Meet Our 2025 Graduates

The Class of 2025 will soon walk across the platform to obtain their degrees. This year, 128 students will receive DMD degrees, and 27 will get advanced dental degrees in dental specialties. RSDM’s Convocation will be at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 19, at 4 pm, and the Rutgers University Commencement is scheduled for Sunday, May 18 at SHI Stadium, starting at 10 am.

Rebekah Webster
Program: DMD
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most?
D1 year when we were still partially remote. I have vivid memories of streaming classes from friends’ apartments, local coffee shops, and even the New York Public Library once. After exams, my friends and I would treat ourselves to midday meals. Those spontaneous moments made the experience special. [Another one is] together with my classmate Precious Nwaba and alum Dr. Simone Ellis, we’ve created the Ambitious Dentist Mentorship Program, where women of color in dentistry can support, grow, and connect. I’ll miss the in-person collaboration the most. If I have a question, I can just walk over to any specialty clinic for a quick consultation, and everyone is always willing to help. That kind of open, supportive environment is something truly unique to dental school. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Don’t study alone. Some of the best learning happens in study groups. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes in the clinic. It’s much better to face those challenges now, while you have instructors to guide you, than later when you're on your own in practice. 

Next stop: Miami, Florida, doing Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the Jessie Trice Community Health Center and taking continuing education courses at the Pankey Institute. 

Brett Chappell
Program: DMD
Hometown: New Jersey

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
One of the most memorable experiences was participating in a video shoot during my D4 year for the Vet Smiles program with one of my favorite patients. Other highlights include attending the annual gala dances with my classmates, traveling to Houston for SmileCon with classmates, and representing Rutgers at the Trinity College School of Dental Science in Ireland to reignite the exchange student program. I also loved mentoring pre-dental students through RSDM’s Gateway to Dentistry program. What I will miss most is the sense of camaraderie and support within our class—everyone had each other's backs, and the bond we shared was truly special. Our class was not only professional but also incredibly social, friendly, and outgoing, making the journey that much more enjoyable.

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Dental school is a marathon, not a sprint—take it one day at a time. Focus on small, daily victories … [and] avoid comparing yourself to others. Your classmates will be some of your most valuable resources for learning and studying, so be sure to lean on them for support. Stay true to your own dreams, values, and purpose, and use dentistry as a tool to help you achieve the life you envision beyond school.

Next stop: Colorado Springs, CO, attending a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry program with the U.S. Army. 

Hannah Ciullo
Program: DMD
Hometown: New Jersey

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
One highlight was my participation in the La Romana World of Smiles Mission Trip during D3 year, where I was able to treat patients at a school in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend a student exchange program at Trinity Dental College in Ireland during my D4 year, where I spent one week as an exchange student learning about their school. Also, I was a preclinic and didactic tutor to RSDM underclassmen and served for four years on the RSDM Honor Council. When I graduate, I will miss my friends and the wonderful faculty the most. These are the people who really shaped who I have become today, and I could not have made it through these four years without them.

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Show up each day and put your best foot forward. This allows for the most progress over time. Trust yourself; you have made it this far, and if you apply yourself, you will see that the sky is the limit.

Next steps: General Practice Residency at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.

Iris Wong
Program: DMD
Hometown: New Jersey

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
My favorite moments were the more unexpected moments, such as the random blackout during preclinic or having to re-schedule our White Coat Ceremony due to a flood. I will miss the bond I've created with my class during these crazy but funny moments. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Dental school is what you make of it. Take advantage of the opportunity you get and learn as much as you can. 

Next stop: Pediatrics Dentistry and Community Health Department at RSDM for the next two years, and I'm excited I get to stick around! 

Elias Travis
Program: DMD
Hometown: Angola, Indiana

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
Highlights of time at RSDM include attending conferences (American Association of Orthodontics, American Dental Association’s lobby day), the annual Gala, and time spent with classmates. I will miss all the enjoyable times my classmates and friends have had over the past four years. These experiences have provided memories that I will remember fondly for the rest of my life. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Try to learn as much as you can in the four years of dental school. Faculty and staff are a wealth of information beyond just didactic studies. Despite all the challenges and requirements of dental school, try to maintain a balance in your life. Give time to family, relationships, fitness, and having fun. Those will be the things you remember from these four years, not the time spent studying.

Next stop: Two-year orthodontic residency at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Kinga Dabek
Program: DMD
Hometown: New Jersey 

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
There have been so many meaningful moments during my time at RSDM, but a few stand out as particularly formative. One of my proudest moments was co-founding Smiles of Solidarity with my brilliant brother Patryk. Together, we’ve worked to give back to the communities that shaped us and support those affected by the war in Ukraine. From delivering humanitarian aid to developing oral health education initiatives in bilingual classrooms, this work has changed the way I view service and the power of grassroots change. I’m proud that our initiatives were recognized and supported by the IDEA grant and Delta Dental Mini-Smile grant.

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Stay curious—and stay human. Dental school will stretch you in every direction, but the biggest growth will come when you lean into discomfort and remember why you started. Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had came not from a perfect prep but from a quiet conversation with a patient who felt seen and heard.

Next stop: General Practice Residency at Yale-New Haven Health. 

