Two Generations, One Calling

In the DeFilippis household, dinner conversations rarely wander far from dentistry. Treatment plans, clinical cases, photos, and educational videos are common around the table.

"I'm running a mini residency program right now," said Don DeFilippis of the Class of 1990 with a laugh. 

The "residents" are his children, Isabella DeFilippis, Class of 2026, and Cole DeFilippis, Class of 2029, both of whom have followed his footsteps at his alma mater, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). Recently, the family had a dinner together at RSDM for the first time through the school’s Legacy Family Event. They toured campus, attended a presentation by Dean Cecile Feldman, and met fellow families.

"I hadn't seen the inside of the school in 30 years," said Don. "It was a great night." 

Unlike his children, Don didn't have a dentist in the family to guide him. He spent three years at Rutgers College of Pharmacy before pivoting into dentistry. "Hand skills are very important for me," he said. "But ultimately, what got me about dentistry is when a dentist loses a patient, they go to the guy down the street. When a medical doctor loses a person, they're dead. I didn't want the weight of that." Today, he owns practices in East Hanover and Stanhope, where many patients have become like extended family, some going on four generations.

As those patients’ families grow, so does the DeFilippis dental legacy. Recently, Isabella joined her father's team. "I'm really excited to gain knowledge from them and then bring in what I've learned at dental school." Isabella’s interest in dentistry was shaped by watching her father build relationships with his patients over the years that "become like family." She chose RSDM not because of him, but because of its clinical reputation. "I have heard incredible things about Rutgers Dental School, especially for the clinical experience and how it prepares the graduates for practicing,” she said. 

For her mother, Heather, the Legacy Family Event brought to life the clinic that Isabella often talked about, and the pre-clinic, where Cole currently spends much of his time. An interior designer, Heather is helping renovate their dental offices for three generations to work together soon.

A second-year student, Cole began the program after majoring in biology at Rutgers. What appealed to him most about dentistry was the balance between healthcare and artistry. "I really love dentistry for the fact that it is both a medical profession and an esthetic profession, where you can actively improve a patient's health, but you can also improve their feelings about themselves just fixing their smile." Having his father and sister as role models has been adding to his journey. 

"I come home with questions about school," he said. "I'm really fortunate to have them to ask these."  

Email us to participate in one of our Legacy Family dinners and contact the Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations Coordinator, Latoya Carroo, with any questions at ljc194@sdm.rutgers.edu. Please visit our calendar for upcoming alumni events: https://sdm.rutgers.edu/events/alumni-events