Linda Brookman
Title: Dental Hygienist (RDH) and Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP)
How long have you worked here? 17 years
How long have you worked in the dental industry? 40 years!
Where did you grow up? I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Orange County, California when I was four. After graduating from USC in 1979, I stayed in Santa Monica.
What do you do for fun? Any hobbies? I love to play tennis, ski, hike, travel, and read. And I love the ocean!
Do you have kids and/or pets? I have three sons, Jordan, Myles, and Max. I have a husband, Dan. Two dogs; a Jack Russell and a Jack Russel Mix - Lili, and Freddie
What is something most people don't know about you? I love adventures! Rock climbing, canoe trips, camping, snow-shoeing, sailing, backpacking and more.
Do you have a favorite app? My Pandora music is my favorite app. My second favorite is Audible Books.
If you had a couple of weeks off to travel, where would you go? and why? I would travel to Australia and New Zealand - and I'm going there in August! I would love to go to Japan too. I like to experience different cultures.
Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Restaurant? Sports team? Too many to name. Dodgers are my favorite team. Watching and attending tennis tournaments is my favorite sport to watch.
Do you have a favorite charity or like to volunteer anywhere? Dental charities: so many people cannot afford dental work or even preventive care.
Anything else you would like to share?
My resume: Linda Brookman, BSDH, MSEd, RDHAP, and a fellow in Special Care Dentistry, is an Associate Professor of clinical dentistry in the Department of Dental Hygiene and in the Division of Dental Public Health & Pediatric Dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. She is the Co-director of the Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van Prevention Program where she supervises dental hygiene students who provide preventive oral health services to children in inner-city elementary schools in Los Angeles. Ms. Brookman is also the supervising dental hygiene faculty for the Geriatric Mobile Dental Unit at Hollenbeck Skilled Nursing facility. She has worked in private practice for 40 years and has taught in academia for 17 years. She has co-taught internationally with Ms. Anna Pattison on Advanced Instrumentation. She has lectured nationally and abroad on Interprofessional Education/Collaboration and Mobile and Tele-dentistry. Ms. Brookman has published articles in peer-reviewed journals on instrumentation and mobile dentistry. She has collaborated with a dental service organization and created pilot-programs with them for RDHAPs to provide oral health care in alternative settings in the community. She is an honorary member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), a member of ADEA, ADHA, SCDA, WSP, CDHA, and CDHEA.
Becky Thaler
Title: Dental Hygienist
How long have you worked here? 1998
How long have you worked in the dental industry? Since my son was small and my hair was long
Where did you grow up? Yorba Linda, CA
What do you do for fun? Any hobbies? I like to race C15, J24 and C14 sailboats, camp, sew, read, cook, entertain and make my dog’s life amazing.
Do you have kids and/or pets? I have a son and 3 granddaughters in Philadelphia and a standard poodle who is too cute.
What is something most people don't know about you? I’m crazy about science fiction.
If you had a couple of weeks off to travel, where would you go? and why? Spain because I speak and read the literature but have never been.
Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Restaurant? Sports team?
Movie: right now it’s Roma
Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Restaurant: Lazy Daisy
Team: USC!
Do you have a favorite charity or like to volunteer anywhere? I trained as a CERT for LAFD and continue to refresh my training, most recently getting my HAM license to assist in disaster communication.
I volunteered as faculty at USC’s mobile dental clinic from 1981 to 2015 helping give comprehensive dental treatment to indigent children in our California communities, starting as a volunteer student myself.
I volunteered as assistant producer for the National Leukemia Broadcast council for a number of years, and continue to be involved in my community.
Anything else you would like to share? I have traveled and taught advanced periodontal instrumentation to dental professionals, faculty, and students all over the US and world with the Pattisons.
I taught at USC School of dentistry for many years in the departments of dental hygiene, predoctoral periodontics, and community dentistry.
I love to learn and apply my skills at a high level to transform disease into health and maintenance.
Patty Lopez
Title: Dental Hygienist
How long have you worked here? 25 years
How long have you worked in the dental industry? 25 years
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Quito Ecuador. I came to the United States in 1982.
What do you do for fun? Any hobbies? I love to get together with family and friends and simply walk in nature. I love hiking, swimming, yoga, meditations, bicycling and skiing.
Do you have kids and/or pets? I have three kids, Ibrahim 23-year-old, Nadia 21-year-old, and Salma 12-year-old.
What is something most people don't know about you? I am a morning person, I like to get up around 5 am and feel if I sleep in, I am not productive.
I do not like watching TV or the news.
I am terrified of public speaking but I am working thru it.
I love simple living.
I treasure time by myself.
If you had a couple of weeks off to travel, where would you go? and why? I would travel to Machu Pichu in Peru. It's one of the places on my bucket list. It is one of the Wonders of the world. I would love to admire the site, also, see the brilliance of the Incas and their culture. I want to feel the energy in the remarkable empire which extended from Peru to Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and parts of Colombia.
Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Restaurant? Sports team?
My favorite movie White Chicks, super funny.
My favorite book The game of Life by Florence Scovel Shin.
My favorite restaurant, a Chinese restaurant called Happy Family.
My favorite team, the Lakers.
Do you have a favorite charity or like to volunteer anywhere? I volunteer at Harbor Care LA, it's an organization that promotes the health and wellbeing of under-served populations.
Anything else you would like to share? I am very grateful and passionate about my career as a Dental Hygienist. It provides me with a unique opportunity to positively impact the oral health of every single person that comes into our dental office.
Rosario Fernandez
Title: Dental Hygienist
How long have you worked here? Almost 2 years
Where did you grow up? I grew up in the Southern California area more specifically in the Pasadena area.
How long have you worked in the dental industry? I have worked in the dental industry for the past 35 years, from the back office as a dental assistant, receptionist, and as a dental hygienist. I have worked primarily in perio offices but also in general dental offices and children's dental clinic. My career path has given me the opportunity to work with LA County Department of Health Services, City of Pasadena Public Health Department, and as Adjunct Faculty for Pasadena City College in the Dental Hygiene Program. I'm currently working 4 days in the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Dental Hygiene Department and in Division of Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry.
What do you do for fun? Any hobbies? I enjoy traveling doing weekend getaways, Dodger games, hockey games, indoor or outdoor concerts, wine tasting, and shopping. I love to spend time with my family and friends. My hobbies are hiking, going for walks and going to the gym.
Do you have kids and/or pets? I have one daughter Alyssa who is 24 years old. We have 2 dogs Snickers (13 years old) and Nellie (3 years old).
What is something most people don't know about you? I knew at a very young age maybe around 12 years old that I wanted to do something in the dental field. I'm so happy I knew that and glad I follow my passion.
Do you have a favorite app? Pinterest and Facebook
If you had a couple of weeks off to travel, where would you go? and why? I would love to travel throughout Europe but more specifically visit Spain, Italy, England, and Greece. One of my places to travel on my bucket list is Bora Bora!!
Do you have a favorite movie? Book? Restaurant? Sports team?
Fried Green Tomatoes, Forest Gump, Toy Story, Stand by Me, to name a few.
I love Sushi and could eat it every day.
I love my Dodgers and Trojans!
Do you have a favorite charity or like to volunteer anywhere?
La Providencia Guild of Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Iris James
Title: Insurance coordinator
How long have you worked here? 24 years
How long have you worked in the dental industry? 31 years
Cecilia Jimenez
Title: Surgical Assistant
How long have you worked here? 1.8 yrs
How long have you worked in the dental industry? 16yrs
Where did you grow up? Ventura County