Five Residents, Five Programs

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) offers advanced dental education programs in endodontics, general practice residency, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orofacial pain, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Five residents from five programs tell us why they chose their specialties and RSDM.

David Cifelli

Hometown: Millstone Township, New Jersey

Program: Endodontics

What drew you into your specialty? 

I was initially interested in the technical side of endodontics. It requires focus and precision and offers the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies. But what drew me most to this field is being able to alleviate patients’ pain and save their natural teeth, which is incredibly rewarding.

Why did you choose to come to RSDM?

In my case, I chose to stay at RSDM, where I attended dental school. I felt connected to the RSDM community, and I was very excited to have the opportunity to continue my education here. It is also close to home, and I enjoy being able to serve patients from all over New Jersey.

How has the program been so far? 

The program, while challenging, has provided extensive clinical experience and a comprehensive didactic education which helps us understand the scientific basis of what we do.

What do you like the most about it? Any learnings or experiences you'd like to share?

What I like most is the collegial atmosphere of the department. The faculty are helpful and supportive, and my co-residents have become some of my best friends.

What do you hope to do after the program? Future aspirations? 

In the future, I aim to practice in New Jersey. I also hope to stay connected with RSDM as a proud alumnus. 

Urvashi Keswani

Hometown: Mumbai, India 

Program: Periodontics

What drew you into your specialty? 

After completing dental school in India, I decided to move to the US to pursue my DDS at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry. I developed a further interest in periodontics during my time at UCLA. While my initial time at dental school helped me understand the value of precision and fine motor skills, clinical rotations in the third year introduced me to the surgical aspects of periodontics. The dexterity, the calculated yet gentle handling of soft tissues, and the establishment of aesthetic contours drew me towards the subject. Periodontics is a multifaceted field that deals with a wide scope of patient needs. Classic periodontics is centered on preservation while modern periodontics incorporates surgical replacement with dental implants. As a field, it also lets you develop lifelong relations with your patients through maintenance therapy.

Why did you choose to come to RSDM? 

Apart from the state-of-the-art facilities and diverse patient population, RSDM has some of the best clinicians serving as faculty along with residents who have graduated from some of the top dental schools in the nation. To be in the company of such bright minds and being trained by such skilled clinicians has truly been a blessing!

How has the program been so far? What do you like the most about it? Any learnings or experiences you'd like to share?

The program has been great so far! I feel like I have my own little family away from family where I can learn, grow, and mature not only as a clinician but also on a personal level.

As a resident, I get constructive mentorship in periodontics from some great clinicians serving as faculty at Rutgers and have had the opportunity to collaborate with residents in other programs to deliver comprehensive care to our patients. One of my favorite aspects of the program is teaching predoctoral students and getting them interested in periodontics.

In terms of learning experiences, one of my biggest takeaways is that there is seldom a single solution to any case. There are multiple ways to reasonably achieve clinical outcomes that are consistent with the patient’s needs. It is important to closely work with the referring dentist (and often other specialists) to deliver excellent patient care.

What do you hope to do after the program? Future aspirations? 

I plan on moving to the San Francisco Bay Area to work as a periodontist in private practice. Also, I plan on taking up an academic position at a dental school in the area so I can continue teaching and keeping up with the latest advances in the field.

Tyler Maday

Hometown: Randolph, New Jersey 

Program: General Practice Residency (GPR)

What drew you into your specialty?

I first caught interest in the special needs community because of my mom. She is an operating room nurse and would talk to me about all the dentists she would work with. She would explain to me how important and needed their work is. Then while I was at Temple Dental, I got inspired by the interactions I had with one of the faculty members. She was a general dentist who worked with special needs patients. Through our conversations, I came to realize the attention and help this community needed and I knew I wanted to play a part in making an impact on the patient’s life. After my rotation through the special needs clinic during my first year of residency with Rutgers, I was 100 percent confident that I made the right choice. 

Why did you choose to come to RSDM?

When I started looking at GPR programs, I wanted a program with a very good reputation that was also close to home. Rutgers quickly came to mind. One of the key factors that made Rutgers stand out amongst other programs was the amount of time they spent on building and solidifying a strong foundation in general dentistry with an emphasis on medicine. In my mind, this is what makes a dentist the best provider to their patients. Then you add the fact that Rutgers is one of the few programs to offer a second year in advanced training in special needs dentistry, which was a path I wanted to take,  I was sold.

