Welcome to the DentaQuest Oral Health Center

Dentists

Dr. Peter Blanchard, Director of Evidence Based Practice
Dr. Blanchard is Dental Director of the DentaQuest Oral Health Center where he also serves as a general dentist. Formerly, Dr. Blanchard served as the Chief of Dentistry at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Dr. Blanchard has a MBA in Health Care Management from Boston University Graduate School of Management. He received his DDS degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry and his Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University. Dr. Blanchard is a member of the American Dental Association and the National Association of Dental Plans. In addition, he is both a National Board Member and Practitioner Investigator with the PEARL Network (Practitioners Engaged in Applied Research and Learning), sponsored by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

Dr. Joy-Ann Deane, Clinical Director
Dr. Deane is the clinical director at DentaQuest Oral Health Center where she also serves as a general dentist. She received her DDS degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and her General Practice Residency certificate from Montefiore Medical Center/Jacobi in Bronx, NY. Dr. Deane received Gamma Pi Delta Prosthodontic Honor Society’s certificate of excellence for demonstrating exceptional ability in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics for all four years of dental school. She serves as a co-investigator with PEARL Network and is a member of the Academy of General Dentists and the American Dental Association. Dr. Deane is the proud mother of two children.

Dr. John Ducimo, General Dentist
Dr. Ducimo is a general dentist and Director of Quality Improvement at DentaQuest Oral Health Center. He has served on the Massachusetts Dental Society’s Leadership Institute and co-chaired an ad hoc committee on dental volunteer opportunities. Prior to joining the DentaQuest Oral Health Center, Dr. Ducimo served as Dental Co-Director and Dental Director at two community health centers in the Worcester area. During that time, he taught dental hygiene students at Quinsigamond Community College. Dr. Ducimo received his DMD degree from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He is a member of the American Dental Association and is a co-investigator with the PEARL Network.

Dr. Amy Ala, Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Ala is the DentaQuest Oral Health Center’s pediatric dentist. She places a high value on gentle, quality care for all her young patients. She received her DMD degree from Tufts University and her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Connecticut. She is a Board Candidate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Dental Society. In addition to seeing patients at the DentaQuest Oral Health Center, Dr. Ala is an instructor in Pediatric Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and on the staff at the Franciscan Hospital for Children. Her writing has been published in the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society and in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Ala joined the staff of the DentaQuest Oral Health Center in 2011.

Dr. Gohar Mkrtchyan, General Dentist
Dr. Mkrtchyan is a general dentist at DentaQuest Oral Health Center and focuses on oral surgery and implant services. She received her DMD degree from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s Advanced Standing program and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Implantology from the same institution. Dr. Mkrtchyan is a member of the American Dental Association and a co-investigator with the PEARL Network.

Dr. Stephen Shea, General Dentist
Dr. Stephen Shea is a general dentist. He received his DDS degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry and his undergraduate BA degree from St. Anselm College. Prior to joining the DentaQuest Oral Health Center, Dr. Shea spent 26 years in private practice in Gardner, MA followed by nine years at Community Health Connections (CHC) Dental Service in Fitchburg MA. At CHC, he served as the Director of Community Heath Relations, Associate Dental Director, and Dental Director. During this time, in conjunction with the Oral Health Initiative of North Central Massachusetts, Dr. Shea served as Program Director for the school-based dental sealant program and Gateway Health Access Program as well as an instructor in prevention of dental diseases to physicians, nurses and expectant parents. In addition, Dr. Shea was a member of the adjunct faculty at Mount Wachusett Community College Hygiene School for five years where he taught local anesthesia techniques for the Pain Control class. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Mount Wachusett Community College Dental Hygiene Program. Dr. Shea is a member of the American Dental Association, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Dental Society and a past member of the Central New England Dental Research Group.

Dr. Anna Simon, Orthodontist
Dr. Simon is the Orthodontist at DentaQuest Oral Health Center. She also serves as an Orthodontics Associate at the Office of Dr. Marcel Korn. Dr. Simon received her DMD and a Postgraduate Certificate in Orthodontics from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Hispanic Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontics, and the American Dental Association.

Hygienists

Margaret Flynn, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Margaret Flynn, Registered Dental Hygienist, joined DentaQuest Oral Health Center in 2003. She graduated with honors from Quinsigamond Community College in 1995 with a degree in Dental Hygiene and also received the Clinical Excellence Award. Margaret is licensed to practice Dental Hygiene in the Northeast Region and in Florida. She is also licensed to administer local anesthesia. Margaret is a member of the American Dental Hygienist Association and the Massachusetts Dental Hygienist Association.

Heidi Hamburger, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Heidi Hamburger, Registered Dental Hygienist, joined the staff of DentaQuest Oral Health Center in 2002, after graduating from Middlesex Community College, Lowell, Massachusetts with an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. After a brief break as a stay-at-home mom, Heidi returned to DentaQuest Oral Health Center in 2004 as part-time staff. Prior to becoming a dental hygienist, Heidi worked as a dental assistant for six years. In 2006, she earned a Certificate in the Administration and Delivery of Local Anesthetics from Mount Ida Collage.

Keith Hamburger, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Keith Hamburger, Registered Dental Hygienist, is a 2003 graduate of Middlesex Community College, Lowell, Massachusetts with an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. He is a current member of the American Dental Hygienist Association. Keith participates in DentaQuest Oral Health Center’s PEARL Network studies. Keith also holds an Associate of Science Degree from Middlesex Community College's Dental Technology Program and formerly worked as a dental laboratory technician. Keith strives to build long-term professional relationships with his patients in order to improve their dental health and has a keen interest in history.

