EIOH Resident Spotlight - Dr. David Vaccaro
Dr. David Vaccaro III (GenDen ’25) discovered his calling in an unlikely setting – his first-grade classroom – where he boldly pulled out a classmate’s loose tooth using only a tissue and his hands, speeding up the Tooth Fairy’s arrival. That early moment of hands-on care sparked a lifelong interest in dentistry, ultimately bringing him to an AEGD residency at Eastman Institute for Oral Health.
Q: Any presentations, awards or recognitions?
A: UR Star award for excellent treatment, plasma cell gingivitis case presentation at the Oral Medicine conference in May 2025
Q: Why did you choose Eastman?
A: Eastman’s reputation for excellent care and experience precedes itself. This place is a wonderful blend of global knowledge that any clinician can benefit from tremendously.
Q: Best memory of your EIOH residency?
A: Spending time with my co-residents, getting to know them better and learning from them.
Q: In what way did your Eastman experience allow you to grow?
A: Eastman allowed me to expand my skillset in surgery and endodontics far beyond what dental school provided me. Personally, it grew my knowledge of different cultures and gave me an even stronger appreciation for all the beautiful cultures from around the world that are present here at Eastman.
Q: The most important thing you learned in your residency?
A: That empathy can cross any language or cultural barrier.
Q: What are your next steps after graduation?
A: Private practice in Rochester, New York.
Q: Any advice for a new resident?
A: Be a sponge. Absorb as much information as you possibly can both within dentistry and life. You never know who or what you may meet/learn here.
Q: Do you have a motto or favorite saying?
A: “Everything happens for a reason. There is a silver lining to everything, even the most unlikely scenarios.”
Q: Best advice you ever received?
A: You can’t care more than the patient about their own health.
Q: Favorite place you’ve traveled?
A: Italy
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