I had an interesting experience a few years back when I was diagnosed with cancer, and because of anunpredictable future,I retired from dentistry. However, through the grace of God, I am eightyears in remission and healthier than ever.
This leave of absence from dentistry taught me much about myself. My love of my profession gives me purpose in my life, and over the years I have found that the most rewarding part of dentistry is the relationships that grow with my patients.
My philosophy in treating dental patients is to treat each and every patient as if they were a member of my family. What would I do that tooth if this were my mothers? In fact, my patients are like family to me and I truly value the friendships we have built.
One of the most incredible things about my profession is the rapid change in science and technology. Through a wide variety of continuing education, I am able to stay abreast of these developments and evaluate their respective strengths and weaknesses. This ongoing training ensures Iofferpatients the bestcare and treatment options.
I was raised in the Northern California area and have called Chico my home for more than 30 years. My wife Kathy and I have been married for three decades and have two adult children, both of whom live and work in Chico. I am proud to have our daughter, Katie,as a part of ourdental hygiene team: She is one of our highly skilled hygienists here at Forest Avenue Dental.
Her favorite part of her job is hearing all of the wonderful compliments and comments from patients about how enjoyable their dental experience was with Dr. Walker and his team. How he has a rare quality of making everyone feel as if they were family. 'Everyone here is the true meaning of the word TEAM.'
In her spare time, Kari enjoys playing golf, bowling, traveling, and most of all spending time with her son and daughter-in-law in Oregon. She has a cute little dog, Brody, who she says is very spoiled and very loved.
Denise really enjoys working with Dr. Walker and his team. She loves meeting her wonderful patients, getting to know them, and becoming their friends. She sets up the treatment rooms, and prepares the patients for treatment, thenexplains what will happen during their procedure.
Her family keeps her busy outside of work. She and her husband Mike were married in 2002. They have two amazing sons, Jayson and Bentley. They love swimming, camping, house boating, and watching Jayson play baseball with the Chico Aces. They also enjoy time with their family, which is spread across the US.
Rosalba loves helping her patients get over their fear of dentistry. Its rewarding to help people have pleasant, worry-free visits and get to know them on a personal level. When someone thanks her at the end of a procedure, she is thrilled! She assists Dr. Walker in the back office: working during procedures and supporting our patients.
Vanessa began her dental career in 2009, with previous experience assisting in orthodontics and periodontics. Now at Forest Avenue Dental, Vanessa works alongside Dr. Walker, assisting him during procedures and ensuring patient comfort. Prior to beginning any work, she explains the procedure and answers any questions our patients may have to help them feel at ease.
Outside of work, Vanessas family keeps her very busy. She and her husband have four human children and two fur children. She is a part of a large Mexican-American family and therefore is fluent in Spanish. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys spending time with family, traveling, going on hikes, and riding her bike.
Katie was born and raised in Chico. She attended Pleasant Valley High School and studied Public Health at Chico State. She received her dental hygiene degree and Diode Laser certification from Taft College in 2017.
Katie found her calling to the dental field whileworking in her father's dental practice throughout high school and college. She is thrilled to work with her father in helping the people ofher community achieve beautiful healthy smiles! She enjoys educating patients on how to maintain a healthy mouth.
Keleigh began her career as a dental hygienist in 2008 and recently joined the Forest Avenue Dental team. Her goal is to provide the best prevention methods and treatment options for gum disease, as well as educate her patients on oral hygiene and the effects of nutrition and oral health. She enjoys forming relationships with her patients and working together with them to achieve optimal oral health.
Keleigh is married with one stepson and two grandchildren who are the light of her life. She and her husband love to camp, ride Quads and spend their days on Lake Oroville. Her favorite time of year is football seasonshe loves the Miami Dolphins!
For Dr. Gary Walker and the Forest Avenue Dental team, dentistry is more than caring for teeth. Each of us thrives on the connections we build with our patients, and we treateveryone with the same care and attention we offer our family members.
All the leading-edge options also run in sync with our commitment to old-fashioned customer service. Here, we combine a patient-centered approach with state-of-the-art processes. You will always know we genuinely care about you and want only the best for you:the best health, the happiest life, and the most incredible smile!