The graduate program is 26 1/2 months and has an emphasis on high-quality clinical training. First-year residents normally take on an initial caseload of 40–50 patients, then receive an additional transfer of 90–100 patients during the second half of their training.Residents must execute a research project and defend a master's thesis to graduate. The program accepts five residents each year and fulfills eligibility requirements of the American Board of Orthodontics. Approximately 20 graduate students are invited for interviews every year based on the selection criteria. The orthodontics program participates in the National Matching Service.There is a strong commitment from the local orthodontic community, and our part-time and full-time faculty provide all clinic coverage. We have 20 part-time clinical professors who have broad experience in applied orthodontics. Twelve faculty are board certified, and five are current members of the Angle Society.The program has two full-time faculty. Dr. Dawei Liu is director of the graduate orthodontic program. The program start for incoming graduate students is June 1, and the graduation for the second-year students is in August.