Pediatric Dentistry Residents - Class of 2023
Mark Abere, D.D.S.
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Mark Abere, D.D.S.
Dr. Mark Abere was born and raised in Stockbridge, Georgia. He stayed in Georgia to complete his undergrad education at the University of Georgia, Athens campus. College was a great time for him because he was able to cultivate and pursue many passions (music, photography, theatre and travel) as he prepared himself to become a dentist. Immediately after college, he went to the University of Alabama School of Dentistry to attain his D.M.D degree. He knew from his interactions with kids in college and experiences serving the underserved in dental school that pediatric dentistry is where his heart lied. Shortly after dental school, he got a job in a pediatric dental office as a general dentist seeing this population of patients for a little under 2 years. He is extremely excited to be a pediatric dental resident at UCLA. Outside of clinic you can find him playing his guitar, singing, spending time with his wife and daughter, and exploring LA. |
Wes Johnson, D.D.S.
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Wes Johnson, D.D.S.
Dr. Wes Johnson grew up on a cattle ranch in rural North Dakota. His mother went back to dental school while he was young, and her passion started his interest in dentistry. He attended undergrad at the University of North Dakota where he met his future wife, Samantha. They moved to Minneapolis, where Dr. Wes attended dental school at the University of Minnesota. After dental school, Dr. Wes started working for Indian Health Services (IHS). This eventually took him to Montana, where he and Sam were able to live their dreams skiing every weekend from November to March. It also allowed them more space for all of their animals. They currently have 2 dogs and 3 cats and regularly care for foster animals. This love of animals is shared by Sam, who started veterinary school in 2019 at Western University of Health Sciences. After 7 years as a general dentist and dental director, Dr. Wes was tasked with being the Operations Chief of the hospital he worked during the start of the COVID pandemic. This experience was very difficult, and made him reconsider his career path. He had been moving further into administrative and leadership roles, but he was missing out on direct patient care. His mentor in IHS was a pediatric dentist who encouraged Dr. Wes to go into the same specialty. Pediatric dentistry allows him to have the same large impact as he did in leadership, while ensuring that he wouldn't have to miss out on time with his patients. He started applying to residencies, and the interview process made it clear that UCLA was his top choice. It was a bonus that he would also be close to Sam while she finished vet school. They have traded the snow of Montana for the mild weather of SoCal. The animals love it and so do they. He is excited to learn from the amazing faculty at UCLA, and even more excited to bring it back to IHS when he graduates |
Tarek Kassem, D.D.S.
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Tarek Kassem, D.D.S.
Dr. Tarek Kassem is a SoCal native through and through. Born and raised in the western coastal city of Santa Monica, California he attended Santa Monica City College after high school and then transferred to UCLA where he received his B.S in Biochemistry in 2016. During his undergraduate studies his family’s experiences with oral health, along with his own shadowing and volunteering experiences motivated him to pursue dentistry. While taking a year off between undergrad and dental school he spent time volunteering at a children’s dental community clinic. It was here where his interest in children’s oral health began. After his year off he attended the UCLA School of Dentistry where he received his D.D.S in June of 2021. Throughout dental school his volunteering, clinical and research experiences furthered his interest and passion for children’s oral health. He is both incredibly appreciative and excited to begin his career as a pediatric dentist and be a part of the UCLA Pediatric Dental family! Outside of dentistry Tarek enjoys exploring new cuisines, cooking, working out, playing tennis, spending time outdoors and being around family and friends. |
Maurissa Lester, D.D.S.
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Maurissa Lester, D.D.S.
Dr. Maurissa Lester is originally from Marietta, Georgia, but recently relocated to Los Angeles after spending the previous years of her life on the East Coast (the "best coast" is to be determined :) ). Dr. Lester is currently a Pediatric Dentistry Resident and Master of Public Health (MPH) student. Before residency, Dr. Lester attended The University of North Carolina School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill, where she obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Degree. In dental school, Dr. Lester partnered with Global Girl's Empowerment Foundation and created The University of North Carolina School of Dentistry's first Inter-professional trip to Tanzania, Africa. During this time, she found her true love for public health and pediatric dentistry! Before dental school, Maurissa was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athlete at Limestone College in South Carolina, where she majored in Biology and played college basketball. At the end of her career, Maurissa was a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, and she continued to bridge her passion for her community, the youth, and sports as a YMCA youth basketball coach. Dr. Lester loves to "save tooth lives," travel, visit her family and friends, and aspires to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families around the world! Dr. Maurissa Lester is excited to join the UCLA family! Upon completing the program, she looks forward to putting her public health and pediatric dentistry passions to work as a National Health Service Corps Scholar providing excellent care in an underrepresented area or Federally Qualified Health Center |
Matthew Nguyen, D.D.S.
