ZAK DENTAL - Key Persons
Great experience! Staff at Zak Dental in San Diego was kind and attentive. I have been getting my teeth cleaned with Lucia for a long time now and she never disappoints. Apart from her great attitude and professionalism, she leaves my teeth looking and feeling amazing! Thank you very much for that!
Job Titles:
- Director of Revenue Cycle Management & Compliance
Alejandra joined the dental field 12 years ago while attending college for child development. It was then when she realized her love and passion for the dental field. Helping others and achieving their perfect smiles is what makes her happy. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her daughters and baking cakes.
Job Titles:
- Dental Administrator, Billing Instructor
- Director of Data, Innovation & Technology
Bianca Koohbanani is an experienced dental administrator, billing instructor, and information technology support specialist. After earning her Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida, she began her medical career in cancer pathology research at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. She left the Sunshine State for the Golden in 2012, and has since dedicated her career towards evolving and embettering the patient-provider experience in the dental field. When she's not managing insurance claims or conducting training, you can find her fishing/playing golf with her Dad on the weekends or snuggling with her small Poodle-Shih Tzu mix, Goldie!
Pleasantly surprised! Taken at appointed time. Zak Dental assistant very friendly, informative. Did a good job re-cementing my temporary. Took me out to the front desk, Made certain I had up-coming appointment. Bid a good day. Nice to be treated as an individual! Thanks.
Dr. Aiham Machhadani graduated from Damascus University in Syria in 1999. He then continued his education at California's Dr. Duggan Study Institute. Dr. Machhadani then continued his education at Columbia University, earning his specialty certification in Endodontics in 1999. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Machhadani has serviced patients in southern California. In his spare time, Dr. Machhadani lives an active life playing soccer and tennis.
My name is Caitlin Harrah, and I am from Norfolk, Virginia. I am excited to now call San Diego home and to join the Zak Dental community. Dentistry is an award profession because of the work we get to do and the connections we're able to make with our patients. It is a privilege to serve you, and I strive to make every appointment as comfortable as possible. Outside of dentistry, I enjoy hiking, running, and spending time with my cat, Blair.
Originally from Orlando, FL, I graduated from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in 2010 and went on to complete a one-year advanced dentistry program at the VA Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. I then returned to Orlando and practiced as an "exodontist" (tooth extraction dentist) at a community clinic in Orlando, FL while growing my own emergency-based dental practice focusing on extractions and IV sedation. After the birth of my son in 2019, my wife and I decided to move to San Diego for a change of scenery and to spend more time outdoors. I now divide my time between my office in Orlando, FL and Dr. Zak Dental Clinics in San Diego, CA. I devote at least 100 hours per year to continuing education focused on oral surgery and the safe administration of IV conscious sedation. I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule and strive to treat all patients with understanding and compassion.
Dr. Charles Chung graduated from Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry in 1999. While there, he went on many volunteer missions in southern California and South America that involved dental work and inner-city volunteering. He is a member of the American Dental Association and California Dental Association. His work is always precise and performed calmly, making him very popular with patients.
Dr. Aghevli is a graduate of UCLA School of Dentistry. She has practiced in the Southland for a number of years and is especially proud of her work within underserved communities treating patients in mobile clinics and presenting classes in oral health and hygiene at local community centers. She has also served as the pastor of a small church is a lover of art, history, nature and a proud mom of three beautiful children.
I have been practicing dentistry for 3 years now. I chose to work in dentistry because I enjoy working with patients on their dental journey and helping people be confident in their individual smies. I really enjoy seeing patients commit to their dental journey. I was top 5 producer at my dental school. I really enjoy playing golf. I was born and raised in California.
I am a San Diego Native and moved back to San Diego after graduating from Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine in 2018. I am a firm believer in preventative and conservative dentistry. The best part of my job is getting to know my patients and helping them achieve their oral health goals. In my free time I like to cook, garden, go to the beach, and spend time with my family.
Dr. Hessam Toossi is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), where he received his DDS degree. He joined Dr. Zak's team in 2019 and has been a staple of our Wellness32 Team!
