Contact email:
Jessica Flores (Craniofacial Coordinator)
Jessica.flores@elpasochildrens.org
915-760-0875

• Applicants must have completed a dental degree (DDS/DMD or equivalent) at an accredited dental school in the United States or Canada.
• Applicants must be qualified and able to independently obtain a Dental License in the State of Texas and must be licensed to practice in Texas at the time of matriculation of the fellowship.
• Applicants must be active residents in good standing or graduates of an accredited Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, either a 4 year or 6 year (MD) track.
• Applicants must be board eligible or board certified for Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and must be board certified at the time of matriculation of the fellowship

The applicant must complete a telephone interview with the fellowship program director (Dr. David Yates )

• Depending on this interview, he/she may or may not be invited to come for a formal interview and submit supporting application documents. Supporting documents should be sent to Jessica Flores.
• This interview is set-up by contacting the Cleft/Craniofacial Coordinator (Jessica Flores)
• Email: Jessica.flores@elpasochildrens.org; Telephone: 915-760-0875

• 3 Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation from the applicant’s residency program or if not recently in a residency (within the last 5 years) should be from work associates and surgeons familiar with the applicants work.
• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement

• During the applicants visit evaluation is based on his/her ability to interact and relate to teaching and administrative staff.
• A rank list will be made and submitted to the AACMFS Match by the fellowship admissions committee which is comprised of, at minimum, 3 of the fellowship faculty.

• The American Academy of CranioMaxilloFacial Surgeons is the matching service utilized by the majority of Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowships. All applicants must apply individually to each program but must use this match service.
• All applicants are expected to sign up for the Match and must adhere to the following timeline.
  • July 1st Penultimate year of training may begin interview process
  • May 31st Interview cycle closes for Match Registration
  • July 1st Last year of training – Match Day
  • Dec 1st Last year of training – Items submitted for Texas Dental License
  • March 1st Last year of training – All credentialing items submitted

• Signed Commitment Letter
• Required Criminal Background Check
• ACLS, PALS, BLS, Up to Date Immunizations.
• Active Texas Dental License
• Application for Credentialing at El Paso Hospitals
• Application for Dental in-office Anesthesia License
• Signed Contract

Applicants must have completed a dental degree (DDS/DMD or equivalent) at an accredited dental school in the United States or Canada. They must be qualified and able to obtain a Dental License in the State of Texas. A Medical Degree is strongly encouraged but not mandatory for entrance into the fellowship.

They also must be active residents in good standing or graduates of an accredited Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery either a 4 year or 6 year (MD) track. The applicant must be board eligible for Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.

The holistic admissions review process for all applicants includes the following: Academic Accomplishment, Personal Attributes, Diversity of Life Experiences and Contribution to Mission, Vision, and Values.

While evidence of high intellectual ability and a strong record of scholastic achievement are essential for success in the study and practice of cleft and craniofacial surgery, the El Paso Children’s Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship also recognizes the importance of the qualities of compassion, motivation, maturity, personal integrity, hand skills, and effective communication as necessary traits of a Cleft and Craniofacial Surgeon.

A screening process, described below, has been established to evaluate and rank the cognitive and non-cognitive characteristics outlined in this document.

Initial Screening of Applicants during Telephone Interview

The Fellowship Director and Craniofacial Nurse Coordinator conduct a contextual academic review prior to submitting applications for screening. All applicants that do not meet the standards of eligibility for the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship are not offered a telephone interview, and those applicants are notified that their application will not progress for further consideration. After the telephone interview, incomplete applications remain on hold until all required materials have been submitted. Complete and eligible applications are then invited for a personal interview.

Interview Day

Candidates selected for a personal interview are invited to the El Paso Children’s Hospital for a full day of orientation and interviews. Snacks and lunch are provided, and information sessions are conducted on the following topics:

• The El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship selection process
• Curriculum overview
• Financial Information Including Salary and Benefits
• Campus tour
• Surgical Shadowing
• El Paso area cost of living
• Q&A session with current Fellow
• Other pertinent information

The personal interview can also address questions by the candidate that may have arisen during the application process and interview day. These interview sessions are conducted throughout the year from June 1st to May 31st. All applicants that are offered admission must have participated in the interview process.

