Our Current CDC Leadership Team

Class of 2025

Ingrid Chai

“I had the wonderful opportunity to get involved with a free clinic operation which opened my eyes to the huge gap in healthcare access that exists in our local communities. Serving the underserved is a huge motivation and goal for me, and I’m extremely grateful to be a part of CDC to help serve this mission.”

Susu le

“I joined CDC to help serve, educate, and provide care to those communities who lack the resources necessary to take proper care of their oral and overall health. I am excited to build close relationships with patients I serve through CDC and to learn from their experiences to become a more empathetic provider for my patients in the future.”

Danika Banh

“CDC is a reminder that access to proper oral healthcare and treatment is still a significant barrier in our society today. Coming from a refugee family background and having volunteered with free dental clinics and educational initiatives, I joined CDC to continue working towards mitigating this gap. I look forward to working with our patients and learning from their experiences!”

Danika Banh

“CDC is a reminder that access to proper oral healthcare and treatment is still a significant barrier in our society today. Coming from a refugee family background and having volunteered with free dental clinics and educational initiatives, I joined CDC to continue working towards mitigating this gap. I look forward to working with our patients and learning from their experiences!”

jihee yoon

“CDC offers dental students unique experiences in engaging in a student-run clinic and supporting underserved communities in the Bay Area by providing ongoing treatments to patients without sustained dental care. Working with both student and faculty volunteers of this rewarding and impactful organization is inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to our team’s efforts in improving access to dental care for patients in need.”

Tiffany Yu

“My previous job working at a FQHC made me realize how difficult it was for many members of my community to have affordable access to dental services. I find it very valuable and fulfilling to have this opportunity to provide care to the underserved population in my community. I am very excited to be a part of the CDC team to provide dental care to those that need it the most, as well as to improve myself as a clinician.”

Vy Tran

“Volunteering at a community dental clinic in Minnesota during my undergrad, I witnessed many heartbroken stories and realized the limited access to dental care of people without dental insurance or in underserved communities. Instead of waiting for graduation, CDC allows me to continue serving them during dental school to enhance my experiences and give better treatment people in need.”

Caroline Chen

“My experiences volunteering in a community dental clinic in DTLA not only opened my eyes to large disparities in oral healthcare access but also the lack of emphasis on preventative care. My passion to continue advocating for underserved communities drew me to CDC, and I’m proud to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to prioritizing the needs of all patients.”

Edwin Calzada Nguyen

Bianca romana

“Seeing the immense need for community dentistry as a volunteer at CDA Cares was one of the reasons I switched careers to dentistry. As a Bay Area native, I am passionate about giving back to the community that made me who I am and I am excited for the opportunity to continue doing so at CDC.”

Joseph Kazancioglu

“Growing up, I gained so much from the diversity within my own community and the diverse experiences I was immersed in. Going into dental school, I knew I wanted to care for diverse and deserving populations. CDC allows me the perfect opportunity as I look towards a career in community dentistry and dental public health. I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn from my new community.”

Ashley Wang

“I joined CDC to help provide free dental care to the underserved populations in SF that lack easy access to healthcare. I’m excited to work with my peers in CDC who share similar goals in community dentistry and to build valuable connections with the members of our SF community.”

Darnell Cuylear

“Having witnessed the significant challenges people encounter in accessing dental care due to shortages and financial obstacles during my time in New Mexico, I have developed a deep passion for making a difference. I am now excited to be a part of a community that not only addresses these issues but actively creates pathways for dental care and education. I am grateful to be apart of CDC and I look forward to contributing to the teams efforts in providing care to the community.”

David Forero

“I joined the Community Dental Clinic driven by a deep desire to make a difference. As an immigrant, I've witnessed the invaluable role of community clinics and the positive they can have. My prior experiences in clinical settings have motivated me to continue to support the Spanish-speaking community and all communities in the Bay Area. I'm grateful for CDC's outstanding work in providing free healthcare to those in need, and I'm dedicated to contributing to their mission of ensuring accessible healthcare for all.”

Aly kong

“What drew me to dentistry in the first place was my desire to make immediate, positive change for others, especially for those who lack access to resources. Dentistry to me is an instrument for empowerment. A dentist exercises control but in a way that also returns it forward. CDC allows me to explore my purpose and my passion for both dentistry and community health even as a dental student. As a part of this amazing organization, I hope to make a positive impact on the SF community.”

Allison Biascan

“As an undergraduate student, I was inspired to pursue a career in dentistry after witnessing just how severely lacking access to comprehensive dental care and education is within underserved communities. I joined CDC because I wanted to continue working toward dismantling the barriers to oral healthcare that continue to exist within our society and to learn how to become a better advocate on behalf of our patients in need. I look forward to learning more about our patients' unique backgrounds and hope to create an inclusive space where patients feel they can establish their dental home!”

Youssef Elgawly

“Being able to serve our local communities through CDC is a major part of the reason I pursued dentistry in the first place. I’ve been a part of community service for a very long time now and for the first time, I finally get to contribute from a healthcare perspective! I can’t describe the joy I get from uplifting people, especially the underserved and I’m beyond blessed to be in a position to do so. I look forward to all the people we will help and the impacts we will make!”

