A Way Back to RSDM

Dena Constandelis ’10 is the newest member of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) Alumni Association Board, where she will be serving as the secretary. We asked her questions about her path to dentistry and the board.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you practice, and why dentistry?

I graduated from UMDNJ, now Rutgers Dental School, in 2010. I actually ended up getting into dentistry by accident, but it ended up being a beautiful accident that worked out! I originally wanted to be a pediatrician. My dad, who is now a retired general dentist, always kept in touch with his classmates from dental school. We got to talking, and they all encouraged me to give dentistry a thought since I was already taking all of the prerequisite courses to get into dental school. I ended up applying to dental school on a last-minute whim, got accepted, graduated four years later, and the rest is history. I worked in a few different places after dental school but always knew deep down that I would take over my father’s practice and continue his legacy. I have a general & family dental practice in Clifton, NJ. Our practice has been in this location for over 80 years and counting! We see patients of all ages. It has been really rewarding to continue to see multiple generations of families that have known me since I was a child.

Why did you choose Rutgers, then UMDNJ, for your dental education?

I ended up going to Rutgers because it was close to home. I could commute to school, and it was the most reasonably priced since I was a NJ resident. I got into other dental schools, but my father was pretty adamant about me going to dental school in the state since I would also end up practicing in NJ. It all made sense and worked out in the end.

When did you get involved in the Alumni Association? What drew you to it?

I love being a part of organizations that bring people together. I joined organized dentistry right after school and have been a member ever since. I enjoyed my dental school class and remained close friends with a lot of my classmates. I recently went to an alumni event and had a wonderful time seeing old classmates and friends. When the opportunity to be a part of the Alumni Board presented itself to me, I felt I wanted to be a part of this organization to bring people together but also to foster new relationships among alumni.

What do you hope to accomplish in your role?

I really want to work on getting the message out to our alumni about the events we host. I have been out of dental school now for 15 years, and this was the first time I had ever been to an alumni event. I feel maybe our messages are not reaching enough people or not effectively reaching people. It would have been nice to go to these events sooner.

Anything else you would like to add?

I’m really looking forward to working on this Alumni Board team and meeting more Rutgers alumni!