Drs David Milder & Theresa Tsai 

    For 25-plus years Dave Milder, DDS, MD and Theresa Tsai, DDS, have been well known and knowledgeable San Diego Dental Health Foundation supporters. Since joining the San Diego County Dental Society back in 1993, Doctors Milder and Tsai have strengthened the organization in significant ways by being active members – on boards and committees – and through their on-going support and continual involvement in the San Diego Dental Health Foundation which will be felt for generations. Doctors Milder and Tsai are valued by the SDDHF staff and board and, they humbly acknowledge, “We look not only to our success as a profession but also to the dental health of our community locally, nationally, and globally.” Doctor Milder has been a member of the San Diego Dental Health Foundation board, Leadership Development Committee, and is a past Dental Society president.
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    With their distinguished backgrounds, they bring their sensitivity, integrity and compassion to all things related to patient care – particularly the John Geis DDS Dental Clinic. “You don’t have to go beyond our local community to identify plenty of unmet and underfunded dental need. We feel comforted and, more importantly, rewarded by actively donating to a reputable foundation that will utilize our gifts in an efficient and effective manner.

Dr Douglas & Michelle Christiansen 

     One of our most active members, Dr Douglas Christiansen, and his wife, Michelle, recall becoming involved with the San Diego Dental Health Foundation “as a way to give back to our community. The Foundation helps to strengthen the ties between our dental society and the general population comprised of the patients we treat.” The conscientious dentist wants to make sure support for a cause and community he is passionate about will carry on. That cause is helping educate children about the tremendous lifelong benefits of maintaining healthy dentition and providing increased dental treatment and education opportunities to the greater San Diego and Imperial Counties.
    
​     Not only an engaged board member and past-president, Dr Christiansen and Michelle are generous donors known for their commitment to service. His involvement with the Foundation board has been crucial to the Foundation’s growth over the years. Having seen the great work the Foundation does, Dr Christiansen feels tremendously confident about the future of oral health in our community. “When I retire, I would love to see dentistry as high or even higher a trusted profession than when I began practicing. The Foundation has become a trusted source for dental health and education and is always looking to increase and build upon that esteem.”       

Dr Yuri Kaneda

   Dr Yuri Kaneda’s collaboration with the San Diego Dental Health Foundation started more than twenty years ago. It was due to her mentor, Dr Thomas Abts, who saw the potential in both her and in organized dentistry that inspired Dr Kaneda to heed the call to service. Dr Kaneda recalls “I feel it is worthwhile to contribute to a cause. We are blessed by our profession and it’s important to pass those blessings forward.”
      
​   There was a lot happening during that time and, just like today, The San Diego Dental Health Foundation has been able to act quickly and address the needs of the dental profession by providing educational and outreach opportunities. Seeing how successful the organization has become has inspired Dr Kaneda to serve the community and to give philanthropically from her distinguished professional background. “Moving forward, I’d like to see more scholarships for local dental students” says Dr Kaneda and with continued support through our annual appeals, the foundation was able to award six pre-dental scholarships this year to students from California State University San Marcos, University of California San Diego & University of San Diego.

Dr Leslie Strommer

    Leslie Strommer may still be relatively new to the San Diego Dental Health Foundation Board, but don’t let that fool you – she’s been an active Society member for 26 years and a progressive fund raiser and president-elect of the Dental Health Foundation. A successful dentist for nearly three decades, Dr Strommer’s fundraising began when she launched the ‘Crown our Community’ project which, in turn, established the ‘Dentistry for Humanity’ fund. From there, the rest is history. “I met with Lester Machado and wanted to find out how the Dental Health Foundation could help me with this project. We were able to partner with SDDHF to raise $60,000 with the San Diego Cerec community and help build the John Geis DDS Dental Clinic at VVSD.”
    As the President-Elect, Dr Strommer is excited to work with new board members and collaboration between the dental society and the dental foundation. Dr Strommer believes in the importance in giving back. “As a dentist, I believe in the importance of our role in total health and wellness of our patients. With that, I feel it is my responsibility and feel inspired when I give back.”

Dr Scott & Kimber Szotko

​The dynamic husband and wife duo, Dr Scott & Kimber Szotko, honor a personal pledge to support the San Diego County Dental Foundation. “The truth is, each of us has unique talents we can contribute.” Well-known professionals in the San Diego dental community and actively involved on the Dental Society Board, among others, Scott and Kimber have been passionate supporters of philanthropic work across the tri-partite. Most recently, Dr Szotko’s efforts have been focused on supporting the CDA Foundation by volunteering in the CDA Cares event throughout the state. They have also participated in the ADA’s ‘Give Kids A Smile’ and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s ‘Give Back A Smile’ programs in years past. Yet, this year, the couple wanted to giveback to the community they call home. “I want to support our efforts locally. Supporting the John Geis DDS Dental Clinic at Veteran’s Village is the perfect way to do that!”
            In balancing work and philanthropic efforts, Dr Szotoko wants his enthusiasm to rub off on more dental professionals so they truly understand the mission of the Dental Foundation and its impact in the greater San Diego community. “We really are out there doing great things for the community, for veterans, and for dentistry. Through all our combined efforts, more people will see we really are a membership that cares for people!”

Dr Melanie Parker

     You might not know Melanie Parker by name, but you have almost certainly seen her work in San Diego. An Orthodontist who’s actively involved with the San Diego County Dental Society for over nineteen years – serving both on the board and several committees – focuses her time, talent and passion for service by actively participating and giving back to the San Diego Dental Health Foundation.
     “It’s quite selfish, really,” Dr Parker says of her involvement with SDDHF. Dr Parker supports the Foundation and many of the volunteer projects that are near and dear to her heart. It’s in giving back and being of service to the underserved communities in San Diego which brings her the most satisfaction, saying, “Being an active member of the dental society in San Diego for many years is great, however the Foundation is one of the best things that we do!”