MESA, Ariz. – The Commission on Dental Accreditation has awarded a seven-year accreditation — the top accreditation — to A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) postgraduate orthodontic program.

“ASDOH has the only accredited orthodontic program in Arizona and is one of only approximately 65 programs in the United States,” said Janet Woldt, Ph.D., M.S., associate dean for academic assessment and assistant professor at ASDOH. “Candidates come to us after graduating from dental school with D.M.D. or D.D.S. degrees and are residents in training.”

Accreditation is a tool used to monitor, assess, and evaluate the standards and quality of education a student receives from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning. Accreditation indicates that a school or program meets quality standards in terms of faculty, curriculum, patient care, administration, libraries, financial well-being, and student services.

“ASDOH’s postgraduate orthodontic program is a 26-month program that prepares students to treat a wide range of craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and cleft palate,” said Program Director Jae Hyun Park, D.M.D., M.S.D., M.S., Ph.D. “As well, residents learn to treat orthognathic or orthodontic problems through the application of biological and clinical science, leading to a certification in orthodontics.”

“By offering an accredited program, ASDOH goes one step further to assure its residents receive a quality education,” said Dr. Park.