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Matthew Nguyen, D.D.S.
Dr. Matthew Nguyen was born and raised in Agoura Hills, CA. He graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. While shadowing dentists, he saw how dentistry perfectly combined his passions for purposeful hand work, caring for others, and science. This experience ultimately convinced him to pursue his dream as an oral healthcare professional by attending the UCLA School of Dentistry where he received his DDS in 2021. During his time at UCLA, he discovered his love for working with children and improving their oral health, and is grateful to continue his 9th year at UCLA (talk about being a true Bruin right?) by working with children at UCLA Pediatric Dentistry. Outside of clinic, he enjoys traveling, photography, exploring the great food scene in Los Angeles (look up his Yelp reviews!), watching anime and Korean dramas, and hiking or anything outdoors. He is ecstatic to be a part of the UCLA Pediatric Dental Family and is looking forward to beginning his path to becoming a pediatric dentist. |
Vishnu Reddy, D.D.S.
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VIshnu Reddy, D.D.S.
Dr. Vishnu Reddy was born in Michigan and grew up in Hyderabad, India, where he spent a majority of his childhood. After high school, he moved to Salt Lake City, where he graduated with a Cum Laude in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah. He then moved to New York City, where he received his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from NYU. In his final year, he was elected by his class to speak at their graduation ceremony in Madison Square Garden. After dental school, he trained at a general practice dentistry residency (GPR) at Woodhull Medical Center, a public hospital in Brooklyn and then worked as a general dentist in Western Massachusetts. During these years, he realized his passion for working with children and began ruminating on the many ways in which public health initiatives and policies can effectively bridge the gaps in dental care for children. To this end, he is also in the process of obtaining his Master’s in Public Health at UCLA. Vishnu is excited to be part of the UCLA family. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, good tea/coffee, watching movies, and road trips/travelling |
Aida Shadrav, D.D.S.
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Aida Shadrav, D.D.S.
Dr. Aida Shadrav was born in Isfahan, Iran, and moved to Chicago, IL, when she was 12 years old. She graduated from Hamilton College with Magna Cum Laude in chemistry and Hispanic Studies. Having been inspired by her mother, who is a periodontist, she decided to explore her passion for dentistry through community service and volunteering at dental offices. She then went on to receive her Doctorate in Dental Medicine at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where she spent a full year in the medical school to learn about the integration of oral and systemic health. At Harvard, she was the co-founder of Bridge to Dental School, chapter president of American Dental Education Association, and involved with multiple research projects. Her love for caring for children's oral health was confirmed when she became a provider in a pediatric clinic and she is now thrilled to be a part of the UCLA Pediatric Dentistry program. Aside from loving to take excellent care of her patients, Aida loves to stay active by going on bike rides and hikes and enjoys discovering new restaurants. She is very excited to become a pediatric dentist and to ensure that all children receive the resources they need to form life-long healthy habits |
Pediatric Dentistry Residents - Class of 2024
Adam Rodriguez, D.D.S.
Born and raised in Pomona, CA, Dr. Adam Rodriguez has had his educational pursuits take him all over the country. His journey began when he left Southern California to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!), and it was here where he originally became interested in becoming a dentist. Having spent time shadowing and working in the community during his 4 years at Duke, he realized the challenges patients faced when accessing quality dental care, and he wanted to do something about it! After receiving his Bachelors of Arts in History, Adam spent a year teaching back in his home town working with kids from all backgrounds and ages. He had a blast finding ways to engage his students in the classroom, and credits his journey to pediatric dentistry having worked as a teacher beforehand. After his year off, he was excited to further pursue his training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry, where he completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. After graduation, Adam continued his journey by moving to Sacramento, California to work at a federally qualified health center serving underserved patient populations for three years before deciding to transition his clinical practice solely on pediatric dentistry. Outside of clinic, you can find Adam staying up to date on the most current personal finances trends and topics, traveling with his favorite sports teams to check out new cities (he hopes to see every major MLB, NFL, and NBA sports venue someday!), and finding new ways to stay active. He is super excited to be a part of the Bruin family and is looking forward to his journey in Pediatric Dentistry.
Born and raised in Pomona, CA, Dr. Adam Rodriguez has had his educational pursuits take him all over the country. His journey began when he left Southern California to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!), and it was here where he originally became interested in becoming a dentist. Having spent time shadowing and working in the community during his 4 years at Duke, he realized the challenges patients faced when accessing quality dental care, and he wanted to do something about it! After receiving his Bachelors of Arts in History, Adam spent a year teaching back in his home town working with kids from all backgrounds and ages. He had a blast finding ways to engage his students in the classroom, and credits his journey to pediatric dentistry having worked as a teacher beforehand. After his year off, he was excited to further pursue his training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry, where he completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. After graduation, Adam continued his journey by moving to Sacramento, California to work at a federally qualified health center serving underserved patient populations for three years before deciding to transition his clinical practice solely on pediatric dentistry. Outside of clinic, you can find Adam staying up to date on the most current personal finances trends and topics, traveling with his favorite sports teams to check out new cities (he hopes to see every major MLB, NFL, and NBA sports venue someday!), and finding new ways to stay active. He is super excited to be a part of the Bruin family and is looking forward to his journey in Pediatric Dentistry.
Catherine Eshaghzadeh, D.D.S.
Dr. Catherine Eshaghzadeh was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to Huntington Beach, CA (surf city!) when she was 4 years old. Coming from a family of dentists, her exposure to dentistry started at a very young age. While she was at UCLA for her Bachelors in Psychobiology, her passion for working with children and community service led her to the UCLA Infant Oral Care Program. Here, she truly fell in love with the tangible change that happens when motivating patients to improve both their child’s oral health and their own. After she graduated from UCLA, she worked at the UCLA Center for Children’s Oral Health (UCCOH) writing grants for oral health, focusing on policy and advocating, and helping to coordinate the Infant Oral Care Program. She then completed her dental school training at the UCLA School of Dentistry, and ultimately received her dream opportunity to be a UCLA-trained Pediatric Dentistry resident (Bruin for life!). Outside of clinic, Catherine enjoys exploring restaurants with her boyfriend Siamak, spending time with her family, playing tennis, biking by the beach, and practicing yoga. She hopes to continue teaching throughout her career and touching many lives through community service and advocacy. Catherine is extremely grateful to pursue her dreams of being a pediatric dentist at UCLA.
Dr. Catherine Eshaghzadeh was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to Huntington Beach, CA (surf city!) when she was 4 years old. Coming from a family of dentists, her exposure to dentistry started at a very young age. While she was at UCLA for her Bachelors in Psychobiology, her passion for working with children and community service led her to the UCLA Infant Oral Care Program. Here, she truly fell in love with the tangible change that happens when motivating patients to improve both their child’s oral health and their own. After she graduated from UCLA, she worked at the UCLA Center for Children’s Oral Health (UCCOH) writing grants for oral health, focusing on policy and advocating, and helping to coordinate the Infant Oral Care Program. She then completed her dental school training at the UCLA School of Dentistry, and ultimately received her dream opportunity to be a UCLA-trained Pediatric Dentistry resident (Bruin for life!). Outside of clinic, Catherine enjoys exploring restaurants with her boyfriend Siamak, spending time with her family, playing tennis, biking by the beach, and practicing yoga. She hopes to continue teaching throughout her career and touching many lives through community service and advocacy. Catherine is extremely grateful to pursue her dreams of being a pediatric dentist at UCLA.
Ju Yong Lee, D.D.S.
Dr. Ju Yong Lee was always sort of a nomad, ending up in unexpected places where life would lead him. He grew up in South Korea and lived in Canada for four years from kindergarten to third grade due to his father’s job. After returning to Korea, he attended international school, and for high school, moved to the United States to attend Kent School, a small boarding school in Kent, CT. After living with limited cell service, internet, and outside contact for 4 years, he moved to New York City to enroll in the 7-year accelerated BA/DDS program at New York University. Manhattan was at first, loud, hectic, and fast-paced for the freshman that enrolled at NYU, but over the next seven years, through college and dental school, he grew to love the city in its entirety. 7 years fast forward, after graduating from dental school, he found his first job as a dentist in Visalia, California at a children’s dental clinic. This is where his passion for pediatric dentistry grew, and also where he learned how to drive a car for the first time, raise a cat, and become a master microwave artist. The first few months treating children were intimidating to say the least, but soon he grew to love the creativity, passion, and energy involved in seeing children. After two years of work, he decided to follow his passion and apply to the UCLA pediatric dental residency program. Now, a pediatric dental resident at UCLA, he is extremely excited to spend the next two years discovering LA and becoming the pediatric dentist he dreamt of being. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his cat Simba, working out, playing games, reading novels, and listening to music. He also loves to sing and play guitar, but at an early age, discovered that performing music was not for him.