Job Titles:
- Dental Director, Wellness Dentist
Dr. Howard Kopel, DDS, attended USC School of Dentistry and has been working in the field for more than 3 decades. He has received excellent training in every dental field, and he has received numerous awards for excellence in oral cancer diagnosis. He utilizes his keen understanding of comprehensive dental care to ensure that his treatment plans are optimized for the ultimate goal of enhancing patients' wellness. In his free time, Dr. Kopel loves to race fast cars, play tennis, and spend time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the LEADERSHIP SUPPORT TEAM
- CEO, Founder, Wellness Dentist
Dr. Ilya Zak is the Founder and Visionary of our Wellness³² Dental Team. His passion for dental care took hold at a tender age of 10 when he began to shadow his dentist father, Dr. Boris Zak and volunteer at a local dental lab. He solidified his calling when he graduated from University of Southern California Dental School in 1990, and shorty after opened his first practice in an underserved community of Simi Valley in 1994.. He enriched his career and scope of practice by also completing his TMJ/Pain Management residency at White Memorial Hospital and became a qualified medical examiner for TMJ dysfunction in California. Dr. Zak's passion is mentoring other dentist professionals. He served as a part-time clinical instructor at his alma mater, USC Dental School, and is currently a clinical instructor of the UCLA Dental School. Dr. Zak brought his experience as an educator into the Zak Dental practices by adopting many of the quality assurance steps practices an dental education institutions in the private settings of all Zak Dental locations.
Job Titles:
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Jacob Agatstein was born in Los Angeles, California. After attending Yeshiva University for his undergraduate studies, Dr. Agatstein received his DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) from University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine. He then continued his studies receiving his specialty license in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Harbor UCLA (University of California in Los Angeles) Medical Center. During his residency, he trained alongside surgeons and anesthesiologists in the treatment of a full range of oral and facial treatments and the administration of anesthesia. After completing his specialization, Dr. Agatstein served as an Attending Physician at the Harbor UCLA Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program, training other residents in the practice of Oral Surgery. He also continued to work in private practice in offices throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. In treating thousands of patients, Dr. Agatstein's commitment to providing his patients with personal attention, education and outstanding care, is very apparent.
My name is Dr. James Le and I graduated May of 2023 at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California at the top of my class. I have started working as a fully licensed dentist November of that same year and have been eagerly gaining experience. I chose dentistry because of how rewarding it can be to help patients regain their smile and confidence using my own two hands. Having a wonderful support group and working as a team makes each treatment feel like a win. Though my career has only just begun, work life in the dental field has taught me to be a patient human being and engage each moment with a patient with compassion and empathy. Aside from dentistry, I enjoy learning DIY things on home improvement, car maintenance, and cooking. I also play the occasional tennis and pickleball while also working out at the gym.
I have been a dentist for 12 years, and I continue to learn everyday! I was fortunate to go to dental school in Boston and then a GPR in New York for several years and yet get the luxury of living in the amazing Southern California where I did my Endodontic specialty training. I love working with my hands and meeting new people on a daily basis as an aspect of the profession which I continue to hone. I love what I do, and I do it very often! I have learned the importance of giving value to all moments , and generally enjoying the ins and outs of the day, whatever it may bring forth I personally enjoy playing soccer, hiking and hanging out with family and friends. Although my favorite hobby is traveling and learning about new cultures and people's way of life. Lastly, I have resided in California on and off for 17 years.
Dr. Klejda Bejleri is passionate about the science and art of Dentistry. She believes in working collaboratively with her patients to help them achieve and maintain their oral health and is committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive dental care of the highest standard that will improve the health and quality of life of her patients.
Dr. Aghevli is a graduate of UCLA School of Dentistry. She has practiced in the Southland for a number of years and is especially proud of her work within underserved communities treating patients in mobile clinics and presenting classes in oral health and hygiene at local community centers. She has also served as the pastor of a small church is a lover of art, history, nature and a proud mom of three beautiful children.
Dr. Kristen Miller is graduated from UCLA with general dental education and UCSF with her orthodontist training. She graduated the class as top 5% students. She was also the Vice President of her dental school class. Dr. Miller participated in the UCSF mobile clinic. She is fluent in Spanish.
Christopher is the best x-Ray tech of all time. What is usually painful and slow… he is amazing at and so dang quick!! Thanks ya dang road runner.
Dr. Moya is a native Angeleno who grew up in the east San Gabriel Valley and its environs, living for a number of years in New Jersey and New York while pursuing his undergraduate and graduate studies at Rutgers and NYU. He has been practicing dentistry since 2007. Dr. Moya's aim is to cultivate a systematic and reasoned approach to dentistry, delivering an end product that is altogether long-lasting, stable and beautiful, and--perhaps most importantly--exceeds your expectations. An amateur violinist with a particular interest in Baroque and other early music, he is the founder of the @voxsaeculorum composer's association and served as composer-in-residence for the Long Beach-based Kontrapunktus Baroque Ensemble from 2016 to 2018.
