vorosirag- I actually did catch the misspelling of argument, and tried to edit it, but apparently it didn't go through. Now that I know you is checking my speeling and grammer
I won't bother to use the spell check.
I applied to JU Non-OEC, was accepted Non-OEC, before school started I contemplated signing with them to pay for my education. OEC works by giving you three contracts, and all three have to be signed in order to be bound by the them. I signed the Education Agreement before school started, but we could never come to terms on the Practice Agreement or the Business Agreement. They use a bait and switch with these contracts which is unethical, and possibly illegal. What they promised to me was that I would get 40% or $150,000 if I worked at an office (in a location that I was going to anyway). I would be able to work outside, and I didn't have to work a specific amount of hours. To me this is a no-brainer. They wanted to pay for school, and pay me to work in their office (which I knew was going to fail), all while starting my own office on the other side of town. However, the deal kept changing, and ultimately I turned them down.
I'm not taking this personally. Frankly, I really don't care what some of you think of me. I've never been that kind of person. What I take offense to is people saying that those who took OEC scholarships are immoral or unethical.
People are making unfair judgements about people that they don't know. My point is that I know them, some of them are immoral and unethical, some of them are not. The percentage of immoral and unethical OEC residents is no higher or lower than non-OEC residents, dental students, classmates from undergrad or high school. You have immoral and unethical people all throughout life, and OEC affiliation has no correlation to this.
Also, I believe that we are debating mulitple topics, and those who are against OEC are not making distinctions between all parties that are involved in this. So who are the players? There is Lazzara and the company (OEC), the schools that OEC affiliated with (what I mean here is the actually school, not the ortho program, you could be an undergrad at Univ of Colorado and not know about OEC), The Program directors, The faculty, the non-OEC residents and the OEC-residents. Sometimes when people say "the school is bad for affiliating with OEC" that is a decision by the institution and not necessarily the program director or faculty. Let's use JU as an example. JU is in debt for $28 million (non-OEC related), it sees the ortho program as a way to make money and get out of debt. I think the ortho program might be clearing $2 million a year. Probably out of desperation they signed with Lazzara, and it proabably didn't hurt that he was on the Board of Trustees. The program director just wants to teach orthodontics, and be given enough funds to do so. At JU for example, the program director has had the title at three different schools. For him it's an opportunity to teach ortho, and move out of the northeast. He has a track record of accepting residents who are "sub-par" from the other residency he's led, sometimes this is at a disadvantage to JU. He likes classes to have some top 10's, some bottom 10's, clinical experience, age, ethnic diversity, and generally diverse life experiences. Often, to the dismay of other residents he accepts these "sub-par" students. I just want to dispell the rumor that the only people these programs can get are "sub-par" applicants. Personally, I kind of liked having a mix of people in my residency program. I would have gone nuts if I was stuck with all top 3's all day long. They are great at memorizing info, but to take a quote from the Waterboy, sometimes they don't have "what dey call da social skills".
I do wish that he would take more top-tier applicants, just to improve the perception of the program.
I'm not going to argue that the OEC-residents are statistically below what you find at most ortho programs. However, I can't fault them for taking advantage of a a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. Frankly, if they had not accepted OEC positions, then someone else would have. I think that you actually owe these students a debt of gratitude. They were the ones who were instrumental in bringing down OEC. OEC only works if doctors are willing to work for it. OEC went under because the doctors intentionally dragged @ss when they were in practice, and in colorado a whole class revolted against OEC. It's good to have friends on the inside.
Lazzara is even suing residents for collusion (Vorosirag-spell check that for me).
Next player is the non-OEC resident. Most of these people including me laid low in the program. We owe a $hit load of money, and know that our ethics, and skills will be questioned. However, none of us had difficulty finding a good-paying job out of school. I think we'll be alright.
Lastly, the faculty, they just want to teach. I place them in the group with the program director. Either they are retired and want to share somethings that they have learned, they want to retire in florida without taking the state board, or they are foreigners who want to work in the US. Either way, I am thankful for their presence.
I think we are all anti-OEC, but I wanted to make some distinctions about everyone involved in this thing. JU doesn't have a choice about designating spots to Lazzara. They signed a contract (I think for ten years) to give Lazzara 10 out of 14 spots. Even though Lazzara backed out of his deals with UNLV and Colorado, the JU building and program was far enough ahead that Lazzara was able to fulfill his commitment. The program director wants Lazzara out, the school wants Lazzara out, and you know the residents want Lazzara out, but there is a contract. So like I said, Lazzara will disappear this year, and probably reappear with a new name next year. The problem is no matter when he comes back, he will be able to find people to accept his deal. The key is to keep putting people on the inside and keep shutting him down until he is broke or gives up.
I think what pisses antidentite, and vorosirag off the most is that more residents means more competition. There are so few orthodontist out there that you really don't have to have a personality or skill to make a lot of money. With these three programs there will be more coming out, but it's not going to come close to flooding the market. The median age for an orthodontist is 55 years old (JCO december 2005, or jan 2006). There were a lot more coming out of school in the 80's than today, when programs had larger class sizes. I wouldn't worry about the competition even in states like Florida where there are 3 programs. Most of the JU crowd isn't licensed in FL, and since Jacksonville is all they know about FL, none of them wishes to stay.
Ok long post, so let's summarize:
1.) Lazzara will be back, so watch out
2.) Don't have anything to do with him
3.) There is a distinction between the company OEC, school, program director, faculty, OEC-residents, and non OEC-residents
4.) JU signed the deal with the devil, and can't get out.
5.) Being moral or immoral has nothing to do with your affiliation with OEC
6.) The OEC people are responsibly for bring down OEC
7.) The number of new programs is not going to flood the market
So my advice is to apply to as many programs as posible. (OEC-affiliated and non-OEC affiliated) Take as many interviews as you can. Go to whatever school you can get into. Stay away from any deals with Lazzara. Learn as much ortho as you can. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. If you ever get the opportunity to shake Lazzara's hand, count your fingers afterward to make sure you still have 5.
