April 2022 Visit Our Website
New Horizons Speaker Series on Nontraditional Careers Kicks off April 7
Fourth-year RSDM students can learn about careers outside the dental practice setting during the New Horizons in Dentistry speaker series on Thursdays in April.
“We want to open our students’ minds up to other opportunities available to people with a dental degree,” said Dr. Peter DeSciscio, director of the New Horizons program.
The Colgate-Palmolive Company endowed the program with a $25,000 donation in memory of Dr. Anthony R. Volpe, the program’s founder and an RSDM alumnus.
Two 2021 Graduates of RSDM Pediatric Residency Win Prestigious Award
Two 2021 graduates of RSDM’s pediatric dentistry residency program have won the prestigious Richard C. Pugh Achievement Award. Dr. Mahta Hazaveh and Dr. Gurvinder Kaur scored in the top 3 percent on the qualifying exam to become board certified.
“For us to have two Pugh Award winners in one year is an accomplishment,” said Dr. R. Glenn Rosivack, chair of RSDM’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry. “It speaks well of these graduates and of our residency program.”
RSDM Researchers Develop Nutrition Education Tool to Help Older Adults with Tooth Loss
Dentists everywhere can now access a tool to help patients with tooth loss learn how to incorporate nutritious foods in their diet, and why that’s so important. 
Researchers at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and Rutgers School of Health Professionals collaborated to create the “Eating Healthier with Tooth Loss” brochure, which is also available online as a PDF.
“Older adults are prone to tooth loss, and that can make it hard to eat foods that contain nutrients they need to remain healthy,” said Rena Zelig, lead investigator on the research.
‌
RSDM Class of 2025 Student is an Artist at Heart
After a lot of soul-searching in 2020, Rebekah Webster left a career in research to pursue dentistry. “My mom thought it was so random, but it made sense,” the Nashville native said. “Dentistry marries my desire to treat people with how I enjoy spending my time. The level of focus I have when working with my hands is very serene.” Her jewelry-making business began as a way “to practice her polymer modeling and hand skills in a creative way while in dental school,” according to her business website.
RSDM Hosts In-Person White Coat Ceremony April 6
RDSM will host an in-person White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, April 6 at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway. The event recognizes RSDM’s classes of 2024 and 2025, along with internationally educated dentists in the classes of 2022 and 2023. The ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. It will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend.
Questions? Contact administrative assistant Lynn Chai at lhc37@sdm.rutgers.edu. 
RSDM Students Face Off with Future M.D.s at Charity Hockey Game April 22

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine will play a charity hockey game against New Jersey Medical School at 7 p.m. April 22 to raise money for Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System.
The eighth RSDM vs. NJMS Charity Hockey Game begins at 7 p.m. at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House practice rink at the Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette Street in Newark. The Rutgers University Air Force ROTC Color Guard will perform the national anthem.


Class of 2022 Convocation Set for May 16 at NJPAC
RSDM will host the Class of 2022 convocation at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark at 4 p.m. May 16. All participants and guests must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before the event. Please visit NJPAC COVID Health and Safety prior to the ceremony to see if COVID protocols change. The ceremony will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Contact Lynn Chai at lhc37@sdm.rutgers.edu with questions.