DOWN TO EARTH DENTAL - Key Persons
Anna Herrera, DMD My mission is to provide exceptional dental care and service to all our patients in a welcoming and comfortable environment. I began my journey in the dental field in 2014 as a dental assistant, which inspired me to attend dental school in 2015. I received my dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2019 and completed an advanced general residency at UCLA in 2020. The most fulfilling part of working as a dentist is helping patients achieve their oral health care goals and getting to that beautiful smile that not only improves their self-esteem but quality of life. I also feel so fortunate to work with a team of amazing people with the same vision and compassion to help our patients. I love being back in the Pacific Northwest and often take advantage of the beauty and nature the area offers. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and hiking with my golden retriever Wally. I also snowboard during the winter season.
Arnell Prato, DDS Dentistry is my passion. My number one goal as a Dentist is to help my patients maintain and improve their dental health. Each person is unique and has individual needs. That's why I take time to carefully listen to each of my patients and understand their immediate concerns. I always give my patients treatment options that take into account their dental health, overall health and financial constraints. I take patient well-being very seriously. I attended The Ohio State University for both my undergraduate education and dental school. I love learning about dentistry and will never stop finding new ways to provide my patients with the best care possible. As part of my continuing education, I have taken extensive coursework in implant dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental occlusion and bite analysis, oral surgery and pharmacology. Earlier in my career, I practiced dentistry in Ohio, Louisiana and Canada. Before moving to Washington state, I served the dental needs of the aboriginal people of northern Canada, working in remote, under-served areas of the Arctic. My work there helped develop my "Down to Earth" philosophy, where reliable and long-lasting dental work is the primary goal. I'm a native of the Philippines, and moved to the U.S. in 1984. I love living in Washington and enjoy all the outdoor activities our great state has to offer. When I'm not in the office, you can often find me kayaking, visiting farmers markets and exploring the beauty of Washington State. I also enjoy international travel and have visited more than 70 countries.
Avigheya joined the front office team at Down to Earth Dental in early 2023. Her passion for dentistry began with the great experiences she had with her own dentist growing up. With over six years of customer service experience, Avigheya has developed a true enthusiasm for serving others. Whether greeting patients in person or on the phone, her upbeat, positive attitude instantly makes everyone feel at ease. Avigheya is currently working toward becoming a dental hygienist. In her free time, she enjoys biking, tennis and volleyball.
Chris has been with Down to Earth Dental since 2010, overseeing marketing and finance. Prior to this, he was a management consultant and an airline executive. Chris graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in Finance and Indiana University with an MBA in Marketing and International Business. He spends as much of his free time as possible with his 8- and 6-year-old boys.
Dr. Zhou was born and raised in China and moved to Seattle with her family as a teenager. She received her undergraduate and master's degree from the University of Washington in Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, respectively. Dr. Zhou worked in Toxicology at Amgen for six years before pursuing her passion in dentistry. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences in California and went on to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Unify Community Health in Spokane.
Dr. Zhou is dedicated to providing the best possible care and options for her patients and strives to educate them on the connection between oral and systemic health. Dr. Zhou says, "The best part of being a dentist is helping people. Being able to use the skills I've developed with my hands and seeing what I'm able to do clinically from start to finish with my treatment is very rewarding. I love giving my patients a healthy, beautiful smile!" Her goal is to work with her patients to help them achieve and maintain lifelong oral health and well-being. In her spare time, Dr. Zhou enjoys traveling, trying new food and spending time with friends and family.
Consuelo joined Down to Earth Dental as a Dental Assistant in 2019. She has been an Assistant for 12 years. Consuelo is continuing her education to become a Dental Hygienist. In her free time she likes exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her kids. Consuelo loves hiking and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager of Our South Tacoma
Diana is the Office Manager of our South Tacoma office. She started her dental career in pediatrics and over the years transitioned to general dentistry. Growing up, Diana had always wanted to be a Dental Hygienist but found her real passion was behind the scenes. From checking in new patients to helping patients achieve their dream smiles, Diana loves figuring out the most efficient and smooth process for her patients and staff.
Diana and her spouse have 2 children - a 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old chocolate lab named Daisy. In their free time, they like to go camping and taking out their boat when Washington weather permits. Don't tempt Diana with a good plate of tacos and a margarita.
