldAustin BelknapRobert D. KelschJill M Kramer
- Resource Type
- Editorial
- Publication Details
- Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, Vol.141(1), pp.1-7
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.oooo.2025.09.003
- PMID
- 41176460
- NLM abbreviation
- Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol
- ISSN
- 2212-4403
- eISSN
- 2212-4411
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/18/2025
- Date published
- 01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984966545502771
Metrics
10 Record Views