How has the program been so far? What do you like the most about it? Any learnings or experiences you'd like to share?

The program has been excellent! It has greatly increased my knowledge of general dentistry. It has shown me how much a general dentist is capable of. One of the best aspects of this program is how I am not limited to one specific procedure. If there is a procedure or technique I’d like to learn or perform, the faculty is fully equipped and excited to teach me. One of the biggest learning experiences is to never turn away from any opportunity to learn a new procedure and expand your knowledge just because you think the procedure seems too advanced. This is the only time in your career that you will have this sort of hands-on support to help and teach you.

What do you hope to do after the program? Future aspirations?

After Rutgers, I plan on going into private practice while also becoming affiliated with a hospital so I can continue to treat patients with special needs in the operating room.

Stephanie Silva

Hometown: Warren, New Jersey 

Program: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)

What drew you into your specialty?  

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a very unique field as it is a blend of both dentistry and medicine. My first taste of OMFS was when I observed a double-jaw orthognathic surgery during my second year of dental school. I was impressed with how transformative this procedure was, restoring both function and aesthetics for this patient. In my honest opinion, OMFS is one of the most rewarding fields in dentistry and medicine! 

Why did you choose to come to RSDM?  

Rutgers offers a broad oral and maxillofacial surgical experience consisting of orthognathic, trauma, head and neck cancer, temporomandibular disorders, and dentoalveolar. We are a busy service with high volume, but still promote a positive culture and good work/life balance. Being from New Jersey, I felt right at home coming to Rutgers for my training!   

How has the program been so far? What do you like the most about it? Any learnings or experiences you'd like to share? 

My experience has been very positive thus far. I really like the autonomy that this program provides us with. Residents can make decisions while being supported by faculty, enabling us to grow as surgeons. I also really like that we have a very strong hands-on experience, both in the outpatient clinic and operating room, which begins in our early years of training. We are also extremely lucky to be trained by such brilliant faculty who provide us with expertise in their respective fields.  

What do you hope to do after the program? Future aspirations?  

While I am keeping an open mind regarding my post-graduation career plans, I hope to be a mentor to anyone interested in pursuing a field in OMFS, especially females as we are so few and far between!

Josna Thankachan

Hometown: Kerala, India

Program: Prosthodontics

What drew you into your specialty?  

I completed my degree in Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Kerala University of Health Sciences. My interest in dentistry evolved into a passion after the clinical rotations began. My first posting was in the Department of Prosthodontics a unique encounter etched itself into my memory. An elderly patient seeking to replace his worn-out dentures came my way, his smile buried under layers of concern. As I carefully adjusted and placed his new dentures, his smile resurfaced like the sun breaking through clouds. This transformation, which echoed joyfully through the department, became an unforgettable moment that fueled my journey forward. With each case I undertook, a profound sense of satisfaction enveloped me and made me feel enthusiastic about what I was doing. These experiences are my driving force to choose prosthodontics.

Why did you choose to come to RSDM?  

RSDM provides an environment with ample opportunities to get skilled in the desired specialty in dentistry, especially prosthodontics. We get an immense amount of clinical experience because of the large patient population that comes to Rutgers. Our three years of prosthodontics training can be considered golden years for us residents because of the complexity of the cases and advanced treatments that we are exposed to in our clinics. I think this is a vital part of any good residency. The supportive faculty further enriches this chapter of learning.

How has the program been so far? What do you like the most about it? Any learnings or experiences you'd like to share? 

This program is definitely a huge learning curve for me. Though this program sometimes feels physically demanding, its essence lies in the vitality of each new day and every thought-provoking case. The canvas we work on is ever-changing, allowing for creativity to flourish once the basics are mastered. The critical skills of treatment planning and problem-solving are my current pursuits in shaping my evolution as a prosthodontist.

What do you hope to do after the program? Future aspirations?  

Looking ahead, I aspire to contribute my expertise as a prosthodontist to the broader world. I dream of delving into maxillofacial prosthodontics once I am confident in my role as a prosthodontist, with the goal of becoming board-certified. What ignites my passion is the ability to infuse confidence into patients by transforming their smiles and lives.

Beyond my professional journey lies my life as a military spouse, accompanying my husband, Thomas, who serves in the US Navy. We have a nomadic life. Along with my professional pursuits, it is also my dream to settle in a calm and scenic suburb with lush greenery and rolling mountains. I love hiking, kayaking, and enjoying nature.