Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Born and raised in Sacramento, I left the family nest to achieve my Bachelors degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara. Since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a dentist, therefore I was ecstatic to have been accepted into UC San Francisco School of Dentistry.
During my dental education I completed a NIH/Fogarty International Research and Global Health Fellowship. I lived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and worked in the children/adolescent wing of a HIV/TB clinic. It was here that I found my passion in working with children. After graduating from UCSF Dental School, I received my specialty certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from University of Southern California.
Growing up I benefited from a very family oriented and interactive dental home, therefore I strive to improve the lives of children by providing exceptional preventative and restorative dentistry in a fun and loving environment. I believe that early prevention, interception, and education will aid in a positive dental experience that will translate into a life-long healthy smile.
When I am out of the office I enjoy many outdoor activities such as soccer, beach volleyball, scuba diving, surfing, yoga, and running/hiking with my dog. I am an avid world traveler and am always looking forward to my next backpacking adventure!
Born and raised in Petaluma, Heather chose to stay local and attended the College of Marin Dental Assisting program in 2016. Heather always knew that she had a passion for working with children and wanted to find a job that would allow her to work closely with kids, helping them with their hygiene and educating them on everything she learned in the Dental Assisting Program.
During her study at the College of Marin, Heather started an internship at Dr. Espinosa’s office and quickly made herself an indispensable member of the team. Heather then joined the team full-time as Dr. Espinosa’s lead assistant shortly after her graduation and quickly recognized her passion and ability to connect with the children in regards to hygiene education, cavity prevention, and behavior management.
In 2018, Heather and her husband Brian welcomed their first baby boy, Wyatt into their family and he instantly became the light of their life. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending quality time watching her fast-growing son and cooking for her loved ones. Heather loves to tackle DIY projects both in the office and at home, and one of her favorite pastimes is taking a walk with the family dog, Bonnie.
Heather has been an amazing addition to our team and always diligent care to guide and educate the children during their visits. Heather has been vital to keeping the office organized and running smoothly since her first days with Dr. Espinosa. Heather may wear many hats around the office, but one thing is for sure – she will always have a home in Dr. Espinosa’s office.
Born and raised in Petaluma, Joe grew up loving the outdoors and all that there was to explore in Sonoma County. Originally thinking of pursuing a career in nursing, Joe attended Santa Rosa Junior College for two years and acquired his certification for nursing assistance in 2016, before working a short assignment as a home-health-aid over the summer.
While studying at the Santa Rosa Junior College, Joe discovered he had a newfound passion in Digital Marketing, and soon found himself working for a company that specialized in digital marketing campaigns for dentists. While there he learned the ins-and-outs of the dental field while working closely with dentists to bring new patients into the office and grow their practices.
After a year of working with that marketing company, Joe took his newly acquired knowledge and joined the dental field at Dr. Espinosa’s office, working the front line as their new office manager. If you’ve ever called or emailed into our office, you probably spoke to him! Joe works hard to make sure that every family in our practice feels welcome and has their individual needs met. His favorite part of the job is watching the children leave with a smile on their faces and asking when their next dental appointment is.
In his time off, Joe spends his time at home or outside with his girlfriend. He loves to cook big (and usually expensive!) meals, he loves to take his dog to the dog park or take him on a hike, and you can usually find Joe getting a large iced caramel macchiato on any given day. He loves living in Sonoma County and looks forward to one day finding a beautiful house here to call his own.