Clinic Volunteers and Staff

Tom Smith, DDS

Dr. Smith is our founding dentist and continues today as a real workhorse in the war on dental disease. Tom hails from Orlando, FL and has practiced dentistry for over 35 years. Today, in retirement, he passionately serves those who cannot afford dental care in our community.

Michele McDonald, DDS

Dr. McDonald has been a volunteer at the Clinic for three years. Originally from San Diego, she has lived with her husband in the mountain community of Cullowhee, NC since 2004. Michelle has practiced dentistry for 15 years and currently has an active practice in Cashiers, with a focus on pediatric and orthodontic dentistry.

Mel Livernois, DDS

Mel graduated from The University of Michigan in 1971. He practiced for 35 years in Fort Lauderdale, where he was appointed to the role of Dental Examiners for the State Board of Dentistry. In 1991, he was among the first group of five US dentists to use computer aided manufacturing in their practices. Licensed in both Florida and North Carolina, he is also certified by the International Society of Computerized Dentistry. Dr. Livernois is committed to continue contributing his services to the Clinic.

Christopher Dyer, DMD

Dr. Dyer has an active general dentistry practice in Highlands, NC and began his service at the Clinic in 2008. His volunteer time each month allows more dental procedures to be performed, thereby reducing the ever-growing waiting list of patients.

David Silverstein, DDS

A California native, Dr. Silverstein now lives in Franklin, NC, where he has practiced family and implant dentistry for the past 32 years. Since Dr. Silverstein joined our team of dedicated dentists, the Clinic is able to open an additional day per week and treat 8-10 more patients.

Craig Ashton, DDS

Dr. Ashton hails from Rochester, NY and began practicing dentistry in 1963. A graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo, his extensive career includes time as a clinical instructor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Ashton resides in Bonita Springs, FL and has a summer home in Cashiers.

David Jones, DDS

Dr. Jones graduated from the Emory School of Dentistry in 1974 and has been practicing in the Atlanta area since that time. An Olympic class kayak enthusiast, he still resides in Atlanta but has a summer home in Highlands, allowing him to be a valuable member of the volunteer dental team.

Karen Minton, Executive Director

Originally from Indiana, Karen is a graduate of Indiana University. While serving in the United States Air Force, she gained invaluable knowledge and experience in oral surgery and dental technology. After completing her armed forces career, Karen joined the Lincoln Financial Group in health care administrative services. In addition to her professional qualifications, Karen has excellent people skills and is a great asset to the Clinic.

Dental Hygienists and Technicians

The Clinic employs one hygienist and three dental assistants, all of whom work diligently to prepare the patients for various procedures and assist the dentists in their work.

Why I Am a Hygienist at the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic
Nancy Buchanan, RDH

I've been in the field of dentistry my entire adult life. I began as a chairside assistant, but soon switched to hygiene because of my interest in preventive medicine. Being a hygienist also gave me the ability to supplement my income with flexible hours, while spending time with my (then) small children. I knew, even then, that being a dental professional would benefit my family in many ways. Dental care is often not affordable, even for working families. Being a professional in the field ensured that my family's dental needs would be met.

Then came a period of time when I could not work. It hit me even harder then — how very difficult it is for people who can't work, for whatever reason, to afford basic, essential care. I was so relieved when I was able to rejoin the work force and regain access to dental care for my family!

In the long run, I feel that God has blessed me. My career has turned out well, and I now find myself blessed with an opportunity to give back.

When I first began working at the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, it was hard. I was used to private practice, where patients had their teeth cleaned every six months and the work was easy. At the Clinic, the patients we see had the most horrible problems. I would leave the Clinic every day exhausted and discouraged by the massive amounts of decay, debris, and disease I was seeing in our patients. I prayed for strength every morning that I was driving up the mountain to work.

The work is still hard, but I have grown to love the patients and to appreciate the difficulties that they face. After I clean the blackened teeth of some of our patients who originally thought they would be facing full mouth extractions, they are so very appreciative. They begin to feel better about themselves and to feel hope for the future. It is a great sense of accomplishment for me, as opposed to what I was experiencing in private practice.

I may be giving back to the community through my work at the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, but in the long run, our patients give back to me, more than I ever could have imagined.

What Dental Assisting Means to Me
Robby Cahill, Colonel USMC Retired

Everybody has a story to tell. From two combat tours in Vietnam, to leading 2,600 Marines as a Battalion Commander, to Executive Director of a school for disadvantaged adults, to private consulting for the Orange County government in Orlando, to becoming a Dental Assistant! As I phased into what I thought was retirement, I became involved in the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic on the Board of Directors.

As the Clinic grew, we needed dental assistants to assist the growing number of dentists – "I can do that!" was my response. We developed a holistic approach, with each patient in need of not only dental care but other services provided by our community. Each patient has a story, has needs, needs we try to assist in meeting. This is a great clinic doing great things!

I also saw a need to educate children in developing sound dental habits, so I developed the Children's Dental Program, now in its third year in our local schools. As a Rotarian, I was able to convince the Club to fund the program. Funds from the Rotary Club and technical expertise from the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic make for a winning team.

What Dental Assisting Means to Me
Alisha Fricks

When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I delayed entering college. I tried a few different jobs, but then found my way to the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic through a private practice that shares our office space on alternate days. Originally, I was a receptionist, but I soon became fascinated with the art and science of dentistry and began assisting full time.

I have gotten better and better at it, attending some educational symposiums and obtaining a radiology license. I plan to attend dental school, with a focus in Orthodontics.

As the daughter of a struggling single mother, I can really identify with many of our patients. Life is hard, and it means so much to be able to give them a helping hand. If I can save enough money to pay for my education, I hope eventually to be able to provide volunteer dental care for those in need like the dentists in our Clinic. Meanwhile, I am getting some great experience!

What Dental Assisting Means to Me
Stephanie Nichols

We are delighted to be welcoming our newest staff member, Stephanie Nichols, to replace Jennifer McKee in 2012. Like Alisha, Stephanie is a young adult aspiring to a career in dentistry. We are looking forward to learning her perspective on the Clinic as she embarks on this newest chapter in her life.

 

What Dental Assisting Means to Me
Jennifer McKee, Retired

When I began volunteering at BRFDC in 2008, it was as a former English teacher and a Rotarian seeking to offer PR services. I joined the Board and showed up at the Clinic on Wednesday mornings, naively thinking that I could capture the essence of the place for PR purposes while sitting in the front office at a computer. Boy, was I in for a surprise!

Encouraged by the director and staff, it didn’t take long for me to conquer my fear of the operatories and the scary looking instruments. The next thing I knew, I’d gotten my Hepatitis-B shots, was wearing scrubs, and was on staff — enmeshed in the deeper picture. Sometimes when patients left our office, we would hug and cry together. They could be veterans who get no help from the VA, elderly people on disability with no savings, or single mothers (sometimes battered) who can’t afford dentures.

I am leaving active service as an assistant to return to a teaching career in 2012, but my heart remains with the Clinic, and I am happy about the prospect of continuing to serve as a consultant.