SMILE LODGE - Key Persons

Dr. Andrew Goodemote grew up in Queensbury, NY, and was inspired by both Dr. McMahons to pursue dentistry! After attending Boston College, he continued on to be classmates with Dr. Chen at the University of the Pacific, earning his dental degree in San Francisco. He returned to his home state, to complete an orthodontic residency at Stony Brook in Long Island, NY. Now, moving closer to home, he is ready to add to the services offered at the Smile Lodge to continue to provide the best quality care for our patients!

Job Titles:

• Board - Certified Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Debbie Derisse is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist who is passionate about creating an enjoyable dental experience for every child. Dr.Derisse is a Northern New Jersey native. She attended St. John's University in Queens, New York, earning a degree in Biology and Speech Language Pathology. She received her Degree of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She went on to complete a general practice residency at The Lutheran Medical Center in Winslow, Arizona and a pediatric specialty residence at the University of Nevada School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Derisse enjoys mission trips and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Dr. Eric McMahon was born and raised in sunny California, and finally came to the "right" coast when he was admitted to Harvard's pediatric specialty training. He now lives happily in Ballston Lake, NY with his lovely wife and three children. Children from all over "The North Country" appreciate Dr. McMahons' youthful personality and keen sense of humor that immediately puts both patients and parents at ease. His youthful "super-hero-inspired" approach adds fun and enjoyment to the entire workplace. (For the record, he routinely steals jokes from Dr. McDonnell).

Dr. Jaimin Sin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's in Biology and a Master's in Environmental Studies with a health concentration. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, she volunteered at various inner city tutoring programs and discovered a joy for teaching. She went on to take a gap year at an education nonprofit in Kensington, Philadelphia where she had a blast changing the culture among students and drawing them to opportunities for post-secondary education as well as trade/technical programs. While she greatly enjoyed working with students, she was ultimately drawn to using health as a medium to help others find and achieve their livelihoods. She went on to complete her DMD at the University of Pittsburgh where she continued to provide mentorship for aspiring healthcare professionals. She then pursued a 3 year anesthesiology specialty at NYU Langone-Brooklyn, a Level 1 Trauma Center. During residency, she provided medical anesthesia in hospital operating rooms for procedures ranging from general surgery, urology, OBGYN, plastic surgery, and neurointerventional radiology, among others. Her dental anesthesia training came from serving private dental offices on the West Coast, with a focus on pediatrics, oral surgery, general dentistry, and periodontics. Dr. Sin is passionate about dental anesthesiology as it combines enjoyment seeing patients achieving aesthetic dental outcomes through a medical approach. Her philosophy is that the oral cavity is a reflection of one's overall health, providing both physical and behavioral indicators of how a patient is faring. She hopes to find more ways to connect dentistry and medicine as a partnership in achieving comprehensive care for her patients. Dr. Sin is excited to serve The Smile Lodge's dental patients so they can achieve their best smiles, improve their overall health, and avoid experiencing pain and anxiety through their dental treatments.

Dr. James McDonnell, an upstate New York native and graduate of Fairfield and Harvard Universities, currently resides in Malta, NY with his wife and five children. His pediatric dentistry specialty was obtained at The Children's Hospital of Boston where he also developed an easy-going reputation, and warm light-hearted manner that opens children's hearts and minds for conversations about good oral hygiene and making healthy smiles. (He is also much better looking than Dr. McMahon, especially in a bow tie).

Dr. Jamie Lewis hails from the great state of Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Haverford College and the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. Dr. Lewis continued his education at Temple Hospital, completing his specialty training in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Lewis now resides in Wilton with his wife, a Queensbury native, and their three young children. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, cheering on Philadelphia sports, and spending time with his family. Dr. Lewis strives to provide a positive experience for all of his patients, regardless of their age or comfort level. He can never remember song lyrics but promises to sing his own rendition of your favorite tune.

Originally from Seoul, Dr. Jin Sung graduated from the Korean National Music School and majored in music at Ewha Womans University. After performing and teaching music at an elite boarding school in Seoul, she moved to the US to begin a new journey. She earned her dental degree and completed her pediatric dental residency at Tufts University. She also completed a residency program in New York City and she worked in upstate NY for several years where she provided necessary services to children who exhibited complex medical histories and behavior management issues. Dr. Sung is sincerely motivated and happy to brighten the spirits and achieve healthy, beautiful smiles in all her patients.

Dr. Karissa Koster, originally from Wilbraham, MA, earned her dental degree at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and continued with her pediatric residency at The Lutheran Medical Center in Holyoke, MA. A master at flossing throughout school-both teeth and the dance move-she's always up for a dance-off challenge! Outside of the office, Dr. Koster enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and exploring new places. Having moved to the area with her family in May 2019, Dr. Koster is always open to recommendations for new family-friendly activities or restaurants.

Dr. Laila Hubbi graduated Rutgers University with a double major in Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Political Science. She then continued her education at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey receiving a Master of Biomedical Sciences in 2010. Dr. Hubbi went on to attend New York University College of Dentistry where she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery and completed her specialty in pediatric dentistry. While at NYU, Dr. Hubbi had the opportunity to participate in many rewarding outreaches that took her as close as Maine to as far as Nepal! Dr. Hubbi has recently moved to the Albany area with her husband and daughter Nora to join the wonderful Smile Lodge team. Dr. Hubbi considers her patients an extension of her family. She loves working with children and has a very compassionate and caring personality. Dr. Hubbi is excited to provide a great and relaxing atmosphere where your child will have a positive and happy experience. When she is not practicing dentistry, she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and attempting Pinterest recipes and ideas.

