The role of part-time educators in defining knowledge and skill levels in orthodontic residency programs.

The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) has historically requested the chairs and the directors of accredited orthodontic programs to submit questions for the Phase II written examination. For the last decade, most programs have required their senior residents to complete the ABO Phase II examination for residency outcome assessment and to initiate the orthodontist’s pathway to board certification. Although a few educators have responded to the ABO’s request for questions, the response in general has been minimal. To facilitate the residency program outcome assessment and in response to the recommendations of the participants attending the AAO/COE Educators Conference in May 2004, the ABO has established a web site through which multiple-choice questions can be readily submitted. In a July 1999 educational update, Vaden and Riolo defined the valuable role of part-time instructors in accredited orthodontic programs. ABO statistics indicate that approximately 725 such part-time educators work in the United States and Canada. These educators provide a significant component of the clinical instruction in most programs. They augment the work of full-time faculty and contribute greatly to their departments’ continuity, heritage, and educational mission. These part-time faculty members could also be a great source of clinical questions for the ABO. Clinical orthodontics comprises a significant portion of the