Orofacial Pain Residency Program

Junad Khan, BDS, MSD, MPH, PhD
Program Director

Message from the Program Director

Welcome to the Advanced Education Program in Orofacial Pain at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. It is an honor to lead this CODA-accredited, two-year residency, recognized for its rigorous clinical training, scientific foundation, and commitment to developing future leaders in orofacial pain and sleep disorders.

Orofacial pain encompasses a broad spectrum of neuromuscular, neuropathic, neurovascular, and temporomandibular disorders, as well as sleep-related breathing issues and systemic conditions affecting the oral and facial regions. Effective management requires a comprehensive understanding of pain mechanisms, precise diagnostic skills, and adherence to evidence-based practices. Our curriculum is designed to meet these demands through intensive clinical experiences, interdisciplinary assessments, and comprehensive patient care.

Our program integrates clinical practice, research, and teaching to build advanced competencies in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, behavioral medicine, pharmacotherapeutics, and musculoskeletal pain management. Residents participate in seminars, case conferences, journal clubs, and research projects, and many pursue additional graduate study to strengthen their academic and scientific expertise.

We remain dedicated to excellence, diversity, and high-quality patient care. Our graduates are well-prepared for careers in academic institutions, multidisciplinary medical centers, and specialty practice, equipped to manage complex chronic pain with skill and professionalism.

I invite you to join us as we advance the field and shape the future of orofacial pain care.

About the Program Director

Orofacial Pain students gain knowledge, diagnostic skills, and treatment expertise in areas such as musculoskeletal, neurovascular, painful post traumatic trigeminal neuropathies, neuropathic pain, sleep disorders, and more. Residents rotate through several clinics during their training, including Urgent Care, Specialty Care, Neurology, and Physical Therapy.

The Orofacial Pain lab at the Center for Oral Biology is focusing on nerve injury related pains, pain modulation and its clinical application. The nervous system has the ability to either facilitate or inhibit pain. Pain, arising from external painful signals or injury, may undergo modulation in the Central Nervous System (CNS) prior to reaching the primary somatosensory cortex, thus modifying the pain experience. Faulty pain modulation mechanisms have been linked to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, tension-type headache, musculoskeletal pain, chronic low back pain, trigeminal posttraumatic neuropathies, and irritable bowel syndrome. Exercise is a known trigger of pain modulation that has been used to evaluate pain modulation efficacy by means of an effect commonly termed Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH).

Visit the Eliav-Khan Lab for more information