Dr. Raffi Asadorian joined our Wellness32 Team in 2019. He received his DDS from the University of California in San Francisco in 2012. He specializes in a wide scope of oral surgical procedures including impacted 3rd molar and complicated extractions, alveoloplasty, and biopsies.
Dr. Micaela Zavardinos is our new Orthodontic Provider in San Diego Kearny Mesa office. She enjoys working with people and educating patients on the importance of oral health and how orthodontic treatment not only improves esthetics, but also function. Outside of work, she enjoys the beach, swimming, running and drawing.
Dr. Michael Vito is an alumnus of University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, a top 5 dental school where he received Doctor of Dental Surgery. Dr. Vito has additional training in hospital based dentistry, treating medically compromised patients. He continues to keep current with the latest research and advancements by taking regular CE classes including Laser Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Implants, and Invisalign. He is committed to providing excellent and comprehensive dental care to each and every one of his patients. He practices all aspects of general dentistry. He looks forward to help you maintain great oral health through his gentle and empathetic care. In his spare time, he cherishes spending time with his family, traveling coaching baseball. Dr. Vito believes in treating all of his patients as if they were family.
Dr. Asatani graduated Loma Linda Dental School in 1993. Enjoy all aspects of general dentistry. I come from a family of dentists. Father is an orthodontist and younger brother is a dentist as well. Five uncles are dentists so it runs in the family. Enjoy traveling and exploring nature's natural wonders in my spare time.
Dr. Wu believes that patient comfort should be a priority and strives to make all his patients feel they are receiving excellent and compassionate dental care. He is a firm believer that the best tools for fighting delta disease are patient education and early prevention. Dr. Wu grew up in Taipei and moved to Canada for high school and university. He received his undergraduate studies and Doctor of Dental Surgeon degree in University of Toronto. During his studies, he was featured on the Dean's list for multiple years as the undergraduate level and published several research papers on regenerative medicine. Dr. Wu is a member of the California Dental Association. During his free time, Dr. Wu enjoys playing badminton recreationally and competitively. He also loves to travel and does photography/videography occasionally.
Dr. Aghevli is a graduate of UCLA School of Dentistry. She has practiced in the Southland for a number of years and is especially proud of her work within underserved communities treating patients in mobile clinics and presenting classes in oral health and hygiene at local community centers. She has also served as the pastor of a small church is a lover of art, history, nature and a proud mom of three beautiful children.
I've been a dentist for over 6 years now. I grew up in the Bay Area and went to NYU College of Dentistry before moving to southern California. I have a passion for help my patients achieve their best smile by providing the best preventative and chair side care. Some of hobbies include music, writing, films, and traveling.
Dr. Raffi Asadorian joined our Wellness32 Team in 2019. He received his DDS from the University of California in San Francisco in 2012. He specializes in a wide scope of oral surgical procedures including impacted 3rd molar and complicated extractions, alveoloplasty, and biopsies.
Dr. Robert I. Zama was born in Romania where he attended Dental School at University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa. He graduated in 2010 with the title of Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. After immigrating to the United States, Dr. Zama attended the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists at USC where he was top of his class in Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Zama takes great pride in his work and goes above and beyond to meet his patients expectations and provide them with quality and painless dental care. In his spare time Dr. Zama enjoys spending time with his son. His hobbies also include, hiking, mountain biking and traveling. One of his passions aside from dentistry is learning new languages. In his free time, he likes to restore old watches, clay sculpting and playing the piano.
Dr. Stephen Robin graduated the USC School of Dentistry in 1988. He earned his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1993. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at the USC School of Dentistry, part-time faculty with the USC Mobile Dental Clinic, and volunteers regularly in Ecuador. His father was a Dentist and his middle son is a Pediatric Dentist. Dr. Robin enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family and his dogs. As a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, his extensive experience in the dental field is a true asset to the Zak Dental Family.
I have been a dentist for 12 years, and I continue to learn everyday! I was fortunate to go to dental school in Boston and then a GPR in New York for several years and yet get the luxury of living in the amazing Southern California where I did my Endodontic specialty training. I love working with my hands and meeting new people on a daily basis as an aspect of the profession which I continue to hone. I love what I do, and I do it very often! I have learned the importance of giving value to all moments, and generally enjoying the ins and outs of the day, whatever it may bring forth. I personally enjoy playing soccer, kinking and hanging out with family and friends. Although my favorite hobby is traveling and learning about new cultures and people's way of life. Lastly, I have resided in California on and off for 17 years.