Dr. Ju Yong Lee was always sort of a nomad, ending up in unexpected places where life would lead him. He grew up in South Korea and lived in Canada for four years from kindergarten to third grade due to his father’s job. After returning to Korea, he attended international school, and for high school, moved to the United States to attend Kent School, a small boarding school in Kent, CT. After living with limited cell service, internet, and outside contact for 4 years, he moved to New York City to enroll in the 7-year accelerated BA/DDS program at New York University. Manhattan was at first, loud, hectic, and fast-paced for the freshman that enrolled at NYU, but over the next seven years, through college and dental school, he grew to love the city in its entirety. 7 years fast forward, after graduating from dental school, he found his first job as a dentist in Visalia, California at a children’s dental clinic. This is where his passion for pediatric dentistry grew, and also where he learned how to drive a car for the first time, raise a cat, and become a master microwave artist. The first few months treating children were intimidating to say the least, but soon he grew to love the creativity, passion, and energy involved in seeing children. After two years of work, he decided to follow his passion and apply to the UCLA pediatric dental residency program. Now, a pediatric dental resident at UCLA, he is extremely excited to spend the next two years discovering LA and becoming the pediatric dentist he dreamt of being. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his cat Simba, working out, playing games, reading novels, and listening to music. He also loves to sing and play guitar, but at an early age, discovered that performing music was not for him.
Yessica Escutia Ponce de Leon, D.D.S.
Dr. Yessica Escutia Ponce de Leon was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. She moved with her family to Woodstock, Illinois when she was a junior in High School. She was highly motivated to learn English as she had always dreamt of going to college and pursuing higher education, which she did! Inspired by her uncle, who is an oral surgeon in Mexico, and by several encounters with wonderful healthcare professionals, she took on the challenge of pursuing a career in Dentistry. After she graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, Dr. Yessica moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental clinics (Go Hawks!) where besides obtaining her DDS in 2017, she discovered her passion for public health. She was the President and then the Club advisor of the Hispanic Student Dental Association and an active member of the Dental Public Health Club. This gave her the wonderful opportunity to give back to her community and even her own country! Dr. Yessica went on two service-learning trips to Xicotepec, Mexico. Wanting to learn more about public health, she took extracurricular public health classes, which lead her to graduate with a Distinction in Public Health. She then moved to Muskegon, Michigan where she worked as a National Health Service Corps scholar at an FQHC, Hackley Community Care Center. She quickly fell in love with the fun challenge of treating children while working at two school-based programs. Dr. Yessica is incredibly grateful to continue her training as a pediatric resident while pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at UCLA. When Dr. Yessica is not fighting sugar bugs, she is spending time with her husband, Jake, and their two cats, Valentino, and Roo. They love to travel, spend time outdoors, explore new hobbies, and restaurants, but especially visiting their friends and families.
Dr. Yessica Escutia Ponce de Leon was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. She moved with her family to Woodstock, Illinois when she was a junior in High School. She was highly motivated to learn English as she had always dreamt of going to college and pursuing higher education, which she did! Inspired by her uncle, who is an oral surgeon in Mexico, and by several encounters with wonderful healthcare professionals, she took on the challenge of pursuing a career in Dentistry. After she graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, Dr. Yessica moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental clinics (Go Hawks!) where besides obtaining her DDS in 2017, she discovered her passion for public health. She was the President and then the Club advisor of the Hispanic Student Dental Association and an active member of the Dental Public Health Club. This gave her the wonderful opportunity to give back to her community and even her own country! Dr. Yessica went on two service-learning trips to Xicotepec, Mexico. Wanting to learn more about public health, she took extracurricular public health classes, which lead her to graduate with a Distinction in Public Health. She then moved to Muskegon, Michigan where she worked as a National Health Service Corps scholar at an FQHC, Hackley Community Care Center. She quickly fell in love with the fun challenge of treating children while working at two school-based programs. Dr. Yessica is incredibly grateful to continue her training as a pediatric resident while pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at UCLA. When Dr. Yessica is not fighting sugar bugs, she is spending time with her husband, Jake, and their two cats, Valentino, and Roo. They love to travel, spend time outdoors, explore new hobbies, and restaurants, but especially visiting their friends and families.
Suzanne Kan, D.D.S.