Celine Ngo

“After volunteering on a service trip to Vietnam and working as a treatment coordinator in private practice, I quickly learned that the barriers to oral healthcare access, notably cost, were not so different abroad and at home. I joined CDC to learn how to not only tackle these disparities through community dentistry, but also serve and empower members of vulnerable populations, whether it is through education or compassionate and culturally-competent care.”

Alina Huynh

“A major motivator for me in wanting to pursue dentistry was to bridge the systemic barrier facing marginalized community regarding the accessibility and affordability of dental care. Volunteering at a clinic serving the unhoused community, I was able to witness how their lived experiences highlighted an unfulfilled niche within society that served the most vulnerable and underscored the role of dentists as crucial care providers. In joining CDC I hope to contribute to the bridging of healthcare barriers and continue to learn from those of the community as to how I can better accompany them along their journey to reach their dental and healthcare goals.”

Eric Lin

“My interest in community dentistry motivated me to be a part of CDC. My previous experiences working at a nonprofit dental organization showed me firsthand the barriers that limited dental care access to many communities. After listening to the stories of the individuals I have served, I aspire to be a dentist who breaks down obstacles, and CDC enables me to make an impact earlier as a dental student.”

Class of 2025

Ingrid Chai - Director
Susu Le - Co-Director
Angela Lee - EpiC Coordinator
Isabelle Tseng - EpiC Coordinator
Ryan Wilson - Treasurer
Jacqueline Ong - Supplies Coordinator

Class of 2024

Danny Do - Co-Director
Tiff Trat - Co-Director
Stephanie Cho - Project Manager
Wonhee Cho - Axium Coordinator
Rose Hinson - Patient Coordinator
Kairong Lin - Supplies Coordinator
Carolyn Nguyen - Secretary
Stanley Onuegbu - Treasurer

Class of 2023

Alejandra Saenz - Co-Director
Ellysha Sunga - Co-Director
Shreya Shah - Project Manager
Joanna Chua - Secretary
Tiffany Huang - Axium Coordinator
Hanna Nguyen - Faculty Coordinator
Cinthya Tovar - Patient Coordinator
Luan Tran - Treasurer

Class of 2022

Lori Martinez-Rubio - Co-Director
Austen Lucena - Co-Director
Marvin Chen - Project Manager
Theresa Bui - Faculty Coordinator
Camille Loria - Supplies Coordinator
April Martinez - Patient Coordinator
Guadalupe Quintero - Supplies Coordinator

Class of 2021

Amelia Herrera - Co-Director
Kevin Hildebrandt - Co-Director
Lincoln Nguyen - Project Manager
Navi Dhillon - Supplies Coordinator
Kelly Mika Katsura - Faculty Coordinator
Lisa Ngo - Axium Coordinator
Stephanie Shimizu - Secretary

Class of 2020

Angela Chen - Director
Brett Parks - Assistant Director
Avigael Rebecca Lerman - Supplies Coordinator
Michael Nguyen - Treasurer
Victoria Nguyen - Supplies Coordinator
Semantha Yu - Faculty Coordinator

Class of 2019

Arvin Pal - Director
Jaime Chung - Secretary
Jennifer Hofmann - Patient Coordinator
Juliana Ko - Treasurer
Alexander Romash - Supplies Coordinator
Catherine Tang - Supplies Coordinator
Emily Yang - Faculty Coordinator

Class of 2018

Keely Walgama - Director
Mitch Carey - Supplies Coordinator
Tiffany Cheung - Patient Coordinator
Dean Gretzinger - Treasurer
Kyle Kitasoe - Supplies Coordinator
Amin Sarraf - Faculty Coordinator
Valerie Torricos - Secretary

Class of 2017

Caitlyn McGue - Director
Jeff Delagadillo - Treasurer
Brian Lee - Faculty Coordinator
Jasmine Manubay - Axium Coordinator
Jeffrey Pronillof - Supplies Coordinator
Sepi Shafa - Supplies Coordinator
Ruth Yan - Patient Coordinator

Class of 2016

Valentina Zahran - Director
Amin Abdallah - Axium Coordinator
Steven LeRoy - Treasurer
Mindy Li - Faculty Coordinator
Tessa Miller - Secretary
Chris Traxler - Supplies Coordinator
Ricky Vargas - Supplies Coordinator

Class of 2015

Heather Wong - Director
Ozzy Amezcua - Supplies Coordinator
Crystal Chang - Patient Coordinator
Michael Hong - Treasurer
Chris Taehyun Kim - Axium Coordinator
Alexa Navasero - Secretary
Garrett Rubio - Supplies Coordinator

Class of 2014

Ryan Ray Dela Cruz - Director
Pamela Bui - Supplies Coordinator
Kevin McKinney - Axium Coordinator
Jenny Neglerio - Secretary
Alison Parker-Cole - Supplies Coordinator
Dmitriy Pivnik - Treasurer
Stephanie Purnomo - Patient Coordinator

Previous Alumni

Learn more about some of our previous alumni on our alumni interviews page.