I truly enjoy both the art and the science of dentistry. It allows me to interact with people and help make a difference in people's health. I'm a graduate of Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1988. Southern California is a beautiful place to live with a community of patients that I have enjoyed for years. Dental continuing education has always been a priority of mine and I look forward to continuing to learn and develop my skills as a dentist.
Dr. Mai Phan initially received her Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. Then, Dr. Mai Phan went on to obtain her DDS from USC. She is a gentle individual by nature, and strives to provide great services and care to her patients. Dr. Mai Phan tries to complete her work in a fashion she truly stands behind. Her expertise as a dentist is laser assisted periodontal management, hygiene cosmetic fillings, veneers, inlay/onlays, teeth whitening. In her spare time, D. Mai enjoys books, traveling and spending time with her family.
Dr. William Olson attended Loma Linda University, graduating in 1987. His entire family is in the medical field which is what made him become a dentist. His passion is doing restorative and cosmetic work, and seeing his patients smile after the work is done. It brings him a huge satisfaction when he helps patients reach their ultimate goal when it comes to their smile. One fun fact about him is that he likes to go hiking, skiing and loves dogs.
My name is Dr. Zach Ward, and I am excited to be coming back to the bay area after a few years away. I graduated from La Cañada High School in 2008, after which I received my Bachelor's of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Economics. Toward the end of my time there, I discovered that I did not want a career in economics. A family friend invited me to his dental practice. I saw a few patients get new smiles, and I knew what I had to do. Four years later, I left the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, D.M.D. degree in hand, and set out to make my way back to Southern California. Dental school provided me with many opportunities to learn and serve in the nearby community. I was privileged to serve as Class President all four years and was able to coordinate service opportunities for classmates throughout the area. While I felt prepared to treat patients upon graduating, I chose to train for an additional year in an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at UCLA. This past year, I have been working at the UCLA clinic in Venice and gaining valuable experience in a variety of complex treatments, including endodontics, oral surgery, implant placement and restoration, full mouth rehabilitation, and occlusal management to help with chronic TMJ issues. This training has prepared me to serve you with the highest standard of dental care available to patients today. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Kate, and our three children, Henry (5), Benjamin (3), and Grace (born May 2021). I am and always have been an avid Dodgers, Lakers, and UCLA fan (but will not hold it against anyone for being a Trojans fan). I am thrilled with the opportunity to be a part of this practice. I have always admired their passion for dentistry, his kindness, and his conservative approach, and I look forward to providing the same service to all of you.
Christopher the X-ray tech deserves a raise. Every time I come he makes me feel at home and is an amazing worker. Works hard fast and effectively. Amazing man and employe. Y'all are blessed to have him and I am blessed to be served by him and your whole team. Thank you for everything. Sincerely Dylan
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations at Zak Dental Care
Edwin is the Director of Operations at Zak Dental Care and ensures the company's offices processes are aligned with the ability to enhance patient Wellness³². Edwin currently focuses on our team's overall expenditures, procurement and resource allocation, company-wide compliance of protocols, operational development, and administrative mentorship. Before becoming Zak Dental's Director of Operations in 2020, Edwin served as the regional manager and helped lead administrative and revenue processes, training processes, implementation of new systems, human resources, staffing, information technology infrastructure maintenance. During his tenure Wellness³² Team and the Zak Dental practices achieved more than 100% growth through the acquisition of 6 dental offices, in addition to more than a 30% revenue increase among the existing offices. Before joining Zak Dental, Edwin was part of a large dental chain, where he quickly grew from a dental reception to treatment coordinator and finally a dental office manager. The practice under his leadership become one of the most successful and exemplary practices inthe chain. Edwin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago. Outside of work, Edwin likes to drive fast cars, build super fast computers :), and spend time with his family.
The service I received at Zak Dental in Temecula was beyond my expectations. I was able to get an appointment on short notice for a crown that had unexpectedly fallen off. Everyone at the office, from the staff to the x-ray tech and Dr. Asadorian, was wonderful in taking care of me. I highly recommend to everyone.
Jerilee Malang graduated from Bryman College in 2003 as a dental assistant. She always had a passion for helping others and always knew she wanted to dedicate herself to a career that allowed her this rewarding experience. Her career in dentistry started in 2004 at Zak Dental Care as an xray technician. In 2007, she furthered herself in her profession and obtained her Registered Dental Assistant License. Expanding her knowledge in all aspects of dentistry has given her a deep understanding of the field and most of all doing her best to help all her patients in achieving perfect smiles. She is coming on her 16th anniversary at Zak Dental and is proud to be part of a team who cares about their patients. In her spare time she loves to play videogames, loves anything with Harry Potter on it, goes on mini adventures with her dog and likes to try new things especially when she travels.
