Bio
Most 5th graders attend career day dressed as policemen, firemen, astronauts, and ballerinas. Melissa went as a dentist. She wore a lab coat and had a mirror and a probe in her pocket. The other children mocked her, but Melissa did not pay them any attention. Her mind was made up; she was going to be a dentist.
Melissa always had a knack for science. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley provided a world of opportunity. However, Melissa opted to explore her world with a microscope and chemistry set instead. During these years, Melissa came to understand the benefits of precision and perfection and learned that she wanted to combine those with her desire to help others. She did get out of the house during her formative years by running track, skiing, wheel-throwing pottery and playing the piano.
In college, Melissa satisfied her “wander-lust” by studying abroad in Israel for her Junior year, and completed her college education at the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Biology and a minor in Biochemistry. Melissa then went on to study Dentistry and Health Administration concurrently at the University of Southern California. She attained her Certificate in the Management of Ambulatory Care Systems in 2000 and her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2001.
Melissa was interested in gaining as much knowledge as possible in order to treat her patients with the highest level of care. To that end, she completed a one year General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Hospital in West Los Angeles. Melissa then entered private family practice and taught as part-time faculty at USC in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences.
In her never-ending quest to accrue more student loans, Melissa decided to once again embark on expanding her knowledge base. With a 6 month old baby boy, Melissa started an Endodontic (root canal) residency at USC. Two weeks after graduating in 2005 as a specialist, she had her second baby boy.
Since graduating her Endodontic residency, Melissa has worked in private practice and teaches both a didactic and hands-on Endodontic course to the Residents at both the West LA and Sepulveda Veteran’s Hospitals. Melissa, mother to two boys, is excited to work with Alon, merging Endodontics with Family and Esthetic dentistry.
Melissa always had a knack for science. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley provided a world of opportunity. However, Melissa opted to explore her world with a microscope and chemistry set instead. During these years, Melissa came to understand the benefits of precision and perfection and learned that she wanted to combine those with her desire to help others. She did get out of the house during her formative years by running track, skiing, wheel-throwing pottery and playing the piano.
In college, Melissa satisfied her “wander-lust” by studying abroad in Israel for her Junior year, and completed her college education at the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Biology and a minor in Biochemistry. Melissa then went on to study Dentistry and Health Administration concurrently at the University of Southern California. She attained her Certificate in the Management of Ambulatory Care Systems in 2000 and her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2001.
Melissa was interested in gaining as much knowledge as possible in order to treat her patients with the highest level of care. To that end, she completed a one year General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Hospital in West Los Angeles. Melissa then entered private family practice and taught as part-time faculty at USC in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences.
In her never-ending quest to accrue more student loans, Melissa decided to once again embark on expanding her knowledge base. With a 6 month old baby boy, Melissa started an Endodontic (root canal) residency at USC. Two weeks after graduating in 2005 as a specialist, she had her second baby boy.
Since graduating her Endodontic residency, Melissa has worked in private practice and teaches both a didactic and hands-on Endodontic course to the Residents at both the West LA and Sepulveda Veteran’s Hospitals. Melissa, mother to two boys, is excited to work with Alon, merging Endodontics with Family and Esthetic dentistry.