Erin was originally a nursing major, but left school when she decided to pursue her fascination with dental. Erin joined Down to Earth Dental in 2022 as a full time Dental Receptionist. In the future, she hopes to become a Dental Hygienist, but until then, she looks forward to serving patients behind the scenes. Erin has a husband who is serving in the U.S. Army. They have a son and three dogs. They have traveled much of the country including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Alaska!
Jennifer graduated high school in 2013 and became a dental assistant in 2020. She joined Down to Earth Dental as a Dental Assistant in 2022. Jennifer finds assisting to be a very fun job. She enjoys patient care, working alongside our capable doctors and providing a pleasant dental experience for her patients. When Jennifer isn't in the office, she enjoys journaling, reading and trying new restaurants.
Karen has been in dentistry over 30 years, most of the time as a Dental Assistant, helping doctors in all genres of dentistry. She has taken her clinical knowledge to the front desk acting as a Patient Advocate, helping patients with all aspects of their treatment, including scheduling and insurance. Karen is a caregiver at heart. In her spare time she enjoys small hikes on the many beautiful trails Washington has to offer, cooking, photography, promoting music and spending time with her son.
Lance is a Lead Dental Assistant at Down to Earth Dental. With over ten years of experience in the dentistry, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. A true comedian, Lance loves to laugh and make others laugh too. You will be sure to hear his laugh echoing through the office. His energetic and fun demeanor make him a delight to his patients and the team. Lance's motto is "live your best life", which he practices by jumping into all sorts of different activities and adventures including travel, photography, hiking, cooking and entrepreneurship.
Lexi is one of our outstanding Dental Assistants. Her bubbly and lively personality is truly infectious and she always has a smile on her face. Lexi loves spending time getting to know each of her patients. She is a native of Hawaii and moved to Washington in 2020 to continue pursuing her education in hopes of becoming a Dental Hygienist. When Lexi isn't working or hitting the books, she enjoys powerlifting and taking trips to the park with her partner and mini goldendoodle, Marlo.
Lori is our Lead Patient Advocate and has been with Down to Earth Dental since its inception. Prior to this, she worked as a Dental Assistant. Her unique blend of clinical and front office experience gives her the ability to navigate insurance plans and help patients use their coverage effectively. At home, Lori has a husband and three children who she loves to spend all her time with!
Marlene joined the front office team at Down to Earth Dental in 2023. She is originally from Seattle, but moved to Tacoma four years ago. Marlene started working in dentistry as a Dental Assistant but found her true passion after transitioning to the administration side of dentistry. She loves being the first point of contact, the first smile the patient sees and setting the tone for each patient's visit. When she is not working, Marlene loves traveling with her friends and reading her book club's latest pick. She also enjoys relaxing at home with her family and being an auntie to her adorable nieces & nephews.
Mehak joined Down to Earth Dental in 2022 as a Dental Hygienist. She shows genuine care for each of her patients, helping them achieve and maintain healthy and beautiful smiles. Her gentle touch and attention to detail keep her patients coming back. Every once in a while, Mehak loves to slow down to enjoy the little moments life offers - as well as taking advantage of the spontaneous ones. She also enjoys traveling, especially to Hawaii.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Our Northeast Tacoma
Rachel is the Practice Manager for our Northeast Tacoma office location. She loves being able to support the doctors and team in providing quality dental experiences to our patients. As a lifelong learner, Rachel is constantly looking to grow her skills as a leader so she can better support the growth of those around her. A native of Washington, Rachel takes any opportunity to be in, on or near our beautiful bodies of water.
Sage joined Down to Earth Dental as a Patient Advocate in 2022. Her generous and caring nature makes her a natural working with patients. Sage prides herself on providing exceptional care to every patient and supporting them through their dental care journey. Family is at the center of Sages' life - she loves cooking and enjoying meals with them - and she often brings her yummy creations to work to share with the team. Sage and her family enjoy the beauty Pacific Northwest while camping and outlanding.
Dr. Subedi joined Down to Earth Dental in the spring of 2021. She graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2018. Dr. Subedi also earned a Bachelors of Dental Surgery degree from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, a prestigious university in Nepal.
Dr. Subedi believes that every patient deserves to be treated with utmost respect and compassion. She likes seeing smiles on her patient's faces, especially if she is the reason for that smile! In her free time, Dr. Subedi enjoys gardening, cooking, trying out new restaurants and spending time with her family.