Fauchard Dental Society of NJ Keeps Legacy Alive Through Scholarship Endowment

From left, Drs. Renee Arace, Peter De Sciscio and Tom Rossi of the Fauchard Dental Society of NJ

The Fauchard Dental Society of New Jersey has had a long-standing bond with RSDM students. It helped fund preclinical laboratories, held pizza parties at the school and invited students to sit in on board meetings.

“We prided ourselves on how we actively we engaged student participation,” said former Fauchard Dental Society of  NJ President Dr. Tom Rossi, who is the current president of the New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA).

But the society found a new way to strengthen its connection this year by endowing a student scholarship. When members learned that gifts could be tripled throughout 2019, they didn’t hesitate to offer support. “We thought that by far, providing scholarship funds for a student in their third year has a greater impact than anything else we could do,’’ explained Rossi, a member of the Class of ’77.

Rossi knows much about the history of organized dentistry, which began in the late 19th century, when dentists across the nation were forming state organizations. “They realized how important it was to share a vision and meet on a regular basis,’’ he said.

However, mirroring 19-century prejudice and segregation, major state societies excluded most dentists who weren’t white and Protestant, so other ethnic groups formed organizations of their own. In Essex County, Jewish dentists formed The Newark Study Club while Black dentists formed the Commonwealth Dental Society, according to Rossi. Italians formed the Fauchard Dental Society of New Jersey, which, like many other ethnic societies, didn't exclude others.

As state dental societies became more inclusive, membership in other societies continued to thrive. But, later, with the advent of small study clubs, many experienced a drop in membership. The Fauchard Dental Society was no exception. However, in honor of its roots, the society is especially interested in potential awardees who are members of RSDM’s Italian Dental Society, in addition to being third-year students in good academic standing.

Along with Dr. Rossi, past Fauchard presidents Dr. Peter De Sciscio, an RSDM faculty member, and Dr. Renee Arace, current secretary of the NJDA. were also involved in making the decision for establishing the scholarship.

“We’re proud to continue our support of students embarking into the profession of dentistry,’’ said Arace.