Rebecca Schaffer , DDS

Dr. Rebecca Schaffer is a faculty member at the University of Arizona, School of Medicine, where she provides clinical and didactic training to fellows in the department of neurology. Formerly, she was a faculty member at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, providing patient care and teaching dentistry to residents and dental students in the university’s Advanced Care Clinic, which provides care for people with disabilities, limited access to care, and special needs. Her area of expertise includes patients with bleeding and connective tissue disorders, chronic pain and complex medical histories. Dr. Schaffer is a board-certified specialist in orofacial pain, and a Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain. Additionally, she owns a private practice in Phoenix.

Dr. Schaffer received her BS in biology from SUNY Binghamton and her DDS from Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine. Upon completing her residency at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Schaffer maintained a mobile practice, caring for people who were homebound, hospitalized, residing in nursing homes, or otherwise unable to seek traditional dental care. She returned to academia after ten years in practice, earning a post-doctoral fellowship in treating people with complex medical problems.

After obtaining her fellowship, Dr. Schaffer continued to work with disabled populations, working in community health centers and directing the mobile dentistry unit for Columbia University, where she served as faculty. After moving to Arizona, Dr. Schaffer served as Dental Director for one of the state’s largest community health centers before opening her practice and assuming her current faculty position.

She has spoken internationally on a variety of topics, including the treatment of people with bleeding disorders, connective tissue disorders, autism, and chronic pain. She served as the North American Delegate to the Dental Committee, World Federation of Hemophilia from 2015 to 2025. She is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, World Federation of Hemophilia, Ehlers-Danlos Society, and Foundation for Women and Girls with Bleeding Disorders. She is currently co-authoring updated guidelines for dental care for people with bleeding disorders for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation.