I started at Unity Care NW (formerly known as Interfaith Community Health Center) as a dental hygienist in September 1998, after graduating with an AAS degree in Dental Hygiene from Lake Washington Technical College. My story really began here in November 1995, when I came to work as a dental assistant part-time while preparing to go to dental hygiene school. My circumstance of needing a part-time dental job while attending college brought me to community health, where I discovered my passion wasn’t just working on people’s teeth, but in helping the overall health of the whole community.
I especially love working with children. A large part of my job is going to all of the elementary and middle schools in Whatcom County, where I work with a dental assistant to apply sealants and fluoride to over a thousand children’s teeth annually. In 2015, I participated in the Washington State Smile Survey, visually screening thousands of Whatcom County children, ages 3 to 11. During my many years working at UCNW, I have performed dental presentations to daycare and elementary school classes, dental hygiene classes, and WIC social workers.
When I work in the clinic, i enjoy utilizing all of my dental hygiene sills, including traditional hygiene, anesthesia, and restorative. I love the opportunity I have to work with our entire dental team to provide high-quality services while trying to make them as fun and easy as possible!