Dr. Biggs was born and raised in the Detroit, Metropolitan area. Her interest in dentistry was cultivated at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. When Dr. Biggs decided to pursue her love for Dentistry, she traded in her Wolverine jersey for a Terrapin, to attend the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore. Her educational pursuits did not stop there. She left for New York City to strengthen her dental knowledge and clinical skills at St. Marys General Practice Residency. While practicing as a general dentist and enjoying her life in New York City, she realized she had a love for children and a passion for nurturing healthy smiles. Dr. Biggs decided to pursue specialty studies in Pediatric Dentistry at New York University. Upon graduation, she worked for two well known Pediatric and Family Dental practices.
After practicing for several years in New York, Dr. Biggs found her way back to her beginnings in the mid-Atlantic region. The calm and tranquil environment of Northern Virginia allowed Dr. Biggs to pursue her dreams of becoming a practice owner. Although she is a trained specialist in the care of oral health problems, her philosophy is centered in preventive care. It is her most sincere wish that the children she treats will practice preventive strategies on their journey to a perfect smile. She is dedicated to professional development and attends continuing education courses on the latest advancements in dentistry. Additionally, Dr. Biggs is proud to be a faculty member at Childrens National Medical Center.
Dr. Tingling was born on the beautiful sunny island of Jamaica, but shortly thereafter relocated to the cold winters of Michigan! The move was prompted by her fathers educational pursuit to become an Orthodontist at The University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. Her mother became a dental hygienist when Dr. Tingling was in high school. After her completion of an undergraduate degree from the Big House, Dr. Tingling surprised everyone and followed the path of her DNA, by becoming a dentist!
She then traded the cold winters of Ann Arbor for the bright lights of New York City! She was a fellow of General Dentistry at the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, for 2 years. It was her exposure there that led her to pursue a specialty degree in Pediatrics. She completed her Pediatric Dentistry Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital- New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell, Bronx, New York. Her genuine love of children is evidenced by the arduous tasks she completed, to enable her to treat them exclusively. She likes practicing dentistry, but LOVES rendering care to children!
Dr. Tingling came to Virginia to be closer to her family and friends in the Mid- Atlantic region She looks forward to exploring the Atlantic coast, the Washington DC sights, the beaches and nearby Mountains; all the best that the DMV has to offer. She enjoys traveling, reading, tea parties, and most importantly- making the dental experience for children AWESOME!
Elizabeth was a member of the US Air Force for ten years before deciding to change career paths and join the dental field. Through several deployments, she witnessed firsthand the lack of dental care available to children and knew she wanted to help make a difference. The doctors invited her to full-time employment upon reception of her Associates of Health Science and Diploma in Dental Assisting. After 2 years of assisting the doctors, her passion for administrative work led her to a new position at Destination Smile as Office Manager. Her attention to detail, commitment to excellent service and broad range of dental knowledge are essential in providing the best dental care for our patients. Elizabeth enjoys the outdoors and spends her spare time staying active with her son and dog.
Lidia worked as a court interpreter for eight years in Virginia before deciding it was time for a new and rewarding career. Lidia enjoys working with people and decided the dental field would be a great opportunity to apply her qualities of patience and kindness. Working with children has made her new career path fun and exciting! In her free time, Lidia enjoys being with family and friends and traveling to new places.
Faith grew up in Northern Virginia and after graduating high school, left Virginia to pursue her education. She attended Fayetteville Technical College where she studied Business Administration and Human Resources. Faith shares with us over thirteen years of both administrative and customer service experience. Her outgoing personality, enthusiasm and welcoming smile are the perfect addition to our team. Faith enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, and traveling to the Outer Banks during her spare time.
Having spent her adolescence in a small town in Northern Virginia, Tracee decided to move to the metropolitan area for more opportunities. Although she has a degree in Cosmetology, she decided to begin a career in dentistry. Once she graduated and became a dental assistant, she knew working with children was where her heart was. She joined the Destination Smile family in 2012. In her spare time she enjoys photography and spending time with her friends and family. In the future, she hopes to start a non profit organization for kids.
Leah was born and raised in Virginia. Her love for children started when she was in high school and would nanny for families in her neighborhood. After graduating high school she pursued her dream of becoming a cosmetologist and obtained her licenses. Shorty after having her daughter she decided it was time to seek opportunity in a more rewarding career that would allow her more time to watch her child grow up. Leah was introduced to dentistry through a family member who has worked in the industry for over 10 years. She attended dental assisting school knowing that she wanted to help children in the pursuit to a beautiful healthy smile.
Jamie finished her Dental Assistant program at the Metropolitan Institute of Health and Technology in April 2011. Shortly thereafter, she welcomed her sweet baby girl to her family. Jamie continued to work as a preschool teacher for about two more years before pursuing dental assisting for a general dentist and periodontist. While she loved every minute of it, she truly missed working with children! She found her home at Destination Smile and shares the passion in teaching children good oral health habits to preserve a healthy smile. Jamie is a fun-loving, very excitable person who enjoys the outdoors, hiking, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with her beautiful daughter!
Pouneh has been in the dental field since 2004. She began her career working with children of all ages as an assistant in a pediatric dental practice and continues to enjoy making visits to the dentist as comfortable and fun as possible for kids. Patients adore her enthusiasm and contagious smile, while the staff loves her helpful attitude and dedication. During her years of employment as an assistant, Pouneh studied Art and Visual Technology and received her Bachelors degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She enjoys showing off her artistic ability by designing and painting childrens murals in other dental offices in the area. Pouneh enjoys being with friends in her spare time and traveling to places shes never seen.
Born in the Midwest, Kara ONeil has spent much of her adult life traveling around the United States and Europe. Before moving to Europe, Kara worked with children with disabilities. She loves interacting with children and her experiences have inspired her to become involved in community projects. Kara has led several community groups and worked as a substitute teacher at the military school in Baumholder, Germany. She helped establish a functional Family Readiness Group in her husbands military unit which provided support for the soldiers' wives and families during deployments. Upon returning to the states, Kara found another outlet for her talents in helping the Destination Smile family grow. She takes great pleasure coordinating community projects and health care for children with the doctors of Destination Smile.
