Rafael Benoliel Appointed Director of Orofacial Pain Center

Dr. Rafael Benoliel

Dr. Rafael Benoliel has been appointed director of RSDM'S Orofacial Pain Center, an internationally recognized institution for the study and treatment of pain.

Benoliel, who is also a professor and associate dean of research at the dental school, will lead the  research and clinical team at the center, the home of many breakthrough discoveries and one of the few accredited programs of its kind in the country.

Benoliel aims to build on the center's strengths and establish it as the leading clinical service and postgraduate training program nationally and internationally. He is committed to introducing clinical standards of care, expanding research activity and funding of the center and increasing collaborations within Rutgers and nationally.

Prior to joining Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Benoliel was the Chair of the Department of Oral Medicine at Hebrew University, Adjunct Professor of Oral Medicine at UMDNJ – NJDS, and Visiting Professor, University of Granada, Spain. At Hebrew University, Dr. Benoliel headed the residency program, was the Director of the Orofacial Pain Clinic, and the Center for Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dentistry, and Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.

Benoliel is a member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, the International Association for the Study of Pain, the International Headache Society, the Israel Dental Association, and the Israeli Oral Medicine Society. He is the recipient of research grants from Hebrew University and industry grants from Pharmos, Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon, Nano-Cyte to name a few. He has published approximately 100 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and case reviews, mostly on the topic of orofacial pain, in addition to 40 abstracts and countless presentations. He is the editor of the award winning textbook "Orofacial Pain and Headache," now in its second edition.