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Diagnosis and Treatment Planning/Soft-Skills Course

A course designed to help internationally-trained dentists excel in diagnosis and treatment planning skills as they apply to US dental schools
Live and Interactive Webinar

February 10, 2024

Course Overview

A 4-hour, live and interactive webinar course designed to aid in developing the skills needed to evaluate a comprehensive treatment plan as per American practice standards. Bench tests are one of the methods of evaluating a candidate for International Dental Education Program; diagnosis and treatment planning is an essential component of this examination. This course will explore basic concepts required by most of the US dental schools during their application process.

Attendees will earn 4 hours in Continuing Dental Education Credit.


Objectives

A logical progression from diagnosis to a well-designed treatment plan is an essential component in successfully completing a bench test.

Internationally trained dentists are from diverse backgrounds, with varying levels of training and clinical experience. The soft skill course on diagnosis and treatment planning is a small group, interactive, live webinar program that will allow the attendee to strengthen those skills, as per American standards. It will be taught by content experts and give the attendee access to practice material so he/she may continue to hone their skills.

Course will consist of 2 hours of pre-formatted instruction and 2 hours or practical case work and discussion

Who should attend? DDS, DMD, BDS or their equivalent degree from a dental school outside the United States.

Applicants whose native language is not English need a minimum TOEFL score of 79

This course is limited to 24 participants to ensure optimal faculty to attendee ratios.

Once 24 attendees have enrolled, registration will close. If you are unable to register before the class fills, complete the “notify me” box to be alerted for the next course date.

* This course is intended as an aid in preparation for applying to an international dental program. Attendance does not ensure nor guarantee admission to any dental school.


Presenter(s)

  • Rujuta Katkar, BDS, MDS, MS
    • KatkarR156Dr. Rujuta Katkar is an Associate Professor and Clinic Director for Graduate Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology clinic in the department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Katkar is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology. She earned her BDS degree from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India in 2003 followed by an MDS degree in Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology from Nagpur University, India. She received her Master’s degree with a Certificate in Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology from University of Iowa in 2011. Prior to joining the University of Texas, she worked at the University of Florida College of Dentistry as an Assistant Professor and Division Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology.

      Dr. Katkar is actively involved in predoctoral and postdoctoral education in Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology at San Antonio. She has several presentations and publications in national and international conferences and peer reviewed journals and books, including an issue in the Dental Clinics of North America on Emerging Imaging Technologies in Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. Dr. Katkar has served as a Secretary, Vice-Chair and Chair of OMR section at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and Chair of Research & Technology Committee at the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR). She has completed her 4-year term on the Executive Council of the AAOMR as the Councilor of Communications. Dr. Katkar is currently serving as a Commissioner on the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards for 2024-2029.

      You may contact this speaker at katkarr@uthscsa.edu
  • Poornima Mensinkai, BDS, MS, PhD
    • MensinkaiP182Dr. Mensinkai currently serves as Director for South Asian Academic Initiatives, Assistant Director of the International Dentist Education Program (IDEP), and Clinical Associate Professor at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. She also represents the School of Dentistry as a Member-at-Large on the Faculty Senate, advocating for academic and institutional excellence.

      In recognition of her professional achievements and commitment to education, Dr. Mensinkai was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (Mu Nu Chapter) in May 2025 and honored as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists in October 2025.

      Deeply passionate about mentoring and training internationally trained dentists pursuing careers in the United States, Dr. Mensinkai directs the Hand Skills Continuing Education Course at Continuing Dental Education at UT Health San Antonio. She is an active contributor to institutional service through her participation on the DDS and IDEP Admissions Committees, the Dental Education Outreach Committee, and the Dentistry Enhancement for Clinical Opportunities (DECO) Task Force for Patient Screening.

      In service to her profession, Dr. Mensinkai maintains active membership in the Indian Dental Association (IDA), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR).

