EIOH Resident Spotlight - Dr. Rebeca Keegan

Dr. Keegan with her family

When choosing a residency, Dr. Rebeca Vasconcelos Keegan (GenDen ’25, ’24) trusted the recommendations of her NYU colleagues and was drawn to Eastman’s value and reputation. That decision led to years of training, mentorship, and growth she now considers pivotal to her career. She plans to stay in Rochester, hoping to combine part-time clinical practice with a role in academia.

Q: Where are you from?
A: Brazil

Q: Best memory of your EIOH residency?
A: The relationships I built with classmates, faculty, and staff—friendships that will last a lifetime. Another unforgettable experience was visiting the Capitol building in Washington D.C. with Dr. Rasubala for Advocacy Day, where we highlighted the importance of oral health resources. These moments will always be special to me.

Dr. Keegan and Dr. Hans Malmstrom

Q: In what way did your Eastman experience allow you to grow?
A: As a general dentist, I now feel confident and skilled in every aspect of my practice, and I'm much more comfortable performing procedures than I was four years ago. Eastman truly is a gem for anyone eager to grow in dentistry. On a personal level, I've developed greater patience and endurance throughout this journey.

Q: Favorite thing about EIOH?
A: Eastman people are my favorite – patients, colleagues, staff, and faculty. Every day, I learned something new that I can apply to my professional or personal life.

Dr. Keegan and Dr. Ira Kamp

Q: Any advice for new EIOH residents?
A: Listen, be humble, try your best, don’t take anything personal, and enjoy the process – it’s worth it.

Q: What do you love about the Rochester area?
A: My favorite place is Schoen Place by the canal in Pittsford. I also love being near the lakes—especially around The Lake House in Canandaigua—and exploring the wineries. I appreciate the lack of traffic and all the amazing experiences Rochester has to offer for kids.

Q: Other than dentist, what career would you choose?
A: If dentistry weren’t in the picture, you’d probably find me on stage—either acting or singing my heart out.

Q: Last time you were in awe?
A: When I saw the newest member of my family growing strong, preparing to enter this world in June 2025.

Q: Your biggest fear?
A: I’m scared of snakes, sure—but what really gets to me is the thought of not being enough for the ones who matter most to me.

Q: The one thing you can’t live without?
A: The faith I have in God - it grounds me, guides me, and gives me strength.

Q: A person who has inspired you? / Who is your biggest role model in life?
A: My dad—my biggest fan, my loudest cheerleader, and the reason I’ve made it this far.

Publications

1. ZIELINSKI, JM.; KEEGAN, RV.; SANFILIPPO, N.; ALEKSEYENKO, AV., PASTER, BJ,CORBY, PM. Microbial and inflammatory signatures as a predictive biomarker in early progression of oral mucositis in HNC patients. (Paper submitted to Journal of Oral Microbiology - No ZJOM-2024-0014, 2024).
2. ABDALLA-ASLAN R, KEEGAN R, ZADIK Y, YAROM N, ELAD S. Recent advances in cancer therapy-associated oral mucositis. Oral Dis. 2024 Jul 5. doi: 10.1111/odi.14999. PMID: 38968169.
3. ELAD S, KEEGAN RV, FREGNANI ER, GAVISH L, OTTAVIANI G, ARANY P, ZADIK Y. Immediate pain alleviation in oral mucositis and other oral ulcerative diseases through photobiomodulation therapy: the preemptive treatment concept. Quintessence Int. 2024 Apr 15;0(0):0. PMID: 38619258.
4. XU F.; PUSHALKAR, S.; LIN, Z.; THOMAS, S.C.; PERSAUD, J.K.; SIERRA, M.A.; VARDHAN, M.; VASCONCELOS, R.; AKAPO, A.; GUO, Y.; GORDON, T.; CORBY, P.M.; KAMER, A.R.; LI, X.; SAXENA, D. Electronic cigarette use enriches periodontal pathogens. Mol Oral Microbiol. 2022 Apr;37(2):63-76.
5. THOMAS, S.C.; XU, F.; PUSHALKAR, S.; LIN, Z.; THAKOR, N.; VARDHAN, M.; FLAMINIO, Z.; KHODADADI-JAMAYRAN, A.; VASCONCELOS, R. et al. Electronic Cigarette Use Promotes a Unique Periodontal Microbiome. mBio. 2022 Feb 22;13(1):e0007522.
6. XU F.; ABOSERIA, E.; JANAL, M.N.; PUSHALKAR, S.; BEDEROFF, M.V.; VASCONCELOS, R. et al. Comparative Effects of E-Cigarette Aerosol on Periodontium of Periodontitis Patients. Front Oral Health. 2021

Presentations

Oral Presentations:

1. KEEGAN, RV.; ELAD, S. Chronic Stomatitis vs Lichen Planus. In: Central Grand Round. US/Canada Oral Medicine Meeting. 2024.
2. KEEGAN, RV.; ELAD, S. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for Oral Mucositis: Various Management Approaches. In: Central Grand Round. US/Canada Oral Medicine Meeting. 2023
3. CIRLIGEANU R.; KEEGAN, RV,; YANG, R.; MACEDO, H.; MARKONDA, V. . Periapical Cyst. From Diagnosis to Management. In: Central Ground Round/General Dentistry, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2023.
4. BARROS, L; KEEGAN, RV; MONROY, D; REN, Y; RASUBALA, L. Pregnant Women in Dental Emergency. In: American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2022.

Poster Presentations:

1. KEEGAN, RV.; DE MELLO R.; AMORIM, R.; MACEDO, H.; ABREU, R.; BARROS, L.; GASSER, I.; KOTSAILIDI, E.; TZOUMA, K. Internal and External Root Resorptiom Management: A Case Report. In: AEE Annual Meeting. Boston, 2025.
2. SHARAFELDIEN K.; TZOUMA, K. Different applications of guided endodontics.  In: AEE Annual Meeting. LA, 2024.
3. KEEGAN, RV.; ELAD, S. Chronic Stomatitis vs Lichen Planus. In: Oral Medicine Conference, Eastman Institute of Oral Health. April, 2024. 
4. MACEDO, H.; GASSER, I.; KEEGAN, RV.; SHARAFELDIEN K.; TZOUMA, K. Different applications of guided endodontics.  In: AEE Annual Meeting. LA, 2024.
5. MONROY, D.; KEEGAN, RV. et al. Endodontics management oft he Radix Entomolaris: Report oft wo cases. In: AEE Annual Meeting. LA, 2024.
6. KEEGAN, RV.; MONROY, D.; MACEDO, H.; BARROS, L.; CORBY, P. Review of Photobiomodulation for Oral Mucositis: A Dose Analysis. In: American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2023.
7. ELBAAGE, N.; KEEGAN, RV.; MONROY, D.; ELAD, S. Systemic Lupus Erythematous with Oral Manifestation: A Case Report. In: Oral Medicine Conference, Eastman Institute of Oral Health. April, 2023.       
8. BARROS, L., KEEGAN, RV., MONROY, D., MACEDO, H., CORBY, P. Microbial Biomarkers of Oral Mucositis Onset. In: American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2023.
9. MONROY, D.; KEEGAN, RV.; MICHAIL, A.; BARROS, L.; MACEDO, H.; TZOUMA, K. Dens invaginatus type IIIa: Case report. In: AEE Annual Meeting. Chicago, 2023 and American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2023.
10. KEEGAN, RV.; HU, KENNETH, H.; CARROLL, J.; CORBY, P. Dose analysis of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis: a critical review. In: Oral Medicine Conference. EIOH, URMC, Rochester, NY. 2023 (ACKNOWLEGEMENT: BARROS, L., CRUZ, I.; MOTA, H.; VALENTIM, E.).
11. KEEGAN RV.; VITORIA, L.; MATHIAS, C.; RAMALHO, L. (ACKNOWLEGEMENT: RASUBALA, L.; REN, Y.; BARROS, L.; VALENTIM, E.; COELHO, V.). Clinical and histological evaluation of Photobiomodulation therapy in the treatment of Oral Mucositis in an animal model: A Pilot Study. In: Oral Medicine Conference. EIOH, URMC, Rochester, NY. 2022

Awards

1. Excellence in Oral Medicine: Oral Medicine Conference. EIOH, URMC, Rochester, NY. 2024
2. Best poster presentation (Audience choices):  KEEGAN, RV. (presenter); ELAD, S. Chronic Stomatitis vs Lichen Planus. In: Oral Medicine Conference, Eastman Institute of Oral Health. April, 2024.
3. Best poster presentation (Audience and Research choices): KEEGAN, RV. (presenter); HU, KENNETH, H.; CARROLL, J.; CORBY, P. Dose analysis of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis: a critical review. In: Oral Medicine Conference. EIOH, URMC, Rochester, NY. 2023 (ACKNOWLEGEMENT: BARROS, L., CRUZ, I.; MOTA, H.; VALENTIM, E.).
4. Best poster presentation: MONROY, D. (presenter); KEEGAN, RV.; MICHAIL, A.; BARROS, L.; MACEDO, H.; TZOUMA, K. Dens invaginatus type IIIa: Case report. In: AEE Annual Meeting. Chicago, 2023 and American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, URMC, EIOH, Rochester, NY. 2023.
5. Best poster presentation (Audience and Research choices): K EGAN RV. (presenter); VITORIA, L.; MATHIAS, C.; RAMALHO, L. (ACKNOWLEGEMENT: RASUBALA, L.; REN, Y.; BARROS, L.; VALENTIM, E.; COELHO, V.). Clinical and histological evaluation of Photobiomodulation therapy in the treatment of Oral Mucositis in an animal model: A Pilot Study. In: Oral Medicine Conference. EIOH, URMC, Rochester, NY. 2022.