Residency Program

"My residency gave me more confidence and competence in treating pediatric, intellectually disabled, and developmentally disabled populations. By rotating through the different areas in the hospital, you get a lot more experience with the medical aspect of dentistry that you aren't taught in dental school. I really enjoyed getting experience in the OR and working closely with the oral surgeons on call with me."

"In the seven months that I have been a resident at Samuels Dental Center, I have grown into a more confident clinician. I have had the opportunity to work with children and special needs patients - a demographic that I had little experience with prior to residency. As a resident, I have had the opportunity to scrub into several surgeries, directly assist with a maxillary fixation, and place various types of airways. What I have enjoyed most is that while you are encouraged to develop your own philosophy as a provider, this is still a learning institution; the attendings continually make themselves available as a resource to help guide you during new procedures and navigate the world of hospital dentistry. A team environment exists here which stems from leadership along with a desire to constantly improve the GPR by providing experience in and outside of the clinic. We are members of various organizations and continuing education is strongly encouraged here. The on-call schedule here is intense with only two residents. With that comes the opportunity to become very proficient in treating dental emergencies and collaborating with physicians. The genuine appreciation from providing help to patients experiencing a dental emergency makes it worth it. Overall, I have enjoyed my time her at Samuels and I am sure that at the end of a year I will still be glad that I chose this GPR."

This residency has been a major eye-opening experience for me so far. Working with the unique population of patients that we have the privilege of treating here at Samuels and at the hospital has taught me more about myself as a practitioner and as a person. The experience I've gotten with treating special needs and medically compromised patients puts the work we do every day as dental providers into perspective. This residency has helped to supplement the education I got at Tufts and improved my skills in oral surgery, pediatrics, and time management. I've seen cases in this hospital setting that I would have never seen in private practice, which has made me more confident in overall patient management. The staff and faculty have made the experience even more wonderful and if I could go back in time I would happily do it all over again.

"Three years ago, I faced a seemingly daunting decision: Where should I go to attend a postdoctoral
residency program? Twenty years of education brought me to this point, and I truly had
no idea which direction to turn as I was finally beginning my career. After hours of research,
sifting through General Practice Residency programs with the promise of advanced training in
restorative, cosmetic, surgical, endodontic dentistry, I came across the Samuels Sinclair
General Practice Residency at Rhode Island Hospital. After reading about the extensive
opportunities that could advance my knowledge and propel my career in dentistry, I saw
something that caught my eye and distinguished it from the rest. It read, "In addition to serving
our large adult and child patient population, the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center provides dental
care as the primary provider for patients of all ages with intellectual and/or developmental
disabilities." Comprehensive dentistry with a purpose. I was hooked.

After interviewing at the program, shadowing current residents, and speaking with staff, I knew
that this is where I wanted to be. The passion and energy that the attending dentists, residents,
assistants, hygienists, and front office patient care coordinators brought to work daily was
palpable and exactly the kind of team I hoped to join. With that said, one big question remained:
Could I handle it? Everyone at the program was transparent in regard to the demands that lay
ahead. Long, physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging days providing comprehensive
dentistry to a diverse patient population followed by rigorous on-call nights diagnosing and
treating dental emergencies while simultaneously coordinating inpatient dental care seemed
terrifying. After talking through all the options and "what-ifs" with my wife, she encouraged me
to follow my heart and choose the place that made me feel the most comfortable and supported
while also offering the strongest opportunities for professional and personal growth. I called Dr.
Benz that night to accept the position as a resident and started a journey that has influenced
and changed my life in a profoundly positive way.

I'll start by paying tribute to the people of the dental center, as they are who make the residency
program such a unique and fulfilling experience. You will not find a more professional, caring,
supportive, and hard-working team of attending dentists than Dr. Benz, Dr. DiNardo, Dr.
Danaher, and Dr. DuPont. From day one they encouraged independence but provided any and
all support needed with a smile on their face and genuine care in their hearts. They were there
every step of the way to guide our clinical decision making and teach technique as we had our
first experiences with emergency and hospital-based medicine. They treat their residents as
peers and offered a guiding hand without judgement whenever called upon. Having the
opportunity to observe their ethical, compassionate, and meticulous care for their own patients
in treatment rooms next door showed me exactly who I wanted to be and how I wanted to
practice dentistry in my career. In addition to the full-time attendings, the team of surgeons
spearheaded by Dr. Brown, visiting general dentists, periodontists, prosthodontists,
endodontists, and sleep specialists who selflessly gave their time to further our education and
competency in performing advanced dental procedures was unparalleled. My co residents, Dr.
Sam Tardugno, and Dr. Ryan Gould, were daily supports, providing camaraderie,
encouragement, and education through shared experience and peer-peer fellowship. There
was no shortage of help and support from the highly motivated and trained assistants,
hygienists, and patient care coordinating staff. The dental center could not function without their expertise and care.

