April Issue

April 2023

Remembering

At RSDM, the name Michael Balbo is all too familiar. Every year, the school hosts the signature event, Dr. Michael P. Balbo Research Day, where pre and postdoctoral candidates present their research projects to the community.

But who was Balbo? That’s a much less known story.

Women's History Month

RSDM’s First Female African American Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident

Gladys Johnson Whitten believes people become what they see. But she knows first-hand that seeing itself isn’t enough. One should also have the inner drive to set loftier goals. In her case, that was becoming an oral surgeon in the 70s.

“We were in a different place in time than now,” she said.

Success

First-year RSDM Student Gets Patent

A former mechanical engineer, Mujahid Asamarai ’26 is trained to solve problems. Knowing this, his brother Muath Asamarai, a dentist in Minnesota, turned to him when he needed help exploring ways to protect his patients and staff against COVID in his office. Mujahid Asamarai was up for the challenge.

That Minnesota trip led Asamarai to the most unexpected place: his first patent.

Patient Care

Feels Like Coming Home

Wayne Reinhardt first walked into RSDM in 2005 and never looked back.

“Over 18 years, I've seen 30 doctors, and every single one has just been wonderful,” said the 76-year-old. “I had a friend who asked, ‘Why are you going to a dental school? Aren't you afraid?’ You know, I’ve had professional, excellent dental care [here].”

Alumni

Back as Clinical Faculty

Doctors often need to educate their patients. But Allison Sceppaguercio ’15 discovered a knack for teaching while tutoring underclassmen. She enjoyed it so much so that she enrolled in RSDM's From Practice to Preceptor program.

“The clinical teaching experience portion of it was really great,” said Sceppaguercio, who now employs those learnings as a clinical instructor at RSDM.

Publications

Thomas D. C., Briss D., Rossouw E. P., Iyer S., "Temporomandibular Disorders: Implications in Restorative Dentistry and Orthodontics," Dental Clinics of North America

Wucher B. R., Winans J. B., Elsayed M., Kadouri D. E., Nadell C. D., "Breakdown of clonal cooperative architecture in multispecies biofilms and the spatial ecology of predation," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Events

April

RSDM vs NJMS Annual Charity Hockey Game

Game: 7 pm

Location: Prudential Center, RWJ Barbanas Health Hockey House

RSDM Alumni Association happy hour in Redd's Biergarten (220 Market St. Newark, NJ) from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Open to all alumni, faculty, and staff. Alumni can register for the happy hour and game here.