My father left his native country of Greece with nothing more than a strong desire to succeed. Once in the United States, he worked in a packinghouse before learning enough English to start and develop a successful restaurant. My parents taught me that through hard work, patience, and perseverance, anything is possible.
I relied on these lessons during my dental hygiene schooling. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of South Dakota in 2002. It was in this capacity that I first experienced the professional satisfaction of being part of a collaborative effort to improve the lives of our patients. While working as a dental hygienist I have gained extensive experience in patient care and how dental offices function.
During my upbringing, my parents would frequently recount to me the hardships they faced in a new country where they were unfamiliar with the customs and the language. This real-world perspective has provided me with a unique insight into the difficulties of those with little access to dental care. My seventeen years of combined professional experience in private, public, education and now administrative work have provided me with countless experiences that have deepened my desire to continue helping all types of demographics. Its been a pleasure working alongside Dr. Dickes as he shares the same mentality and drive that I do. He truly cares about everyone!