Faculty Member Makes Personal Gift to Advance Pain Research

When Clinical Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Sciences Stanley Markman read about a woman who found relief from a decade of chronic headaches using GLP-1 weight-loss medication, he saw more than an interesting headline. He wondered: could this medication help his orofacial pain patients?

To search for an answer, Markman personally donated $225,000.

“It could prove to be something very useful in helping patients to manage pain,” explained Markman, an orofacial pain specialist who has spent decades treating patients with complex pain conditions.

He brought the idea to Associate Professor of Diagnostic Sciences Olga Korczeniewska, who has studied trigeminal neuropathic pain for years. He knew right away that she was the person for this topic of investigation. “I have so much confidence in her ability, drive, and motivation,” said Markman. The gift was a chance to invest in both a person and a mission he believes in. The idea energized Korczeniewska, and she is now designing a preclinical research program to explore whether this widely available medication could offer relief to patients suffering from neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage from injuries like trauma or wisdom teeth surgery that often has no remedy.

The project also reflects another passion that has shaped Markman’s career: education.

His path into orofacial pain began later in life, after encountering a patient whose condition sparked his interest in the specialty. That curiosity grew into advanced training, board certification, and eventually a faculty appointment. “I was mesmerized and overcome by the knowledge and the diagnostic requirements to help these patients,” he said.

Today, that mission extends beyond patients to students and residents. He helps future dentists gain a deeper understanding of pain, particularly neuropathic pain, so they can provide better care and avoid unnecessary treatments. Watching learners grow into specialists remains one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

“It’s very gratifying to see the evolution and the development of a dental student who knows literally nothing about orofacial pain,” he said, “and then two years later, they have been transformed into a competent diagnostician.”

Only about 13 dental schools in the US have orofacial pain programs, including Rutgers.

“This project could yield strong benefits down the line,” said Markman, “for our program and patients.”