Shelly
Dental Hygienist
“I enjoy being given the opportunity to improve people’s smiles and confidence. I want to focus on prevention and helping patients lead healthier lives.”
Shelly was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She wanted fulfilling work, so she pursued dentistry and in 2014, she became a hygienist. She particularly enjoys spending one-on-one time with patients to build a foundation of trust, alleviate their nervousness and fear, and educate them about their oral health.
When she is away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend; their two cats, Finn and Sawyer; and Labrador/Husky mix, Tango. She enjoys traveling, listening to live music, cooking, and eating.
Mayra
Dental Assistant
The ability to help people smile again and feel confident makes Mayra’s career as a dental assistant enjoyable. She became a dental assistant in 2005, and she maintains a fresh perspective by looking for ways to challenge herself in the role.
Mayra was born in San Bernardino, CA and raised in Mexico. As a resident of the Portland area, she enjoys spending time with her husband, walking along scenic trails, and going to movies.
Alisha
Dental Assistant
Alisha has been a dental assistant since 2012. She chose the profession because she likes helping people. And that’s what she enjoys most about her job—helping patients get the smile they’ve always wanted. The teamwork among her co-workers and her love for dentistry motivate her to come to work each day.
A native of Port Angeles, Washington, Alisha particularly likes the Portland area because the beach isn’t too far away and there are lots of outdoorsy things to do. When she is not at work, Alisha enjoys reading, hiking, concerts, and hanging out with friends.
Laura
Dental Assistant
Laura’s goals are to help patients have a healthy, beautiful smile and ensure they are comfortable during treatment. She enjoys staying informed about new dental technology. Helping patients to have a healthy smile motivates her to come to work each day.
Laura was born in Mexico but raised in Oregon. She attended Concorde Career College in Portland and became a dental assistant in 2006.
When she is not in the office, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, and reading.
Steven
Dental Lab Manager
“The best part about what I do is helping someone to smile again. I’ve met patients that hadn’t smiled for most of their life until they came to us. The positive change we make in their lives is very satisfying.”
Although he is originally from Huntsville, AL, Steven refers to Portland as “the only place that I’ve ever felt like I belong.” He earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from Portland State University.
Steven has been a dental lab manager since 2015. He has a background in art and science, and he is skilled with his hands. Steven adds, “I applied somewhat randomly for a job at a dental lab, and the rest is history.” His primary focus is on digital dental restorations, which are designed in 3D modeling software and milled for greater accuracy and consistency.
Steven and his wife married in 2017. He enjoys rugby, music, and food.
Katie
Operations Manager
“I am motivated to help people with treatment questions, insurance, and billing. The trust and respect that our team has for one another in the office is a great feeling, and being a support for them is extremely motivating.”
Katie grew up on the Oregon Coast and has lived in the Portland area since graduating college from Portland State University. She enjoys the Portland area for its beautiful outdoors and clean air and water.
Although Katie received a degree in graphic design, she began working in the dental field right out of college. Her first assignment included filing paper charts. She progressed to a patient care coordinator position and eventually into management. Watching the transformation that happens from the first visit to the final appointment is her favorite part about her job.
Katie and her husband, Chio have a son, Kamron. They have a cat and an adopted dog, Jack. When she is not in the office, Katie enjoys long day trips and weekends with her family, camping, gardening, running, skiing, and other sports.
Robin
Hygiene Care Coordinator
Before working at Optima Dental, Robin was Dr. Saleh’s patient. Her smile transformation changed the way she felt about herself. She says, “Coming to this office as a patient was such a joy for me that when the opportunity came for me to work here, I was immediately excited about it. This is a great team of people and while we take our jobs seriously, we also have a lot of fun together.”
Robin grew up in Massachusetts but has been living in the Portland area since 2008. She loves the area because it’s a short drive to mountains, the coast, and the desert. There’s always something to explore.
In her leisure time, Robin enjoys spending time with her husband, Cody, and camping, hiking, and traveling. They have a dog, Grover and two cats, Cheeseburger and Yzma.
Anastasia
Patient Care Coordinator
Anastasia was born in Kherson, Ukraine, and her family moved to Portland when she was four years old. She loves the Pacific Northwest for its mountains, coastlines, and evergreens.
In 2000, Anastasia began working as a patient care coordinator in a small dentistry practice. She fell in love with seeing patients’ lives transformed through dentistry. At Optima Dental, she enjoys being part of an office that is carefully patient-oriented and truly makes a difference in patients’ lives. She also finds it rewarding to get to know patients, support them through the journey of their smile transformation, and watch as their oral health improves and their confidence skyrockets!
In addition to spending time with her husband and daughter, Anastasia enjoys cooking, hiking, and camping. She is fluent in Russian.
Andrew
Online Marketing Manager
As a kid, Andrew liked pulling out his own primary teeth as they loosened. He later decided to find a career in dentistry where he could work in a clean clinical environment, be involved in creating a better smile for patients, and see them immediately become more confident and happy. At Optima Dental, Andrew is proud to be part of a team that is working towards one common goal. He says, “Each of us plays a crucial role in not just our own success, but the patient’s too.”
Born and raised in Portland, Andrew enjoys the area because it’s in close proximity to popular attractions and has a wide variety of things to do. He attended Portland Community College and The Tech Academy.
His leisure activities include attending automotive events, watching The Office, trying new restaurants, and his lifelong passion, Formula-1 racing.