Meet Our Doctors

There is value in remembering your roots and reconnecting with the core beliefs that guide you. For me, returning to my hometown has enabled me to grow. I was born and raised in West Linn, graduating from West Linn High School in 1997. While completing a degree in Biology and Chemistry from The University of Oregon, I had the privilege to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador. My Spanish skills have waned over the years, but my love for travel and embracing new cultures is still strong. A break between undergraduate and graduate school allowed me more time to work multiple jobs, travel and play, while spending a ski season in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was there that I met and fell in love with my lifelong partner, Andrew.

During my fourth year of dental school, I had the opportunity to travel to Northern India with a medical and dental team through Himalayan Health Exchange. We trekked among the highaltitude villages of the Himalayan mountains and set up mobile clinics, treating a myriad of illnesses. This trip ignited my passion to begin my dental career in public health. After completing dental school at Oregon Health Sciences University in 2007, I accepted a scholarship with the National Health Service Corp and we moved to Maine. I worked at a community health center in Farmington, while Andrew continued his graduate studies in Forestry at The University of Maine. Living in New England lent itself to many adventures and getting to know the beautiful cities and towns in the surrounding areas.

We moved back to Oregon in 2009, where I began to work for Permanente Dental Associates and Andrew started his career in property management. We welcomed our first son a year later, Camden (now 14), and then had two daughters, Cora and Cassidy (11 and 9). Even though our careers demand a lot of time, we prioritize family. We built a multi-generational home on our small farm in Oregon City. Our children are growing up alongside their grandparents, which creates invaluable opportunities and memories. You can find us skiing during the winter months (when the kids aren’t playing basketball) and camping during the summer.

My life experiences have given me the ability to be adaptable in my 17 years of practice. I am accepting of the different walks of life that an individual may travel. I have learned empathy and compassion. I understand the patient’s perspective because I have been a patient myself, facing difficult medical decisions. Being a patient is a vulnerable place to be. However, the support of kind and knowledgeable providers makes it better. This is why I do what I do. I am here to partner with you, share my knowledge, and look out for your best interest. I am an encouraging leader and promise to take care of you in the most honest and caring way that I know. This quote from the Dalai Lama has stayed with me for decades and continues to be my mantra, “Be kind whenever possible, because it is always possible to be kind.” I look forward to meeting you!