Lastly, the people treated at the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center form the
foundation that makes the mission of the program so unique and enriching. The diverse patient
population ranging in ages, ability, medical complexity, life experiences, and socioeconomic
background provides an opportunity to provide comprehensive, life changing access to dental
care in an underserved dental community. My year at Rhode Island Hospital was the most
fulfilling of my life because of the people I had the privilege of working with, learning from, and
treating.

Professionally, the Samuels Sinclair GPR program exposed me to a side of dentistry only heard
about during dental school. In addition to a constant daily flow of restorative dentistry, I had the
opportunity to learn and competently perform advanced, restorative and surgical procedures,
including dental implants, surgical extractions, incision and drainages, ridge preservation and
augmentation, molar endodontics, crown/bridge, complex fixed dental prostheses, and
removable appliances, ranging from complete dentures to tissue-replacing obturators. Daily
experiences ranged from routine fillings to responding to complex facial trauma. I was able to
continue to improve my ability to effectively manage time, delegate and share tasks with a
treatment team, and communicate effectively and conscientiously with staff, patients, and other
medical specialists. The broad scope of experiences, services rendered, and continuing
education opportunities opened my eyes to the avenues available in dentistry. The foundation
that the experience provides enabled my co-residents, former residents, and me the opportunity
to be highly sought after candidates for jobs in general dentistry or candidates for specialty
residencies upon completion of the program. My time at the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center
truly has prepared me for life and career after residency.

As I reflect on my time in Providence, I can wholeheartedly answer the question I asked myself
three years ago. Yes, I could handle it. I could handle it because my wife and loved ones were
my rock. I could handle it because of the incredible team of educators, support staff, and
patients who made the body of work so fulfilling. I could handle it because the team assembled
was always there to pick me up when I tumbled and raise me higher when I stood tall.
To prospective residents reading this, you too can handle it. It will be hard at times. You will
have difficult extractions, you will have sleep deprived nights, and you will cry when a patient
you care for passes away. On the other side, you will succeed and grow far beyond your
perceived capabilities. You will rest well, knowing you delivered life-changing care. You will cry
with joy when you give a voice back to a patient whose life was uprooted by oral cancer.
Following every darkness, there is light, just as after every late night in the hospital, there is a
beautiful sunrise over the Providence River.

I graduated from the Samuels Sinclair GPR program in 2023 and I have been working as a general dentist in both a small FFS private office as well as a number of larger corporate offices.  The real world of dentistry is fast paced and requires confidence, compassion, and a personalized level of care if you want to succeed.  The Samuels program is a great place to develop these skills, there is not a day that goes by in practice where I do not draw on the lessons learned from going through the GPR residency program.  Graduates of this program will become adept at surgical extractions, navigating complex emergencies, interpreting advanced radiography, CAD/CAM dentistry, and much more.  The biggest asset I acquired from my Samuels experience was how to manage the patient, an invaluable skill that will carry you far with your career.  The Samuels residency is challenging but the amazing attendings, visiting instructors, and superb assistant team truly have your back at all times.  I am a better dentist and care provider having gone through the Samuels program.

My dental residency experience at Samuels Sinclair Dental was exceptional. I was looking for a surgery-heavy program and found it. I was immersed in many surgical procedures and became confident in my abilities. At Samuels, I was also incredibly lucky to work with patients with special needs. Samuels is one of the few dental provider for patients of special needs within the state of Rhode Island and surrounding areas. While the residency program’s clinical offerings are immense, it truly shines with its attendings and staff. During residency at Samuels I was encouraged to be independent and grow my dental skills. The attendings guided and supported me as I diversified my knowledge. The staff always set me up for success. I cherish my time spent in Rhode Island and if had to do dental residency again, I would choose Samuels every time.