Meet Our Dental Team Santa Fe
Our Reliable Team
Have you ever visited a dentist and every six months you’re being greeted by new staff members that don’t know your name? That’s not the case at Juniper Dental. Our small but mighty dental team in Santa Fe is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated to personalizing each of our patients’ visits. We invite you to read a little more about them below.
Cathleen, Receptionist
Cathleen enjoys meeting and interacting with our patients, greeting them and providing a warm, calm, and welcoming environment. She has worked in both the private and public sectors but has always enjoyed the fields of medical and dental care because it gives her the chance to help people. Before joining our team, Cathleen served as a licensed practical nurse as well as a paralegal.
A native Santa Fean whose family goes back many generations, Cathleen is the proud mother of two adult sons and has one lovely daughter-in-law as well as two beautiful granddaughters. In her free time, she likes being outdoors, taking long walks, traveling, fishing, reading, and doing yoga.
Iris, Dental Assistant
Iris says that the best thing about her job is that she gets to help others maintain healthy smiles. Her primary goal is to provide top-quality dental care to all our patients and ensure they feel comfortable and at ease during their visits. She understands that going to the dentist can sometimes be an anxiety-inducing experience, and she strives to create a welcoming and friendly environment for each individual who walks through our doors.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Iris studied at Santa Fe Community College. On the weekends, you’ll often find her playing soccer in a local league, exercising, and hanging out with her family.
Valeria, Registered Dental Hygienist
Valeria recently joined the team! Originally from Nuevo Casas Grandes in Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to the U.S. at age 11. Valeria brings over four years of experience in the dental field, starting as a dental assistant. She holds certifications in Laser treatment, Local Anesthesia, CPR, OSHA, and HIPAA. She studied at Santa Fe Community College and San Juan College. Passionate about creating smiles and helping people, Valeria finds her role profoundly fulfilling. Outside work, she enjoys soccer, hiking, and watching NM United and the Isotopes games. She loves animals and values time with her family and friends.
Rita, Registered Dental Hygienist
With close to four full decades of experience in the dental field, Rita loves meeting new patients and building strong relationships with current ones while helping them achieve their best smiles. She studied at Weber State College for her undergraduate degree before going to the University of New Mexico to complete the Dental Hygiene program. Over the years, she’s obtained experience in treating periodontal disease, received extensive training in oral pathology, implant care, and nitrous oxide sedation, and is also certified in OSHA and local anesthesia.
Rita moved from Albuquerque to Santa Fe for her husband’s career, and they’ve been loving their experience in Santa Fe. Together, they have two daughters, and they enjoy visiting them whenever possible. She enjoys being in the great outdoors with her dogs and getting plenty of exercise. One interesting fact about her is that she grew up with her father who was in the horse racing business, which is why she often follows the Kentucky Derby prep races every year.
Alan, Dental Assistant
Born and raised in Santa Fe, NM, Alan was taught at a young age to have respect and compassion for others, which is what shaped him into being the person he is today. He also remembers going to his dental appointments as a child and always being curious about the instruments, materials, and labor—which is why he grew a love for the dental field. After graduating from Capitol High School, he went on to attend Carrington College for the Dental Assistant Program. Today, he loves assisting Dr. Zhang with procedures, exams, and patient needs, and he feels incredibly rewarded when he sees a patient gaining their smile back.
Outside of the dental office, Alan spends much of his quality time with his parents and sister who are his greatest supporters. Other than helping others with their smiles, he enjoys upholding family traditions, such as having family gatherings, going out for fun, and traveling to new places together.
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