Members of the interview team have access to the applicants’ personal statements, curriculum vitae, and life experiences in order to determine if specific characteristics of the admissions criteria are met. Faculty members conduct a group interview and the fellowship director will conduct a one on one interview. The interview team determines the applicant’s “fit” with the El Paso Cleft & Craniofacial Fellowship mission, and also strives to identify any distinctive characteristics that may demonstrate the dedication, resolve, and ability of the applicant to succeed as a Cleft and Craniofacial Fellow in an innovative and dense curriculum.

This is a standing committee of the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship which is comprised of at least three faculty and the cleft and the craniofacial nurse coordinator has the primary responsibility for determining admissions criteria, processes for selection of candidates, interview format, ranking of candidates, and the process for accepting candidates into the program. The committee reviews all admissions criteria, policies, and procedures on an annual basis.

Members of the committee are chosen by the fellowship director on a yearly basis and include the fellowship faculty who will have the most involvement with the day to day fellowship activities. The chair of the committee is the Fellowship Director. Due to limited fellowship faculty multiple terms are encouraged.

The Committee on Fellowship Admissions (CFA) ensures that the overall admissions process is dynamic by conducting an annual review of all processes and procedures. This safeguards the committee’s ability to respond to any evolving trends in the profession, the applicant pool, and other peer institutions. The committee continually seeks input from all faculty who are participating in the recruitment and admissions process.

All scoring of applicants is compiled and averaged to determine an overall Admissions Criteria Average which is then used to develop a tier rank with those judged to be best qualified for the study and practice of cleft and craniofacial surgery. The Committee on Fellowship Admissions (CFA) conducts a regularly scheduled meeting in May to review candidates’ credentials and the evaluation from the interviews. The decisions of the committee are final. Based upon these decisions, a list of acceptable candidates is prepared and interviewees are ranked. The match list is submitted after the final interview is performed by May 31st. Should a vacancy become available the position will be offered outside of the match process.

Scoring Evaluation by Admissions Committee:

A maximum of five (5) points can be awarded in each category. Applicants can obtain a maximum of 20 points within the Interview process from the 3 participating committee members. The scoring is used as a guide in ranking the applicants.

1. Academic Accomplishment: Academic indicators are considered within the context of the applicant’s academic rigor, non-academic obligations, research, and other evidence of academic aptitude and stamina. 25%

2. Patient exposure or work experience in the field: Volunteer activities in cleft and craniofacial surgery, knowledge of the profession and exposure to a variety of patient interactions and clinical procedures. 25%

3. Personal Statement: This should be engaging and lead to insights regarding the applicants’ personal attributes and experiences, and fit at El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship. 25%

4. Diversity and Uniqueness: One point is given for each experience that falls into the following categories, with a maximum of 5 points possible. Points may only be awarded in one category for each experience. 25%

a. Mission Trips for Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery – Volunteerism for Cleft/Craniofacial Care
b. Leadership experiences
c. Distinctive life experiences
d. Above & Beyond
e. Experiences delivering culturally sensitive care

In the last week of May prior to the submission of the Rank List to AACMFS, the Fellowship Director convenes the members of the CFA. Discussions include a review of policies and procedures relating to the admissions process including, but not limited to:

• Overall goals of the admissions process and how it aligns with the mission, vision and values of the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship
• Review of national applicant trends;
• Calibration of Interviewers;
• Discussion of Unconscious Bias.

The applicant is informed of their matching at the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship by AACMFS. The fellow will receive an acceptance letter from the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship and they are required to respond by signing the Letter of Intent within 2 months of matching.

Students who are accepted for admission receive a pre-matriculation packet of information during the spring prior to their enrollment. This packet contains the following information:

• Standards for curricular completion
• Required criminal background check
• Immunization requirements
• Training requirements

Applicants interested in the El Paso Children’s Hospital Fellowship program, as well as its admissions policies and procedures, are be able to access information from the following sources:

• The El Paso Children’s Hospital Cleft & Craniofacial Fellowship website
• The AACMFS website

Applicants are informed of the El Paso Cleft and Craniofacial Fellowship’s mission, vision, and values statements when they view the website as well as during interview day.