Dr. Suzanne Kan was born in Malaysia and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2014. She worked as a general dentist in Malaysia for 4 years, serving her community at a public hospital and later at a private clinic. Originally wanting to pursue esthetic dentistry, a mission trip to Cambodia to serve orphans and homeless children planted a little seed within her. This seed later fully blossomed over the years and she decided to pursue a residency in pediatrics after obtaining her DDS at UCLA. She enjoys having very serious conversations with her patients--like whether they would rather swim in a pool of Jell-O or melted marshmallows. Remember, you're reading the bio of a pediatric resident. So discussions of the sort are of the utmost importance. When she's not in the clinic, you will find her busy cooking, fostering animals, or traveling to cool countries. Dr. Suzanne also loves chocolate and desserts, but she doesn't have a single cavity! Ask her and she will tell you her secrets to keeping your teeth clean and decay free!
Dr. Suzanne Kan was born in Malaysia and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2014. She worked as a general dentist in Malaysia for 4 years, serving her community at a public hospital and later at a private clinic. Originally wanting to pursue esthetic dentistry, a mission trip to Cambodia to serve orphans and homeless children planted a little seed within her. This seed later fully blossomed over the years and she decided to pursue a residency in pediatrics after obtaining her DDS at UCLA. She enjoys having very serious conversations with her patients--like whether they would rather swim in a pool of Jell-O or melted marshmallows. Remember, you're reading the bio of a pediatric resident. So discussions of the sort are of the utmost importance. When she's not in the clinic, you will find her busy cooking, fostering animals, or traveling to cool countries. Dr. Suzanne also loves chocolate and desserts, but she doesn't have a single cavity! Ask her and she will tell you her secrets to keeping your teeth clean and decay free!
Aundrea Goodman, D.D.S.
Dr. Aundrea Goodman is originally from Little Rock, AR but SoCal is her second home. Her journey into dentistry started right after high school. As a registered dental assistant in San Diego, CA, she fell in love with the challenges and rewards of dentistry. She relocated back to Little Rock, AR after having two children, where she finished her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Outside of her career in dentistry , Aundrea enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, high intensity workouts, and trying new foods. As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, this had a strong influence as to why she chose to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry during her matriculation of dental school at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. She feels that is invaluable for parents with children on the spectrum to have medical professionals who provide high-level and specialized care required for their child. Aundrea would love to pay this forward and also serve the underserved.
Dr. Aundrea Goodman is originally from Little Rock, AR but SoCal is her second home. Her journey into dentistry started right after high school. As a registered dental assistant in San Diego, CA, she fell in love with the challenges and rewards of dentistry. She relocated back to Little Rock, AR after having two children, where she finished her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Outside of her career in dentistry , Aundrea enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, high intensity workouts, and trying new foods. As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, this had a strong influence as to why she chose to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry during her matriculation of dental school at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. She feels that is invaluable for parents with children on the spectrum to have medical professionals who provide high-level and specialized care required for their child. Aundrea would love to pay this forward and also serve the underserved.
Nisha Choksi, D.D.S.
Dr. Nisha Choksi grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. She attended the Gies College of Business at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Finance degree. She knew throughout college that she wanted to become a dentist and even shadowed dentistry in Vienna, Austria! She decided to leave the snow for sunshine and moved to Los Angeles to join the UCLA family for her Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Through rotations, shadowing, and advocacy, Dr. Choksi realized she had a passion for pediatrics and serving the public as a whole. Dr. Choksi was very involved in the California Dental Association and student leadership throughout her dental school education. This led her to pursue pediatric dentistry and she is so grateful to continue her training at UCLA as a pediatric dental resident. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Choksi enjoys volunteering at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, practicing hot yoga, and spending time with loved ones. Dr. Choksi is so excited to be a provider and advocate for children all while promoting general health! Eat your vegetables :)
Dr. Nisha Choksi grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. She attended the Gies College of Business at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Finance degree. She knew throughout college that she wanted to become a dentist and even shadowed dentistry in Vienna, Austria! She decided to leave the snow for sunshine and moved to Los Angeles to join the UCLA family for her Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Through rotations, shadowing, and advocacy, Dr. Choksi realized she had a passion for pediatrics and serving the public as a whole. Dr. Choksi was very involved in the California Dental Association and student leadership throughout her dental school education. This led her to pursue pediatric dentistry and she is so grateful to continue her training at UCLA as a pediatric dental resident. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Choksi enjoys volunteering at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, practicing hot yoga, and spending time with loved ones. Dr. Choksi is so excited to be a provider and advocate for children all while promoting general health! Eat your vegetables :)