RSDM Publishes First Student Research Journal
This year, students had a chance to share their observations — and the results of their work — in the pages of Rutgers Journal of Dentistry, published last month. It is the journal's inaugural issue.
Created by a team of students who, peer-reviewed, selected, and edited the articles written and submitted by their colleagues, the first issue of the journal includes six papers, ranging from insights into new treatments for trigeminal neuropathy to diagnosing developmental tooth anomalies with cone beam computed tomography. You can find the PDF version of the journal here.
According to journal advisors Drs. Steven Singer and Rafael Benoliel of the Office of Research, student participation in research work at RSDM has increased in recent years, with more predoctoral students involved in programs that give them a chance to assist in the lab and work alongside faculty on clinical and basic science studies. Postdoctoral students have increasingly been designing and executing their own research projects.
"By establishing the journal, we wanted to bring it full circle, in that our students developed their research proposals, found a mentor and then learned the process of editing and publishing their work,'' said Singer.
In the journal's intro, co-editor Rebecca Eis, Class of 2017, described how editing the journal underscored for her the importance of scientific publications in the day-to-day work of dentistry. "Everything we do clinically is backed with hours of research and we must strive to practice dentistry that respects the literature,'' she wrote. "We must all take it upon ourselves to stay abreast of dental literature as we practice evidence-based dentistry.''
Co-editor Naruthorn Tanaiutchawoot hoped that the students' work could some day lead to new and improved treatment methods. "This journal carries the hope and expectation, not only for people who were involved in the team, but to our many patients who are waiting for some magic to happen in their lives,'' wrote Tanaiutchawoot, a resident in the Center for TMD and Orofacial Pain.
