My journey of life isn't exactly linear. I graduated from Santa Clara with a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in religious studies. My career life began in a 1991 -during a less than desirable job market-with a PA job in Los Angeles - no not physician assistant but rather a production assistant , in the “ Biz” (a very significant job of dropping off scripts to B rated actors’ houses ...oh wait it did star The Wonder Years actress , Danica McKell- my claim to fame 😉). Following the production I returned to the bay area and landed a job with Oracle for a few years. Following a soul searching "what color is your parachute “ class and obtaining the necessary prerequ’s took the leap to dental school in middle america, Creighton University. I’ve practiced dentistry in Portland , Omaha and now Marin. I have come to love serving and engaging with this bay area community and working to help them with their oral care. I am so fortunate to work with this amazing group of women and so proud of this team we built.
Together …that supports each other ...and the practice and the patients. I’m so grateful.
One of the most rewarding things in this job is getting to know patients, hearing their stories , where they have been in life, where they are now, and the bonus of being able to follow some of their life's current and how it shapes them . And their sharing helps me evolve. I am continually humbled when I learn new things about them.
I grew up on Kauai where my dad was born and raised. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters and I fall 5th down the line. My parents still live on the Island. My mom has been living with parkinsons for 16 years and has been in a wheelchair for 6 years . Lacking medical options they have been blessed to have a group of wonderful Filipino nurses on the Island that I have no doubt , keeps my mom around.
In my free time I run the beautiful trails of Marin ( not far , but just enough to steer my head towards a calm and peaceful place). I continually try to keep my 16 and 18 year old boys alive and fed ( I gave up on telling them what to do and expecting them to follow what they hear from me but I articulate it just the same) . They are figuring out who they are and who they want to become…and hopefully who they don’t want to become . I am working on trying to realize that while they are part “of” me they are their own separate unique beings. I also enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks …spoiling furry four legged friends…and Sacred moments are evening Salt baths with a special beverage and a book or a magazine. And oh yes Sleep is the most sacred of all gifts for sure. I hope you stop by and meet this wonderful group I am privileged to work with,
With warm aloha
Rita
