Our Practice & Team

I am a native of Arizona and am married to Dr. Walker. I have two children who keep me on my toes. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and a Masters in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I have been the office manager at this practice since 1999 and enjoy building lasting relationships with our patients. I always strive to provide excellent service and make all our patients feel relaxed.

What do you do outside of the office?
I enjoy reading, exercising, water sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Who is your hero? Why?
Wonder Woman. She is strong, brave, and noble.

What “lesson from mom” do you still live by?
Value time with friends and family. Value good health – one of the most important things in life. Material items can’t buy happiness.

What flavor ice cream would you be?
I would be coffee because I have lots of energy.

I grew up in a small town in Kansas. We moved to Arizona 3 years ago. We love the sunshine and that we no longer have to shovel snow! I have a teenage son and a little dog that thinks she’s a person.

Why did you choose dentistry?
I have been in dentistry since 1998. Started out as an assistant in a periodontist office. I love how you can change someones life with a smile and how we get to help with that.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is that I get to interact with the patients and form relationships. Seeing them happy and vibrant!

What Aspect of Your Personality Adds the Most Value to the Office?
I am thoughtful, helpful, a good listener and genuinely care about people and their needs.

What do you do outside of the office?
I love to be outdoors, hiking, swimming, exploring. I like to travel, cook, movies, exercise and country dance.

What’s one item from your bucket list?
One thing on my bucket list is traveling to Italy.

Before moving to Arizona, I grew up in Southern California on the beach. I am married with a son and a daughter. I have previously worked in a bank but have wanted to work in dentistry since I was little. I have a real love for dental care and get so excited when I watch someone truly smile!

I was able to train alongside Dr. Walker at Las Vegas Institute and complete all 7 core classes in addition to some advanced dental assisting courses. This has really helped me expand my knowledge and skill set.

What do you do outside of the office?
Outside of the office, I am a spectator for my kid’s sports. I love to hike, watch football, and take a ride on my Harley.

Who is your hero? Why?
My hero is Mrs. Incredible from the movie The Incredibles. She is able to be anywhere and everywhere all at the same time, and does it with grace and a great attitude!

What “lesson from mom” do you still live by?
My mother always told me ‘life isn’t fair.’

What flavor ice cream would you be?
I love all flavors that have to do with birthday cake! It’s always a party!

Why did you choose dentistry?
Since entering dentistry in May of 1998, I have known that this is the vocation where I belong. The desire to serve others made working in the back office of a progressive dental practice as a Certified Dental Assistant very fulfilling.

To continue the learning process in the dental field I entered into the dental hygiene program at Phoenix College. Upon graduation in 2007 I took the opportunity to travel to Guatemala with the Spirit of Education Foundation where I volunteered as a hygienist in a dental clinic.

This gave me further opportunities to hone my skills and provide treatment for many different types of oral diseases. The time spent serving this population in great need was the opportunity of a lifetime.

What is the best quote you’ve ever heard?
“God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy!”

I was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona. My husband (also a native) and I have four amazing children. I have four sisters and three of us have worked in dentistry. Plus, I have a son pursuing a career in the dental field and a niece that works in orthodontics. So you could say this industry runs in the family. I attended Brigham Young University and Phoenix College graduating with a degree as a Registered Dental Hygienist. I have over 20 years experience working as a hygienist in Arizona.

Why did you choose dentistry?
I am motivated in my career as a dental hygienist when I see a patient improving their oral and overall health. I love educating about the benefits of optimal oral health. Do you want to make my day? Tell me you started to floss every day (It only takes a minute!).

What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is working with fantastic people, both my coworkers and our amazing patients.

What do you do outside of the office?
I love to travel with my family and have new experiences. I enjoy seeing different parts of the world, meeting interesting people, and eating yummy foods. I like to read, hike, and watch movies. I am the current Yahtzee record holder in my family with a score of 522.

Who is your hero? Why?
My hero is Jesus Christ. He is there for the masses and for me personally.

What flavor ice cream would you be?
Vanilla! But never plain. Oh, the possibilities of toppings and mix-ins. It is never the same twice but must include chocolate.

I grew up in Arizona for the most part, but moved away right before high school and have lived in nine states and several cities since then. If you add up the years I lived here in the 90s and then the past decade since 2011, I guess you could conclude that I am “from here,” but I do have strong Midwest ties as well.

I met my husband while going to dental assisting school in Utah, which I did for a time before dental hygiene. We’ve been married since 2005and have three school-age children who keep us very busy!

Why did you choose dentistry?
As a teenager, I had braces for four years straight between all the moving we did. I felt like I was always at a dental or orthodontic office, but I never really minded it. I remember asking my hygienist when I was 12 years old if she liked her job, and she GUSHED about it.

When I was home for a semester from college, I got a job working at my family’s dental office as a sterilization and x-ray developing assistant. This office had eight hygienists every day and multiple doctors and assistants, so cleaning instruments and developing x-rays really was a full-time job. I then decided to attend an eight-month dental assisting program in Utah, worked for a couple of years, then moved on to dental hygiene school, completing that in 2010.

I LOVE dental hygiene! I love the patient interaction, the independence, and the work family I get to have at the office.

What is the best part of your job?
I like working with people and their health, and I also enjoy having some flexibility as a parent with a more part-time work schedule. It’s a perfect balance.

What aspect of your personality adds the most value to the office
Living in so many places in my life enabled me to learn how to talk to people on a more personal level, how to strike up a conversation and feel more natural around a “stranger.” I developed a sincere desire for making people feel comfortable around me and hopefully more relaxed since I know what that anxious feeling is like all too well from being in a new place so often.

What do you do outside of the office?
My husband, kids, and I enjoy the outdoors and being active. We love our family time. I am a true soccer mom. We do home projects frequently, and I am always cleaning or organizing something, sso maybe you can understand the other reason dental hygiene works great for me.

What’s the best quote you’ve ever heard
With great power (and knowledge) comes even greater responsibility… “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” – Luke 12:48