Dr. Lauren Geffen was born and raised in Queens, NY and wanted to be a dentist since she was 10 years old! She pursued her dreams as she studied Neurology and Physiology at the University of Maryland, and then went on to get her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. At Stony Brook, Dr. Lauren honed in on her passion for working with children and learned that she loved giving back to the community. She participated in dental mission trips to Jamaica, and rural parts of the US, and found so much joy in helping underserved communities. After dental school, she went on to specialize her skills as a Pediatric Dentist at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Dr. Lauren recently moved to Saratoga Springs with her husband and adorable Goldendoodle, Lola. They love exploring new places and are so excited for everything Upstate NY has to offer! In her free time, Dr. Lauren loves to cook and try new restaurants, stays active with running, biking, or yoga and plays frisbee with her dog (that would be number one if it were up to Lola). She is so excited to be part of this amazing team and can't wait to see you around the Lodge!

Dr. Lawrence Chen grew up on the golden coast of Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from the University of the Pacific for both his undergraduate and dental degrees, he moved cross-country to attend a general practice residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Since then, he has worked in New York City since where he has seen many kids and the kids at heart. Although Dr. Chen enjoys his time with patients, he also tries to cook, travel, stay active, volunteer in the community, and refine his craft through continuing education.

Dr. Megan McMahon grew up in Queensbury, NY and has worked at The Smile Lodge since she was in high school. While working at a young age she was inspired by her favorite dentist, Dr. McDonnell. She figured if she could have this much fun every day, she would pursue dentistry. Becoming a doctor in 2015, after earning her Chemistry degree at St. Lawrence University and her dental degree at the University of Pacific in San Francisco, Dr. Megan McMahon returned to her hometown in upstate NY. She married her second favorite dentist in 2012 and together, Drs. Megan and Eric McMahon, enjoy traveling, playing soccer and softball, and spending time with their children.

Dr. Mondesir is a first generation Haitian American and a New York Native. She hails from Freeport, NY (Long Island), where she spent her childhood and teenage years. She attended Saint John's University, where she received her Bachelors of Science in chemistry and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Although Dr. Mondesir always knew that she wanted to become a dentist since the age of 3, she took a gap year between college and matriculating into dental school. During that time, she worked as a cosmetic chemist at Estee Lauder. She went on to receive her Doctorate in Dental Medicine from The University of Connecticut School Of Dental Medicine (Go huskies), where she not only participated, but lead many outreach and mentoring programs for children and teens from underserved communities. She was also afforded the opportunity to volunteer in global outreach and serve many children in Honduras. Dr. Mondesir went on to complete a one-year General Practice Residency at New York Medical College/Phelps Memorial Hospital in Westchester, NY. After completing her residency, she spent some time in the Bronx, NY, where she worked as a General Dentist. In the height of the pandemic, Dr. Mondesir found herself moving to Alabama to begin her pediatric dental residency at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her second year in residency, she completed a leadership in education in neurodevelopment and related disabilities fellowship. In light of this exceptional training, Dr. Mondesir has a special place in her heart for the special needs community and hopes to be able to help those families in need. Dr. Mondesir's residency and practice experience has provided an excellent foundation for treating children of all nationalities, religions, races, and economic levels. She believes that every child deserves a beautiful smile. She is excited to provide compassionate care, servant-leadership, and hold an active interest in community health. She strives to be an advocate for children and help educate parents on the importance of good oral health. Dr. Mondesir recently moved to the Albany/Troy area and while she's originally from New York, Upstate New York is new territory for her. When you see her, feel free to give her some places she should visit. In her free time, Dr. Modesir loves to stay active. How? Her Peloton bike, lifting weights, and running with Peloton instructors. Can you guess that she loves Peloton? Dr. Mondesir LOVES to travel. She has visited 12 countries thus far. For now, COVID put a halt on travel, but she hopes to collect more passport stamps in the near future. She loves to cook at home, but also is a foodie and loves to try new restaurants and experience foods from different cultures. She is excited to see what Upstate New York has to offer and can't wait to see all your beautiful faces.

Dr. Rob Hales grew up across the Hudson River from Bear Mountain State Park in Montrose, NY. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University, afterwards a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry. After receiving his dental degree from NYU he worked as a general dentist for 6 years before completing his specialty training in pediatric dentistry from Jamaica Hospital in Queens, NY. Dr. Rob Hales enjoys spending time with his wife, whom he met at college, as well as their two sons and daughter. Dr. Rob Hales spent all of his childhood summers in the Capital District and is excited to live and treat children in the surrounding areas.

Dr. Sangmee Kim grew up in Queens, NY and is a proud New Yorker at heart. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. She later went on to complete her pediatric specialty training at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Kim is very excited to return to her home state, where she now currently resides near Malta. Aside from stressing the importance of flossing and brushing, Dr. Kim loves to spend her time traveling, finding new foods to try, baking, singing in the shower, and trying to keep up in Zumba class. She is very excited to be a part of The Smile Lodge family and hopes to see you soon!

Dr. Solomia Zhownirovych, originally from the beautiful state of New Jersey, made her way to Western New York where she attended the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. After rooting for the Bills for four years, she moved to Rochester to complete her residency at Rochester General Hospital. Continuing her move down the New York State Thruway, Dr. Zhownirovych now finds herself in Albany and is excited to be working at the Smile Lodge. Dr. Z enjoys dancing around her apartment, singing in her car, traveling and exploring new places, spending time with her friends and family, and trying to gain the affection of her Flame-Point Siamese cat, Juliet.

Dr. Zachary Hansen grew up in the great state of Idaho, and yes, he loves potatoes. After high school he lived in Guatemala for two years where he fell in love with another delicious source of starch, corn. Dr. Zac completed his undergraduate and dental schooling in Utah, then worked for a couple of years in Nevada at a children's dental office. He enjoyed working with kids so much that he decided to make it official; he moved across the country to complete his specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, New York.