I had 2 broken teeth one crown done one to go so awesome i love it thanks Zak Dental in Santa Barbara.
Dr. Park is super nice with a gentle touch. He could have tried to up-sell me on cosmetic dental services, like other dentists I've been to, but he didn't because he has integrity. Staff is great too, and he plays the classic hits from the 60s and 70s-so that's fun.
My name is Maria Bravo and I am a dental hygienist. I became interested in hygiene came when I first volunteered at a dental office in Wilmington, CA for about 6 months. I love working with patients and hope to volunteer soon across the nation.
I haven't been to the dentist in quite some time, but I had such a pleasant experience. They were all very professional and walked me through each step. Overall, very happy I picked this place and will be keeping them as my primary dentist. A few people that were extra helpful were: Ferdy, dawn, Tony, and of course my dentist who was a super nice women.
Wonderful staff and great Dental Office in North Park. I was so nervous about extracting my wisdom tooth out. They got me on the schedule with two days notice, took all of my questions in my consultation, and then made the procedure quick and painless. Everyone was so kind to me and made me feel comfortable. So thankful to Dr. Rivero, he is amazing.
Extremely friendly staff at Zak Dental! Painless experiences with all types of dental care. I especially love the sturdy new chairs in the lobby
I really don't know the importance of going to the dentist, since I only know about cleaning. Through a virtual appointment, Dr. Zak explains how the teeth deteriorate and how to save them, while Kenna gave detailed insurance coverage. It's scary to have this work done, but I will be responsible for my teeth from now.
Shanttel Rodriguez started at 16 years old as a sterilizer and loved it so much she decided to pursue a career in the Dental Field. As she grew professionally so did her daughter which was her motivation. In her spare time she enjoys watching her daughter play softball, taking her dog on hikes, travel, arts and crafts. She loves being able to touch a patient's life in a positive way. She not only likes giving them a reason to smile, but actually enhancing their quality of life.
Kudos to Dr. Zak, Chris and Tony. Zak Dental in Simi Valley is nothing short of amazing! I was treated with friendly faces from the moment I walked in. They made me feel so welcome and are very professional. I had to have a lot of work done and they were so helpful through each appointment and took the time to explain everything to me. I receive the same care and professionalism in my every visit. They are also keeping up with all of the guidelines for Covid-19 and I felt very comfortable and safe. I would definitely recommend it to friends!
Job Titles:
- Director of Specialty Care
I have spent the past 26 years serving others in the dental field. I love people and enjoy working with others. I have hands-on experience with patients in both the back office as a dental assistant, as well as all aspects of front office administration, including management, insurance billing and coordinating treatment. I enjoy helping others find the best way to move forward with the exceptional care they deserve. I have dedicated my efforts to making sure our patients receive quality, personalized care and while ensuring they are comfortable at all times. I enjoy spending time with my grown children and grandchildren as often as possible, and of course we cannot forget our fur babies, who are also an essential part of our family and are involved in many outdoor family activities. I have recently transitioned into managing our specialty department with Zak Dental and am very excited to be a part of the specialty process. I am happy to be able to help our patients navigate through the process with insurance to receive the specialty care they need and love working with our specialists to help insure it is a great experience for all. I look forward to continuing my serve to others in our offices.
Sonya (Sophia) Zak joined the Zak Dental team in 2010 following her graduation from Stanford Graduate School of Business with a PhD in Management Sciences. She also received a dual BA/BS degree from UC Berkeley in Business Administration and Psychology in 2004. She currently oversees all non clinical operational support functions of Zak Dental including Revenue Cycle Management, Patient Journey, Marketing & Team Building and Business Intelligence. She is passionate about utilizing her deep understanding of culture and social behavior. in optimizing our Patients' Wellness³² Journey and organically developing and nurturing our Zak Dental.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Patient Experience
Suelem Guerrero graduated from the University of California San Diego and received a bachelor's degree in communications . After living in Florida for about a year, she moved back to California and found a job in the dental field where she discovered her passion and career. She has been in the dental field for 10 years now. She enjoys cooking, organizing, cleaning, loves to travel, loves her dog goofy and goes to Disneyland as many times as possible in her spare time. She loves to provide great customer service and cares for her patients like family to help them achieve their smile goals.
From check-in to check-out everything went ok. This place uses modern technology from consent, x-rays and equipment. Savanna was nice and helpful and everyone's favorite was Dr. Park, he's a Superhero doctor.