Ajwad Mattar
Program: Prosthodontics
Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
The highlights of my time at RSDM go far beyond just clinical experience or academic growth; what truly stands out is the people. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such supportive colleagues, dedicated faculty, and amazing staff. We’ve been through so much together, learning, growing, and supporting one another every step of the way. What I’ll miss the most is the sense of family we’ve built here. RSDM isn’t just a place where we trained—it became a second home. Whether it was sharing laughs during late nights, helping each other through tough cases, or celebrating our milestones together, the bond we’ve formed is something truly special. We weren’t just residents; we were a team, a family. And that’s something I’ll always carry with me.

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Treat every case as a learning opportunity, no matter how big or small. Each patient presents something unique, and by paying close attention to the details, you build the clinical judgment and confidence that truly sets you apart. And develop strong communication skills, especially when it comes to working up complex, multidisciplinary cases. Don’t hesitate to collaborate with faculty or other departments, get involved in extracurricular activities, and build relationships with your co-residents, faculty, and staff. Dentistry is never a solo journey and RSDM offers so much more than clinical training—it offers a community. Make the most of every moment.

Next stop: To pursue a PhD to further knowledge and contribute to research in the field of prosthodontics and oral biology. 

Olivia Isshak
Program: Endodontics 
Hometown: New Jersey
 

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
At RSDM, what I’ll miss most is the strong sense of community and the incredible mentorship I received. Being surrounded by dedicated faculty and peers who continually inspire me to grow both personally and professionally made my time here truly special. One of the most meaningful experiences during my residency was participating in a mission trip to Negril, Jamaica, through the Foundation for Endodontics. It was a privilege to provide specialty endodontic care to an underserved community and to see firsthand the impact our field can have on improving lives. That opportunity deepened my commitment to continuing this type of service throughout my career. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
Show up each day with the mindset of learning—no matter how big or small the lesson is. Trust the process, and don’t underestimate how far you’ve come. Lead with kindness because you never know what challenges your patients, classmates, or colleagues might be facing. And get involved beyond the clinic, whether through leadership, outreach, or service—giving back helps elevate the profession and reminds us of the real-world impact of our skills. There are so many people who could benefit from what we do, and your contribution matters more than you think.
  
Next stop: Private practice at Modern Micro Endodontics in Bayonne, NJ. 

Uchenna Ndukwe Nwosu
Program: Pediatric Dentistry 
Hometown: New Jersey 

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
Besides the heavily diverse patient population that I loved to treat and expand my knowledge on here, I will miss my co-residents. Being part of a residency program that embraces international students, I was able to make lifelong friends that have made my journey here quite an experience! 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
I started my journey at Rutgers-New Brunswick, and I am ending my journey here at RSDM. Dental school was never easy, but the path has always been clear because I have never been afraid to ask for help when I needed it. From faculty and staff, everyone is on your side and wants you to succeed. 

Next stop: Jersey Shore to work as a pediatric dentist. I aspire to be that neighborhood dentist that my patients grow up with and even continue to visit me when they are at college during spring break. 

Akshay Katara
Program: Orofacial Pain 
Hometown: Mumbai, India

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
As an international dentist, being matched into the RSDM's Orofacial Pain Residency Program was a defining milestone that introduced me to a field I’ve grown deeply passionate about. Over the past two years, I’ve grown in ways I never imagined—clinically, professionally, and personally. What made this journey truly special were the remarkable mentors who supported and inspired me every step of the way. I was also fortunate to share this experience with amazing colleagues. The camaraderie, late-night case discussions, shared challenges, and joyful milestones made even the most intense days meaningful. I will deeply miss the everyday moments—walking into the clinic and knowing that guidance, support, and inspiration were always close by. RSDM gave me more than a specialty. It gave me a purpose, lifelong friendships, and a second family. These memories and connections will stay with me forever. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
The Orofacial Pain residency at RSDM offers an unparalleled opportunity to train in a truly multidisciplinary setting. From day one, residents are immersed in the complex world of chronic pain management—addressing conditions that span dental, neurological, and musculoskeletal domains. Residents work alongside experts from various specialties, gaining exposure to integrated care models that treat not just symptoms but the whole patient. This experience fosters a deep understanding of how orofacial pain impacts patients’ daily lives and how strategic, empathetic care can restore both function and quality of life. For those drawn to the complexity of pain medicine and the impact of interdisciplinary care, the Orofacial Pain program at RSDM offers an exceptional foundation for a meaningful and impactful career.

Next stop: To apply the knowledge and skills gained in Orofacial Pain to clinical practice, with the goal of delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to patients struggling with complex pain conditions.

Ryan Look
Program: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Hometown: New Jersey 

What were the highlights of your time at RSDM? What will you miss the most? 
Having been a student and now resident at RSDM, there have been many highlights. However, the relationships built with former classmates, co-residents, attendings, and clinic/OR staff will be what I'll cherish and miss the most. 

Any advice you'd like to share with current or prospective students? 
You ultimately determine how much you gain from your residency experience. Maintain a positive outlook, build a strong work ethic, and be resilient—there will be challenging days, but keep your goals in view. Most importantly, how you treat and work with others truly matters and goes a long way in our profession. 

Next stop: Washington Metropolitan Area to work in private practice with the goal of obtaining hospital privileges nearby.