Drs Yotom Rabinowitz and Helena Filippini named Revere Scholars

Drs Yotom Rabinowitz and Helena Filippini named Revere Scholars

Yotom Rabinowitz, D.D.S., assistant professor and director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinics, and Helena Filippini, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., assistant professor and director of predoctoral Endodontics clinics, have been named Revere Scholars at VCU School of Dentistry.

Revere Scholars are representative of the highest standards of the oral health profession as modeled by Dr. James H. Revere Jr. (D.D.S. ’65), who worked at VCU School of Dentistry for nearly 50 years and held a variety of positions including instructor and interim dean.

The prestigious award recognizes junior faculty members at the rank of assistant professor who have made outstanding contributions to the school and who show continued excellence and commitment to education and research. As Revere Scholars, the recipients receive a grant of $5,000 to be used towards research and scholarly efforts.

“We are incredibly proud to recognize Dr. Helena Filippini and Dr. Yotom Rabinowitz as Revere Scholars—an honor that reflects their deep commitment to academic excellence, compassionate teaching, innovative research, and the advancement of our profession,” said Lyndon Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of VCU School of Dentistry. “Their dedication to shaping the next generation of oral health leaders exemplifies the highest standards of our school’s mission and values and honors Dr. James Revere Jr. Their recognition is well deserved, and we are fortunate to have them as part of our faculty. I congratulate them for their outstanding efforts and look forward to their future work.”

Each Revere Scholar is nominated by a colleague and then voted on by the Revere Scholars subcommittee and administrative committee.

Rabinowitz was nominated by Omar Abubaker, D.M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

He has been a faculty member at VCU School of Dentistry since 2022. In his role, he works closely with students and residents while also performing complex surgeries and conducting research in his field.

“I felt truly honored and humbled to be distinguished as a Revere Scholar,” said Rabinowitz. “It’s incredibly affirming to have my work and potential recognized in this way, and have supplementary resources to help me advance.”

Rabinowitz received his D.D.S. from University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He completed a residency at University of Cincinnati in 2022 before joining VCU School of Dentistry. For Rabinowitz, becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon was a result of a lifelong passion for learning and challenging himself.

“I chose this path because I knew it would make me happy. It does not feel like a job for me, which is what I wanted,” said Rabinowitz, “I’m an active person who thrives on challenge, unpredictability, and variety- qualities that define the specialty.” 

While at VCU, Rabinowitz has contributed greatly to research. His primary research focus is in advancing minimally invasive techniques in oral and maxillofacial surgery by leveraging modern technology and innovation to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and enhance comfort. His work spans clinical trials assessing buffered lidocaine agents for improved anesthetic comfort, 3D printing applications, , and studies on femur bone harvesting techniques for mandibular reconstruction. 

Rabinowitz was awarded an internal grant from VCU School of Dentistry to investigate the use of in-house virtual surgical planning and 3D printing for orthognathic surgery. He currently leads five completed projects that are in the manuscript preparation and publication phase. 

Rabinowitz’s research has been presented at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Annual Meeting as oral presentations, and he has twice received the AAOMS Oral Abstract Scientific Presentation Award for his contributions among many accolades.

Beyond his own research efforts, Rabinowitz is an active and valued mentor to students and residents. He has served as a mentor to student researchers through the A.D. Williams Research Fellowship and plays an integral role in fostering student engagement in academic inquiry and innovation.

“The most rewarding aspect of my work is the opportunity to collaborate with trainees and colleagues toward a shared goal,” said Rabinowitz.

The journey is just at the beginning for Rabinowitz. As a Revere Scholar, he intends to continue his own research and open gateways for students and residents to do the same. Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a field that presents many challenges, but for Rabinowitz, that is the appeal. 

“My motivation is deeply rooted in my personality,” said Rabinowitz. “I’m driven by curiosity and the pursuit of what’s next—I thrive on momentum and the thrill of the chase. Settling isn’t in my nature. Constantly pushing forward is what keeps me energized and focused.”

Filippini was nominated for the Revere Scholarship by her supervisor, Garry Myers, D.D.S., chair of the Department of Endodontics.

“I am profoundly honored and grateful to be named a Revere Scholar,” said Filipinni. “This is a special moment in my career where my passion for translational research and mentoring was recognized and celebrated. It reinforces my dedication to conducting research and providing mentorship that not only enhances clinical care but also promotes a more holistic understanding of our patients, fosters critical inquiry, and advances collective progress.”

Since joining VCU School of Dentistry in 2023, Filippini has served as a mentor to students as the director of the Pre-Doctoral Endodontics Clinic and made waves within the department’s research efforts.

She received her D.D.S. and MSc in Endodontics from Lutheran University of Brazil and her Ph.D. from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul- University of Toronto. 

Filippini’s research is centered on the expression, neurobiology and treatment of dental pain, with a strong emphasis on mouse behavior as a translational tool in preclinical models. She aims to develop non-opioid therapeutic strategies by investigating neuroimmune interactions within the trigeminal system, particularly the roles of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and glial activation in modulating pain responses. This reflects one of the most urgent challenges in oral health and pain management today. 

Filippini received the VCU Quest grant in 2024 for her research project, “Development and Validation of a Model of Dental Pain-Induced Behavioral Depression in Mice”, a collaborative effort with VCU School of Medicine’s Steve Negus, Ph.D.. This ongoing project aligns mice' naturalistic behaviors with human pain metrics. 

“My research is clinician-driven and translational, designed not only to advance scientific discovery but also to ensure that these insights are integrated into everyday dental practice,” said Filippini. “By bridging basic science with clinical relevance, I aim to empower dental professionals to recognize and treat pain more effectively—considering not just the biological mechanisms, but also the emotional, behavioral, and social dimensions of the patient experience.”

This project has already generated data for a manuscript in preparation and supported an R21 grant submission to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, which proposes a translational research platform integrating both preclinical and clinical components.

Filippini and Negus also initiated a collaboration with Dr. Peter Hamilton from VCU Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology to explore the neurobiological and emotional dimensions of dental pain.

For Filippini, being an oral health care provider and researcher is about helping others. As an endodontist, she said that the most rewarding aspect of the job is to alleviate others’ pain.

“I chose to become an endodontist because I find deep meaning in the ability to remove pain with my own hands. There’s something profoundly human about being able to intervene directly and offer relief—often instantly—to patients in distress,” said Filippini.

Filippini finds motivation in three main subjects: the patients, her collaborators and mentors, and the students she teaches. Helping others through clinical care is not a solo effort, but one that requires a team and learning from each other every day, in and out of the clinics. Passing on knowledge of both clinical skills and patient care to her students is another particularly rewarding aspect of her job.

“They remind me that excellence is not just about outcomes—it’s about example, empowerment, and transformation,” said Filippini. “I feel genuinely happy when I see them develop critical thinking grounded in scientific evidence. Watching them move from memorizing facts to truly understanding concepts—and feeling free to question, explore, and apply what they’ve learned—is deeply rewarding.”