Transitioning from residency to private practice.

A resident in oral and maxillofacial surgery must prepare for the inevitable transition from residency training to practice as a private practitioner, an officer in the military, an academician, or as a fellow in a postresidency training program. Each career path offers distinct challenges and rewards. This article reviews the issues that face a chief resident embarking on a career in private practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery.