Rabie Shanti, MD, DMD

Rabie M. Shanti, DMD, MD, is a fellowship trained and board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Rutgers Health. Dr. Shanti specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck with a special focus on oral (mouth) cancer, benign tumors of the jaws (e.g., ameloblastoma, myxoma), malignant tumors of the jaws (e.g., osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma), and salivary gland tumors. Dr. Shanti also specializes in the evaluation and management of inflammatory conditions of the jaws, such as, osteoradionecrosis (ORN), and medicated related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Dr. Shanti received his undergraduate degree in biological sciences (summa cum laude) from Florida Atlantic University. He obtained his D.M.D. (magna cum laude) from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and his M.D. from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Shanti completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Rutgers Health/University Hospital. Subsequently, he completed a two-year clinical fellowship in head and neck oncologic surgery/microvascular reconstruction at Louisiana State University Health Sciences (Shreveport). He has also completed a two-year research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, which was sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. After completing his fellowship Dr. Shanti joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania where he served as an Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, as well as the Associate Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Service Line. In recognition of his excellence in the clinical care of oncology patients Dr. Shanti was the recipient of the 2019 Physician Award in Relationship-Based Care Nursing Excellence Award, and the 2021 Annual Emil & Lynn Hubschman Award. Both awards are given annually to a single member of the staff of Pennsylvania Hospital, where Dr. Shanti was previously an attending/staff surgeon. In 2022, Dr. Shanti returned to Rutgers University to serve as the Director of Maxillofacial Oncology at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and transition into the role of Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Program. In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Shanti is involved in both clinical and translational research. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He has been the recipient of several research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Osteo Science Foundation, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation for his research initiatives on oral oncology, ameloblastoma, and regenerative medicine. In 2007, he was the corecipient of the Daniel M. Laskin Award for the “most outstanding article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2006.” Additionally, he has also been the recipient of multiple teaching awards for his commitment to the education of surgical residents, including the 2021 AAOMS Faculty Educator Development Award (FEDA).

Publications