WOODSTOCK, VA, December 23, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Anthony T. Vernillo has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Vernillo has established a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years, marked by significant contributions to oral pathology, radiology, oral medicine and bioethics. Since 2015, he has held the title of Professor Emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology and Medicine at the College of Dentistry at New York University. In this capacity, Dr. Vernillo has continued to share his expertise with colleagues and students, maintaining an active presence in academic circles even after his formal retirement from full-time teaching. Upon his retirement from NYU College of Dentistry, a Bioethics lecture series was founded in his name.

From 2016 to 2017, Dr. Vernillo served as a bioethics consultant for the PEARL Practice-Based Research Network. In this role, he provided guidance on ethical considerations in dental research and practice, drawing upon his extensive background in both clinical dentistry and bioethics.

Between 2007 and 2016, Dr. Vernillo was an ethics consultant at the New York Veterans Administration Harbor Health Care in Manhattan. His responsibilities included advising on complex ethical issues in patient care, supporting healthcare professionals in navigating challenging situations, and ensuring that patient rights and well-being remained central to clinical decision-making.

Dr. Vernillo was also affiliated with the NYU School of Global Public Health as cross-appointed faculty from 2014 to 2015 and with the Center for Bioethics as affiliated faculty from 2008 to 2015. These appointments allowed him to contribute to interdisciplinary education and research initiatives, furthering the integration of bioethics into public health and dental curricula.

His tenure as professor at the College of Dentistry at New York University from 1984 to 2015 stands as a cornerstone of his professional journey. With over one hundred reviewed publications and lecturing throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Dr. Vernillo developed a reputation for excellence in teaching and mentoring countless students who have gone on to make their own marks in dentistry and related fields. He is most proud of his outstanding teaching record, which has earned him recognition and accolades within his profession, including New York University's highest award for teaching, the Gold Medal for Teaching Excellence. His passion for education not only came naturally but also opened doors for further study in bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. While he found fulfillment in patient care and research, Dr. Vernillo considers his work as an educator to be the highlight of his career, a testament to his dedication and effectiveness in shaping future generations of dental professionals.

Dr. Vernillo's academic achievements have been instrumental in shaping his expertise and influence within the field of dentistry. He received a Master in Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, which deepened his understanding of ethical issues in healthcare and informed his later consulting roles. He completed a residency in oral pathology at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics (now The University of Chicago Medical Center), receiving a certificate from its oral and maxillofacial pathology residency program in 1979. This advanced training provided a strong foundation for his subsequent academic appointments.

In addition, in 1984, Dr. Vernillo served as a postdoctoral research associate in cell biology at Yale School of Medicine, further honing his research skills. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Chicago, awarded in 1982, reflecting his commitment to scientific inquiry and critical thinking, qualities that have defined his approach throughout his career. He received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in 1977 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from New York University in 1972.

Dr. Vernillo attributes his success to persistence, a refusal to give up when faced with challenges, a love for lifelong learning, an openness to growth at any age and an open-minded approach to new opportunities. His initial interest in scientific inquiry and critical thinking led him toward graduate studies after dental school, where he sought to combine research with clinical dentistry. Inspired by intellectual challenges and opportunities to contribute both scientifically and educationally, he gravitated toward teaching. This path allowed him to mentor future dental professionals while integrating science, clinical dental practice, medicine, and ethics into their education.

Beyond academia and clinical practice, Dr. Vernillo has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to community service, first realized in East Africa (Tanzania) mentoring a group of dental students providing care (outreach programs) under the auspices of Miracle Corners of the World (MCW). During the early years of the AIDS epidemic, while living in Brooklyn, New York, he played an important role in educating patients and dental hygiene students about HIV/AIDS and oral health. Collaborating with local organizations, he worked tirelessly to raise awareness about disease prevention and management while highlighting the vital role dental hygiene students play in patient care.

Now retired in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, Dr. Vernillo remains active within his community by participating in his church's local food pantry and volunteering at the University of Virginia as a mentor for medical students. His ongoing goal is to educate, support and uplift those around him, values that have guided both his professional endeavors and personal interactions. He also enjoys farming, working in his greenhouse gardening and growing vegetables, and participating in the local county fair.

In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Vernillo enjoys traveling, shopping locally, visiting neighbors, appreciating nature, taking cruises and spending time with his cat and dog. Looking ahead, he plans to fully embrace retirement by relaxing through travel—especially cruises—and exploring destinations throughout the southern United States while remaining open to consulting opportunities or academic engagement should they arise.

Dr. Vernillo's career reflects exceptional expertise across oral pathology, radiology, oral medicine, and bioethics, fields in which he has achieved notable distinction through scholarship, mentorship, and service.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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