School welcomes first pediatric dentistry residents

The School of Dental Medicine is pleased to welcome its inaugural cohort of residents in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Jorge Arriagada, Dr. Mark Cummings, and Dr. Laura Johnson. The new residents joined the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics on October 17 to begin a 2-year residency program.

Welcome Dr. Jorge Arriagada, Dr. Laura Johnson, and Dr. Mark Cummings, the school’s first pediatric dentistry residents.

Dr. Jorge Arriagada was a member of the dental school’s inaugural graduation Class of 2015 and is originally from Apex, North Carolina. Prior to joining the residency program, he served as an associate with Eastern Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Greenville.

Dr. Mark Cumming graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry and has served as an associate at Baywood Family Dental in Fayetteville, N.C., and at Carolina Lakes Family Dentistry in Cameron, N.C.

Dr. Laura Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from ECU in biology. She graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) certificate from the U.S. Naval Health Clinic in Norfolk, VA. She also headed the Operative Dental Department at the Naval Health Clinic at the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C., and she served as an associate with Eastern Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Greenville.

The Residency in Pediatric Dentistry is a comprehensive 24-month curriculum that prepares residents to practice contemporary pediatric dentistry and sit for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification examination. The program accepts three residents each year.

The curriculum includes instruction in all aspects of pediatric dentistry including dental care for the pediatric patient, orthodontics, pediatric medicine, anesthesiology, sedation and care of children with special needs.

The residents will gain hospital dentistry and operating room experiences at both Vidant SurgiCenter and Medical Center in Greenville. They will also be responsible for emergency calls on a rotating basis.

In keeping with the mission of the dental school, the residents will participate in advocacy and public health projects. Clinical activities occur at the dental school’s pediatric dentistry clinic and at Vidant SurgiCenter and Vidant Medical Center.

“The Residency in Pediatric Dentistry will open doors for collaboration throughout the university,” said Dr. Michael Webb, the program’s director. “This includes opportunities to work with other ECU Health Sciences units such as the Brody School of Medicine, College of Nursing, and College of Allied Health Sciences in the areas of patient care, research and education.”

Webb added, “The School of Dental Medicine has partnered with the College of Education’s adult education program, and we are exploring ways to integrate the partnership into the residency.”

Arriagada, Cumming, and Johnson are joining a team of faculty, students, and staff who provide a full range of dental services for patients ranging in age from birth to 18-years-old within the school’s Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Clinic located in Ledyard E. Ross Hall at 1851 MacGregor Downs Road in Greenville.

The Residency in Pediatric Dentistry is one of three residency programs offered by the School of Dental Medicine. Other programs include the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and the General Practice Residency (GPR).

For more information on the Residency in Pediatric Dentistry, please email sodm-pgpedo@ecu.edu.