Thursday Talks: Michael Conte ’92

This week, we are featuring one of our alums and the school’s Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Michael Conte. Get to know him through his Q&A with Fiona Blake of the Class of 2026.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at RSDM.

I am the Senior Associate Dean for the Office of Clinical Affairs at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). My responsibility is to make sure that clinical operations continue to run smoothly and safely for everyone. To achieve this I deal with all of the regulatory issues that are currently involved in the state of New Jersey. Essentially, my main focus is to make sure the chairs go up and down, the lights come on, and then deal with all of the complications in between. It is the responsibility of the Office of Clinical Affairs to help everyone, faculty, students, staff, and patients navigate obstacles that always seem to appear.  Clinical Affairs basically fixes problems. 

How long have you been here, and why did you decide to come to RSDM?

I started out in dentistry as a dental lab tech and then decided to go to dental school from there. I graduated from UMDNJ [now RSDM] in 1992 and then did a one-year advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD) here as well. From that residency program, I was asked to come on board as a faculty member. I have been here since 1993. Since then, I have not said “no” to any job asked of me and have been fortunate enough to work my way up to this administrative role. Throughout my career though, I have been able to maintain my clinical practice by working in different faculty practices for the school, CODE sites, and even a few private practice settings. I was one of the first CODE instructors for the school when we first started introducing the various extramural clinics throughout the state. 

What do you like the most about RSDM?

I have always been grateful for the people I get to work with.  They are my work family.  We spend a lot of time together. I cherish the friendships I have with my colleagues.

What do you enjoy doing outside the school?

I'm a family guy; I’ve been married for 37 years. We really enjoy spending time with our adult children and the rest of the extended family. I have tons of hobbies, love listening to classic rock, traveling, and especially boating and jet skiing. I live down in Brick, although it's a bit of a commute to and from work,  it’s definitely worth it to be at the shore everyday.