Formerly Augusta Dental Associates and Augusta Dental Health, Drs. Willis, Taylor, & Podbesek and team now practice under the name Willis & Associates Family Dentistry. Weve been serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley VA with gentle, family-friendly dentistry for over 40 years.
Our team of dentists practice a full range of general and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging from porcelain veneers to dental implants, crowns and bridges. We can literally redesign your smile.
Dr. James Willis is the Founder and CEO of Willis & Associates Family Dentistry. He is instrumental in shaping and overseeing the dental groups growth, strategy and culture. In 2012, Dr. Willis completed the Crozet Family Dental transition and set out to create a patient centered model. His belief in putting patients first is the fundamental to our dental groups core values and patient care delivery model. Ensuring quality training for doctors, placing only the very best materials in patients mouths, and treating patients like family are tenets in his practice model. Dr. Willis believes the dental practice goals are best aligned with patients when the clinics are owned and directed by a dentist leader. He is very passionate about emerging technology and its applications to advance the dental industry.
Having a natural talent for finding and cultivating leadership and growth within people, he has built a first-class dental organization of leaders from the top down. Additionally, under Dr. Williss leadership the dental group has grown rapidly to become one of Virginias fastest growing and most respected organizations. It has received several honors and awards. Some of the more notable ones are being recognized as the first platinum providers in Invisalign as a GP in the Charlottesville/Augusta region, 8 plus back to back year winners of Charlottesville Family Favorite awards, voted top Dentist in Virginia Living magazine, and best Chairside manner awards in Ourhealth.
Dr. Willis is just as dedicated to the community as to its patients. Over time, Dr. Willis has donated to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Young Life Christian Organization, and local schools such as Brownsville Elementary.
Dr. Emery Taylor was born and grew up in Staunton, Virginia. He attended college at Virginia Tech, receiving a bachelor of science degree in biology. From there he went to the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery.
After dental school, Dr. Taylor served as a dental officer in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Hamilton, New York. From there he and his family moved to Crozet, where he founded Crozet Family Dental in September, 1975. Dr. Taylor began working at Willis & Associates Family Dentistryin 2014. 2016marks his 40th year of service as a doctor of dental surgery in central Virginia.
Dr. Brian Podbesek was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. He attended West Virginia University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the honors program, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 2007. Following graduation, he entered West Virginia University School of Dentistry and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2011. Doctor Podbesek then went to the University of New Mexico for a one-year dental residency, where he received additional training in advanced dental procedures, as well as hospital, sedation, pediatric, and implant dentistry. He obtained a certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry upon completion of the program in 2012.
Doctor Podbesek joined the practice in 2014, and is continuing the tradition of high-quality, cosmetic, implant and family dentistry at Willis & Associates: Family Dentistry. He is excited to be working in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and improving the oral health of residents of Augusta County and the surrounding area. Doctor Podbesek is a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association, Shenandoah Valley Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Aside from dentistry, Doctor Podbesek enjoys playing a variety sports and spending time outdoors. He can be found biking, fishing, and camping during the summer, and skiing during the winter months. An avid Mountaineer fan, he enjoys West Virginia sports and attending games whenever possible.