This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Duane Schafer, D.D.S.
Professor and interim chair
The Department of Endodontics is dedicated to providing quality endodontic dental care services as well as advancing new knowledge through teaching, research, community involvement and patient care. The faculty participate in the training of predoctoral dental students in the area of clinical endodontics. After an introduction to the specialty in their first year, students learn and develop didactic and treatment skills during preclinical classes and labs in the second year. Advanced topics and clinical techniques are stressed in the third year, which allows patient treatment during the third and fourth years. In the fourth year, students are prepared for dental board examinations and are given the opportunity to treat a variety of clinical cases in both the School of Dentistry and off-site service-learning clinics.