December 2023
Research

In a groundbreaking study that could revolutionize dental pain management, RSDM researchers have found that cannabidiol (CBD)–the non-addictive marijuana derivative–alleviates acute dental pain.
Students

Different generations often attend RSDM. But it’s quite rare when three family members study at the same time.

Luis Santana, a fourth-year student in the traditional DMD program, has been joined by his mother Nelia Espeso and his wife Lesly Rocha this year.
Continuing Education

At three in the morning, Director of Continuing Dental Education Janice Gibbs-Reed had an idea to ensure her office’s survival during the pandemic. Rather than struggling individually, what if alike offices joined powers for their programs? She proposed this to the Association for Continuing Dental Education (ACDE), paving the way for what became the ACDE webinar series.
Patient Care

Whether in Newark or elsewhere in New Jersey, Rutgers Health, including RSDM, is deepening its engagement services and programs for the communities it serves.
Shout-Outs
Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Michael Conte has been appointed as the new president of the DALE Foundation Board of Directors!
Kinga Dabek of the Class of 2025 has been awarded the Executive Women of New Jersey’s Graduate Merit Award!
Donors and scholars came together at the RSDM Annual Donor/Scholar Dinner. This year, 65 students have been awarded 48 scholarships, four of which were newly established.

The new scholarships are Eileen R. Hoskin, DMD, and Craig S. Hirschberg, DDS, Endowed Scholarship; Drs. Shanti, Kanti, Subhash Jain, and Mrs. Sarla Jain Endowed Scholarship; Valerie C. Rico, DMD, and John C. Maglione Endowed Scholarship; and Elisa J. Velazquez, DMD, and Miriam T. Furlong, DMD, Endowed Scholarship.
In the News
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry Tomas Ballesteros shared insights on dental care and aging for a Consumer Reports story.
Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry Nihal Kamel has been quoted in a New Jersey Family piece.
Publications
Chrepa V., Villasenor S., Mauney A., Kotsakis G., Macpherson L., "Cannabidiol as an Alternative Analgesic for Acute Dental Pain," Journal of Dental Research

Elkassaby H., Touloumi F., Clark W. A., Jiang S., Mahrous A., Mainelli J., Moghadam M., Zemnick C., Sadid-Zadeh R., "A survey on utilization and barriers of digital removable prostheses in the US dental education," Journal of Dental Education

Kerns K. A., Bamashmous S., Hendrickson E. L., Kotsakis G. A., Leroux B. G., Daubert D. D., Roberts F. A., Chen D., Trivedi H. M., Darveau R. P., McLean J. S., "Localized microbially induced inflammation influences distant healthy tissues in the human oral cavity," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Strickland M., Mills S., Dasari B., Markowitz K., Cugini C., "Design and Initial Evaluation of a Novel Oral Hygiene Technology for a Special Needs Population: A New Way to Clean," Dentistry Journal
Events
Jan.
23
Match Day Luncheon Reception
1-2 pm
Oral Health Pavilion Multipurpose Room
Jan.
24

Save the date for the RSDM State of the School dinner and tour with Dean Cecile Feldman
Feb.
7
Faculty Poster Day
9 am-2 pm
Oral Health Pavilion
March
27

Save the date for Dr. Michael Balbo Dental Expo/Research Day
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