Joanne M. Johnson, RDH, Research Hygienist Team Leader
Joanne Johnson is a 1975 graduate of Quinsigamond Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program. In 2000, she became one of the first hygienists of DentaQuest Oral Health Center. Joanne plays a unique role as the Research Hygienist Team Leader, coordinating staff training as well as compliance with protocols for the DentaQuest Oral Health Center’s research studies. She is also one of PEARL Network’s Clinical Research Coordinators and has served on its Practice Research Coordinator Advisory Group since its inception in 2006. She is a past member of the Massachusetts Public Health Dental Hygienist Association and the Oral Health Advocacy Task Force. Joanne is a strong community advocate for individuals afflicted with mental illness. Since 2004, Joanne has been an active board member for Community Healthlink, Inc. as well as the University of Massachusetts Memorial Behavioral Health System, and she served as the vice president of NAMI Central Massachusetts for six years. In her free time, Joanne earned a First Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do.

Rosemary Marangi-Marsden, RDH, Dental Hygiene Coordinator
Rosemary is both a dental hygienist and DentaQuest Oral Health Center’s Dental Hygiene Coordinator. Rosemary received her Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York, class of 1981. Prior to joining DentaQuest Oral Health Center in 2003, she practiced for seven years in various general dentistry offices in New York State, including three years working with special needs patients. Rosemary is licensed to administer local anesthesia after completing her certificate at Middlesex Community College in 2007. She is actively involved in PEARL Network research projects conducted at DentaQuest Oral Health Center. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Public Health Dental Hygienists Association and the Oral Health Advocacy Task Force.

MyLinda Murray, RDH, Dental Hygienist
MyLinda Murray is a registered dental hygienist at the DentaQuest Oral Health Center. She is a 2007 high honors graduate of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts and is licensed to administer local anesthesia. MyLinda is a member of the American Dental Hygienist Association, the Massachusetts Public Health Dental Hygiene Association, and the Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps.

Daniela Phakansa, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Daniela Phakansa is a Registered Dental Hygienist at DentaQuest Oral Health Center. Daniela graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island in 2004 with an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. Prior to joining Oral Health Center, she practiced for 3 years at a general dental practice and was a Dental Assistant for 6 years prior to receiving her RDH degree. She is a member of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienist Association and the American Dental Hygienist Association.

Kristen Renaud, RDH, Dental Hygienist
Kristen Renaud is a Registered Dental Hygienist at DentaQuest Oral Health Center. She graduated with high honors from Quinsigamond Community College Dental Hygiene Program in Worcester, MA in 2007 and is licensed to administer local anesthesia. Kristen worked as clinical instructor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Forsyth School of Dental Health from 2008 to 2009. She has been on staff at DentaQuest Oral Health Center since 2003, working as a receptionist prior to the completion of her dental hygiene degree. She is currently involved in the various research studies. She also works as a Clinical Dental Hygiene Instructor at Quinsigamond Community College.

Administration

Mark Doherty, DMD, Executive Director
Dr. Mark Doherty serves as the Executive Director for the DentaQuest Institute and Director of its Safety Net Solutions program. He is responsible for strategic planning, program growth and development, oversight of program staff and activities, and evaluation of program success. Dr. Doherty provides leadership and direction for all DentaQuest Institute technical assistance consulting projects, ensuring that the work is of the highest caliber.

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Doherty served as the Director of Oral Health Services at Dorchester House Multi-Service Center in Boston, MA. He currently serves as the Chief Dental Officer for the Taunton Oral Health Center and for Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Services which provides portable oral health care at sites throughout Massachusetts. He has served as a consultant for multiple organizations, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He holds appointments at several institutions, including the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Dental Medicine and Lutheran Medical Center.

Dr. Doherty received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a residency in general dental practice through the Massachusetts Veterans Administration Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine and was awarded a Master of Public Health from Madison University.

Jay Anderson, DMD, MHSA
Director DentaQuest Oral Health Center
Dr. Jay Anderson is the Director of the DentaQuest Oral Health Center and the Director for Practice Improvement for the DentaQuest Institute. Previously, he served as Chief Dental Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) where he worked to ensure access to care for millions of at-risk Americans who depend on safety net dental clinics and health centers. Dr. Anderson was the 2010 U.S. Public Health Service Jack D. Robertson Dental Award recipient, one of the highest awards given by the USPHS in the dental category. Dr. Anderson's efforts throughout his career have greatly advanced the mission to improve access to oral health care for underserved populations.
Dr. Anderson is a member of the American Dental Association and a founding member of the National Network for Oral Health Access. Dr. Anderson graduated from the University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry. He received a Master of Health Services Administration (M.H.S.A.) from The University of Michigan School of Public Health and has served on the faculty of several dental schools as an Adjunct Clinical Professor.

Andrea Dickhaut RDH, BSDH, MHA, Practice Administrator
Andrea Dickhaut serves as the Practice Administrator of the DentaQuest Oral Health Center and is responsible for everyday operations. Andrea has many years of experience as a dental hygienist, practice manager and administrator in both private practice and public health environments. Previous to joining the DentaQuest Oral Health Center, Andrea was an Assistant Clinical Professor at Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine and a member of the adjunct faculty at Quinsigamond Community College School of Dental Hygiene. In addition to her years of clinical and teaching experience, Andrea most recently served as the Senior Director of Dental Operations at Community Health Connections in Fitchburg where she was responsible for developing and implementing a variety of initiatives designed to improve clinical quality and operational efficiency. Andrea holds a Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Arizona and a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration from Worcester State University.

Angelic Tusia, Assistant Office Manager
Angelic Tusia is the Assistant Office Manager for the DentaQuest Oral Health Center. She maintains and oversees day-to-day functions and works closely with the Practice Administrator. Prior to joining the DentaQuest team, Angelic worked in private practice for 12 years where she was responsible for all aspects of running a viable dental practice.