What Makes Us
Different

Lori was born and raised in the Central Valley and currently lives in Modesto with her husband, Bob. They have four married children and eight incredible grandchildren. Lori’s dental career began in 1999 after several years in the banking field. She joined Dr. Acree’s practice in 2002, doing various front-office positions as well as bookkeeping and payroll duties, and later becoming the office manager.

‍
Lori enjoys collaborating and planning with the team to continually create an outstanding patient experience. She loves how the entire office team genuinely cares for each patient and works hard to provide excellent care. In her spare time, Lori enjoys hanging with her family and getting outdoors.

Missy is from Escalon, CA. She started her dental studies at Brightwood College and UEI College. She did her externship at Western Dental and is very excited to be working alongside Dr. Acree and his team. She loves interacting with her patients and getting to know everyone. In her free time, Missy likes to read, paint, cook, and spend time with her fiancé and her daughter.

Originally from Monterey County, Irma has lived in Modesto for the past 9 years. She graduated from Kaplan College in 2013 as a Registered Dental Assistant. In her past 7 years, she has grown to have tremendous professionalism and commitment which is noticeably reflected in her positive attitude and delivery of care to her patients and dental team. In her time away from the dental chair, she enjoys practicing mixed martial arts, spending time with her friends, family, and dog Sir Charles.

Kirstie was born and raised in the Modesto area. Growing up with a mom in the dental field, she learned at a young age that dental health was very important. When she was searching for her career path, she decided to go into the dental field to follow in her mom’s footsteps. Kirstie attended the dental assisting program at Kaplan College, and she has been in the field since 2016. She loves every minute of working in the dental field, especially when she helps create beautiful smiles. When Kirstie is not working, she loves to go on spontaneous adventures with her husband and their 2-year-old daughter. They love to go sightseeing, camping and fishing at a lake, and love visiting zoos.

Sharon is originally from Dublin, Ireland, having immigrated to the United States in her twenties. She is married with three daughters and seven grandchildren. Sharon came to the States with an Irish smile that needed some attention from orthodontists and she is thankful for both them and her beautiful smile!  

‍
Sharon joined the Dental field in 2003 and thoroughly enjoys working with people, helping them understand the importance of regular dental care. Getting to know great patients has brought her many new friends and acquaintances. She likes to spend her free time working on home improvement projects, working out, and walking her two fur babies.

Diane is originally from North Carolina and moved to California as a teenager. After graduating from high school, she knew she wanted a career that would allow her to help people. Diane began her dental career working as a dental assistant, eventually becoming a registered dental assistant. Diane also has ten years of experience working in pediatrics, orthodontics, and general practices.

‍
Her motivation to go into dentistry comes from unfortunate dental experiences from her own childhood. The desire to remove the fear of dentistry motivated her to return to school and become a dental hygienist. She graduated from Foothill College with a degree in dental hygiene. Diane has worked with Dr. Acree for 18 years now and has lived in Ripon with her husband for 19 years. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband, their dog, Bindi, and their cat, Socks. Diane treasures getting outside, walking or gardening, and loves to cook.

With a dad who was an officer in the USMC, Karan moved every 2-3 years. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, but has lived all over the country and was even stationed in Okinawa for two years. After graduating from Manteca High School, Karan went on to study dental assisting at Midstate College in Modesto. Within two years, she had earned her RDA. She has practiced dental assisting in Modesto for 27 years. In 2007, she graduated from Dental Hygiene School in Visalia and has been practicing as a hygienist for 13 years now.

Karan has been happily married to her high school sweetheart, Donald, for 37 years.

‍
Together, they have two grown children; Donnie, who works for the family business (dairy and farming), and Kayla, who is a school teacher in Ripon. They also have three lovely grandchildren Genevieve, Amelia, and Derek. In her free time. Karan enjoys quilting, sewing, and traveling.

Born and raised in Modesto, Tracy set her sights on becoming a dental hygienist after high school. After graduating from Breyer High and finishing Modesto Junior College, Tracy went on to pass the rigorous state dental boards and graduated from San Joaquin Valley College in 2005. When she is not providing care to her patients, she enjoys watching sports and movies, camping, doing yard work, and spending time with her husband and two boys.

With more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, Paula is a valuable member of the team here at Downey Park Family Dentistry. Paula has an extensive educational background with an Associate of Science in dental hygiene, a Bachelor of Science in health systems with a certificate in gerontology, and a Master of Science in nutrition. She is also a licensed registered dental hygienist and a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice.

‍
With a background as a professor, Paula is great at educating her patients. She was an associate professor of periodontics and a senior clinic coordinator in the dental hygiene program at the University of the Pacific for 14 years.

‍
Paula is also a textbook reviewer, has published articles nationally, and has memberships in many professional and academic associations.

Kate is originally from Oregon and spent nine years living in the midwest. Kate has worked for thirteen years in Dental Offices. She went to school for early childhood education and phlebotomy and has experience working as a preschool teacher, a phlebotomist, and a medical receptionist. Kate enjoys helping her patients feel comfortable in our office and is always happy to help them understand their insurance plan and benefits. Working with her front office co-workers is always a joy. She is proud to be part of such an amazing team that truly values each other’s company. Outside of the office, Kate enjoys house projects, church activities, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Marissa grew up in Oakdale, California, but has lived in Modesto for the past two years. She has been in dentistry for almost 10 years, having attended and graduated from Modesto Junior College’s dental assisting program from 2010 to 2011. She was an intern for Dr. Acree in 2011 and after graduation and passing her state board exam, she was hired as a registered dental assistant. Marissa has been working with Dr. Acree ever since.

‍
Her favorite parts of working with Dr. Acree and the rest of the team are the family atmosphere and working one-on-one with patients every day. She enjoys continuing her education and furthering her knowledge in the field of dentistry, she is currently enrolled in the registered dental assistant in expanded functions program and will be using her new licensure and an RDAEF in our office. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jason, and their two dogs, Bruce and Sophie. She and her husband are also expecting their first child in July 2020.

Christina was born and raised in the Modesto area. She worked for the county for several years and decided to go into the dental field after a close friend had an abscessed tooth that led to the need for a heart valve replacement. Her hygiene career began in 2008 after attending hygiene school in Sacramento.

She loves working at Dr. Acree's office because everyone really cares about doing what's best for the patient. She also values working with a team that truly cares about one another. Christina enjoys visiting with patients and being able to put them at ease during their dental appointments. When she's not at work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and family.

Born in Madeira, Portugal, Isabel and her family moved to California when she was 6 years old. She has remained in California where she graduated from Galen College School of Dental Assisting. She has been a registered dental assistant for 25 years and enjoys being around patients and educating them on their dental health. Isabel has been working at Downey Park Family Dentistry for 13 years now and enjoys her front and back-office duties. When not at work, she enjoys time with her husband, Phil, her family, and her 3 grandsons. Her favorite activities include attending concerts and watching hockey and baseball. She also loves visiting Monterey and Wisconsin.