Alumni Make a Difference

Dr. George Bambara, Allison Striano and Dr. William
Ranucci

Although she never had a chance to meet Dr. William Cinotti, the late RSDM faculty member for whom her scholarship is named, Allison Striano has heard a lot about him. At the RSDM Donor/Scholar Awards Reception last year, Cinotti's former students, who established a scholarship in his name, shared stories and reminisced.

"They seat you next to the people representing the scholarship you won and everyone had such fond memories of him," said Striano, a fourth-year student.

In 2008, four alums from the Class of '89 — Drs. Michael Donato Jr.; William Ranucci, George Bambara and Philip Echo — created the William R. Cinotti Scholarship Fund as a way to help students and honor their former mentor. Cinotti, who passed away in January, also bequeathed money to the scholarship fund, which awarded $1,200 to Striano last year.

Dr. William Cinotti

"He wanted it to continue," said his wife, Doris Cinotti.

Cinotti, an RSDM associate dean who was instrumental in establishing the school's CODE clinics for the underserved, unfailingly made himself available to students and was always ready with advice and encouragement.

He also enjoyed seeing alums forge gratifying careers. "Many of them told me if it weren't for him, they wouldn't have wound up doing what they were doing," said Mrs. Cinotti.

For students, alums can make a big difference. In addition to offsetting the expenses of dental school, they offer the wisdom of experience. "It's enough to just see them coming back," said Striano. "They understand it's a difficult four years but they appreciate that it was a valuable foundation for a career they really love."

This year's Scholar/Donor Awards Reception, which in 2013 awarded more than $100,000 in scholarship funds, will be held November 12 at 6 p.m. in the Oral Health Pavilion at RSDM's campus in Newark.