      You may contact this speaker at mensinkai@uthscsa.edu
  • Elena Riccio Leach, DDS, MS
    • Riccio LeachE203Dr. Elena Riccio Leach, DDS, MS, is a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. She is an Assistant leader in the general group practices, supervising and instructing dental students during their daily comprehensive clinical activity. In addition, she is one of the directors and developers of the introduction to patient care course which is part of the innovative curriculum for earlier clinical education of pre-clinical dental students, her focus being diagnosis and treatment planning, and patient record management. She is also one of the directors of the umbrella clinical patient management course in the junior year. Her service commitments, among others, include being part of the LINC clinical IPE group with the intent of researching and informing best practices in clinical Inter Professional Education at the University level. Dr. Riccio Leach also practices as a provider at the UT Dentistry Faculty Practice Clinic. Dr. Riccio Leach graduated in 1998 from the School of Dentistry of the Second University of Napoli, Italy and worked in private practice as a general dentist for nine years before joining the Italian navy as a Dental Officer. During her military service, she earned her MS in orthodontics at the University of Milano, Italy. In 2014 she moved with family to Texas and in 2016 she earned her DDS and the Texas Dental License through the International Dentist Education Program (IDEP) of the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio. You may contact this speaker at riccioe@uthscsa.edu
Disclosures & Policies

No Recording and Transcription Policy
To protect the privacy, security, and integrity of our programs, meetings, and events, recording of any kind is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by the department director. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Video recordings (camera, phone, webcam, or other devices)
- Audio recordings (phone, microphone, digital recorders, etc.)
- Screen captures or screen recordings
- AI-based or automated transcription tools (e.g., apps or software that convert speech to text)

Guidelines: All participants are expected to respect this policy at all times. If recording is necessary as an accommodation, or for education or administrative purposes, prior approval must be obtained in writing. Unauthorized recording or transcription may result in removal from the session and/or further administrative action. Exceptions may only be granted by the department director in advance. Taking detailed notes is encouraged, and participants are welcome to take pictures of the presentation slides for personal use.

Purpose: This policy ensures a safe and respectful environment, protects sensitive and proprietary information, and upholds the confidentiality of all participants.

Course Refund Policy
Please review the Course Refund Policy by clicking here. This policy includes information regarding requirements that attendees must comply with to remain eligible to receive CE, cancelling your registration, course transfers, etc.

Financial Disclosure Statement
It is the policy of the UT Health San Antonio Office of Continuing Dental Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its sponsored educational activities. All participating speakers, course directors, and planning committee members are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Relationships of spouse/partner with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services should be disclosed if they are of a nature that may influence the objectivity of the individual in a position to control the content of the CDE activity. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each speaker, course director, and planning committee member will be shared with the audience prior to the speaker’s presentation.

This educational activity is free from commercial bias. The planning committee, presenters, and authors have disclosed all financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this content, and any potential conflicts have been identified and mitigated according to ADA CERP standards. No commercial entities have influenced the content, selection, or presentation of materials, and no product endorsements or promotional activities are included in this presentation. Any mention of products, services, or companies is solely for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement.

There is nothing to disclose for this course.


Time (Central Time Zone)

Check-in: 7:30 AM
Program time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM


Location

Live Interactive Webinar


Tuition

  • Individual: $400
  • Doctors who previously attended our Handskills/Benchprep course: $320

Credit

Hours: 4

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts of UT Health San Antonio. UT Health San Antonio is recognized by the ADA CERP as a provider of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

Email Notification for Live Interactive Webinar

On the week of the course, you will receive an email with a link to this virtual webinar. This same email will also provide a link to the course handout as a PDF document. Download this PDF to your device. Remember to look for this email notice at the email address you provided us when creating your UT Health CDE account. Check your email account’s inbox, junk, and spam folders.

Live Interactive Webinar

TSBDE considers a "Live Interactive Webinar" equal to an "In Person" course. Full CE credit hours are awarded to those who attend the course in its full duration. This webinar is NOT prerecorded, it is live and interactive with the presenter. This course will not be held on campus.

Registration closed

Course closed.

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  • For help or questions about this program, you can contact us at:
  • Phone: 210-567-3177
    Email: smile@uthscsa.edu

    Business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Time


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UT Health San Antonio Training Future Generations

The UT Health San Antonio, School of Dentistry is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education.
ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. UTHSCSA designates the number of credit hours for each course individually. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at www.ada.org/cerp.

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