At the young age of 11, Sha-Vashtiy Young-Ufeli, DMD, aspired to become an exceptional dentist. Dr. Young-Ufeli has a rich family legacy of healthcare professionals, which has inspired her to become a change agent in the field of dentistry as a public health advocate for the underserved.
Dr. Young-Ufeli graduated cum laude from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. Dr. Young-Ufeli has always had a strong passion for dental health promotion and has held many leadership roles such as President of Spelmans Chapter of Operation SMILE, a medical-mission based organization empowering healthcare professionals to aid in the relief of disadvantaged populations in desperate need of cleft lip and palate surgery. She received a scholarship to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Young-Ufelis passion for dentistry did not miss a beat during her academic career while attending Tufts Dental School. Her drive led her to frequently attend annual medical and dental conferences such as Student National Dental Association (SNDA) and she was elected a two-year position at the Diversity Chairman for the Tufts SNDA Chapter. She hopes to one day start a nonprofit for mentoring pre-dental students interested in the field.
Dr. Young-Ufeli became well-versed in the field of dentistry by attending several dental summer pipeline programs throughout high-school and college such as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program at Case Western University in Cleveland Ohio, the Dental Career Exploration Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and Increasing Diversity in Dentistry Pipeline Program in Atlanta, Georgia to name a few.
Dr. Young Ufeli enjoys community outreach programs. Her favorite form of volunteering involves educating communities on preventative dental medicine as well as giving oral presentations to minorities interested in the dental field.
Dr. Young-Ufeli is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She is a proud member of the Eta Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Young-Ufeli enjoys reading dental articles in her spare time and staying current on the newest dental trends in the field. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, and nature. She loves the great outdoors, especially with friends and family.
Dr. McDowell grew up in Fairburn, Georgia. She went to dental school under the HSCP Navy Dental Corp Scholarship. Once she graduated dental school, she became a commissioned officer (lieutenant) in the United States Navy. She served one year in Norfolk, Virginia, for her credentialing tour residency and three years at Parris Island, South Carolina. Beyond her passion for dentistry, Dr. McDowell enjoys spending time with her family. She has quite a rambunctious household with two daughters (Mariah and Michelle) and two sons (Tristan and Tyler).
Dr. McDowell has volunteered at public health clinics when she was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. There, she helped educate and provide dental awareness to the community on various topics in dentistry. She volunteers annually for National Childrens Dental Health Month, where she helps to educate children about the importance of proper dental care.
Dr. McDowell enjoys learning about different techniques and products in dentistry, cooking new recipes with her family, listening to live music (Pre-COVID), bike riding, and cheering on her children in various sports and arts.
Dr. Rios chose dentistry as her career path because of her love of art and science. She is always striving to keep learning and has completed numerous hours of continuing education on cosmetic dentistry and implants. She recently completed the Esthetic Continuum at the Nash Institute learning from pioneers in the field. She believes her greatest strengths are her confidence, empathy, and personal touch when it comes to patient care.
Dr. Rios is an Atlanta native who recently moved back to her hometown after practicing in Durham, North Carolina. She is passionate about her family, serving her community and is fluent in English and Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys reading self-development books, traveling, and exercising. She loves the outdoors and trying new restaurants on the weekends!
I was inspired to become a dentist by my orthodontist, Michigans first African-American orthodontist, Dr. John P. Egan. The happiness I gained from having my teeth corrected has contributed to my goal of improving the smiles of others. Dr. Atherton
A practicing dentist of 30 years, Dr. Atherton has extensive experience in dentistry and in owning her own successful private dental practice. While in dental school, she participated in a dental internship at the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, took dental education courses in Provo, Utah, and was awarded membership in the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) as well as the Wolverine Dental Society in Detroit.
While a senior in dental school, she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Following dental school graduation, she attained the rank of Captain and was stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, where she served in the Dental Corps for three years. While at Patrick A.F.B., she served as a readiness officer and produced programs on dental health for children of service members.
Following her service time in the Air Force, Dr. Atherton developed her clinical abilities in dental practices in eastern Florida, Michigan she returned following her marriage and Virginia. Dr. Atherton opened her own successful private practice in Blacksburg, Virginia, which she operated for 12 years. Yearning for a return to urban life, Dr. Atherton sold her Virginia practice in 2019 and moved with her husband to Roswell, Georgia.
While in Virginia, Dr. Atherton participated in many community-based dental screening programs, working with Dental Aid Partners of the New River Valley and the Colgate Bright Futures, Bright Smiles Dental Van, which partnered with the Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Inc.
Dr. Atherton was born and educated in Detroit, Michigan. She and her husband have two college-aged children and three parakeets. She is an active member of the Link Incorporated Inc. community service organization. Dr. Athertons interests include playing piano, attending concerts, traveling, and beautifying her home, a never-ending process.