Program supports junior faculty, encourages continued research

Rami Ammoun, D.D.S., M.S., CDT, FACP, has been named a Revere Scholar at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

Revere Scholars exemplify the highest standards of the oral health profession as modeled by James H. Revere Jr. (D.D.S. ’65), former instructor, interim dean, fundraiser, mentor and friend to the school for nearly 50 years.

“As an exceptional junior member of our faculty, Rami Ammoun represents all that Dr. Revere stands for in our profession” says Lyndon F. Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the VCU School of Dentistry. “For his professional accomplishments, outstanding service to our school, and his specific interest and expertise in digital dental technology, it gives me great pleasure to announce this award to recognize his potential.” 

Ammoun received his B.D.S. degree from Beirut Arab University in Lebanon. He earned both his D.D.S and M.S. degrees and completed his certificate program in prosthodontics at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. He is director of digital dentistry technologies and an assistant professor in the school’s Division of Prosthodontics. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics.

“Rami has a strong presence in the undergraduate and AEGD clinics where he teaches same-day milling and insertion of digitally-designed fixed restorations,” says Michael L. Huband, D.D.S., associate professor, and director of the Division of Prosthodontics. “The Revere Scholars award supports and helps retain junior faculty of his caliber. For Rami, it means he can continue his research interests in intraoral scanning accuracy, digital dentistry, CAD/CAM dentures and 3D printing.”

The Revere award makes it possible for Ammoun to more easily attend a variety of oral health care conferences and lectures. He also plans to continually enhance students’ experience through content, such as videos, and 3D models. “This motivates me to put more effort on improving dental education and make it available for VCU students and students across the world.”

The Revere Scholars program, funded by the James H. Revere Jr. Professorship for Faculty Excellence, an endowment fund, recognizes outstanding achievements of junior faculty members at the rank of assistant professor and provides funding for their research and scholarly efforts to achieve promotion to associate professor. Recipients receive an annual grant for four years allowing them to nurture their interests in pursuit of becoming career academic faculty. Spearheading the efforts to make the professorship fund possible were alumni James C. Burns (D.D.S. ’72; Ph.D. ’80) and John A. Svirsky (D.D.S. ’73; M.Ed. ’79). Beginning in 2009, the two donated seed money to honor Dr. Revere and create a lectureship. The fund has grown to more than $1 million and now provides funding for the Revere Scholars Program.