The Transforming Field of OMS and Sleep Surgery: A Resident’s Perspective

Residents today in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) are training in a very different environment than surgeons were even a few years ago. Advances in technology, along with shifts in patient expectations and clinical focus, are actively reshaping both how we train and how we practice.

Corissa Chang, chief resident in OMS at the University of Pennsylvania, shares her perspective on how the field is evolving — particularly within her chosen subspecialty of sleep surgery, where rapid innovation is changing the way patients are evaluated and treated.

ACOMS Review (AR): How do you see the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery evolving compared to when you first entered residency?

Corissa Chang (CC): When I first entered residency, OMS was already a broad specialty, but I think the field is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary and technology driven. There is a growing emphasis on airway and sleep surgery, virtual surgical planning, patient-specific reconstruction, and multi-disciplinary collaboration. I have also seen significant growth in digitally planned immediate prosthetic solutions and IPS preprosthetic workflows, which have expanded reconstructive and rehabilitative options for patients with complex maxillofacial defects. Overall, the specialty is evolving toward more personalized, function-driven care, where surgical planning increasingly integrates both reconstructive and restorative goals from the beginning of treatment.

AR: What impact is emerging technology having on your training experience?

CC: Emerging technology has fundamentally changed the way we train and plan surgery. Virtual surgical planning, patient-specific plates, and 3D printing have become integrated into routine workflows for orthognathic and reconstructive cases. In sleep surgery, technologies such as drug-induced sleep endoscopy, wearable sleep devices, and AI-assisted data interpretation are reshaping how we evaluate patients. These tools improve precision and efficiency, but they also require residents to develop a new skill set that blends surgical judgment with digital literacy and data interpretation.

AR: How have patient expectations changed during your time in residency?

CC: With the rise of social media, patients today are significantly more informed and engaged in their care. Many have researched procedures extensively online before ever stepping into the consultation room. There is also a greater focus on quality-of-life outcomes, aesthetics, minimally invasive approaches, and recovery time rather than simply treating disease alone. This shift has made patient education, communication, and shared decision-making a much larger part of modern OMS care.

AR: What is one major way residency training itself is shifting today?

CC: One major shift in residency training is the increasing integration of technology, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration into everyday education. Residents are expected not only to develop technical surgical skills, but also to understand virtual planning platforms, navigate rapidly evolving literature, and communicate across multiple specialties. There is also a greater emphasis on wellness, mentorship, and creating sustainable training environments that support both professional growth and long-term career longevity.

AR: How do you think future OMS professionals will approach career paths differently than previous generations?

CC: Future OMS professionals will likely have a wider variety of career options, including private practice, private equity models, academics, and hybrid careers. During my time in residency, I have seen a noticeable rise in private equity involvement within OMS, which is changing how younger surgeons think about practice structure, autonomy, and long-term career planning. I also think there is growing interest in hybrid careers that combine clinical practice with research, innovation, education, leadership, or entrepreneurship.

AR: What excites you most about the future of the OMS profession?

CC: What excites me most is the specialty’s ability to continue innovating while remaining deeply patient-centered. OMS sits at the intersection of medicine, dentistry, surgery, technology, and aesthetics, which creates tremendous opportunities for growth. Advances in digital surgery, regenerative medicine, and personalized treatment planning are expanding what we can offer patients. I’m especially excited about the future of airway and sleep surgery, where collaboration between specialties and emerging technologies has the potential to significantly improve patients’ long-term health and quality of life.

Dr. Corissa Chang is a chief resident in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and will begin fellowship in sleep surgery in 2026. She has authored manuscripts published in leading peer-reviewed journals in oral and maxillofacial surgery and otolaryngology. In 2024, she received the David Stanton Award for best resident manuscript published in in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for her work on hypoglossal nerve stimulation and maxillomandibular advancement outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. She was also recognized with the Resident Research Award for her work on gender-specific considerations in the diagnosis and surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea.

Corissa Chang , MD, DDS

Dr. Corissa Chang is a chief resident in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and will begin fellowship in Sleep Surgery in 2026. She has authored manuscripts published in leading peer-reviewed journals in oral and maxillofacial surgery and otolaryngology. In 2024, she received the David Stanton Award for best resident manuscript published in in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for her work on hypoglossal nerve stimulation and maxillomandibular advancement outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. She was also recognized with the Resident Research Award for her work on gender-specific considerations in the diagnosis and surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea.