Ester
My name is Ester, I was born in Hermiston and have been with Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since January 2015. There are many reasons why I enjoy being part of this wonderful team. One of my favorite things is listening to positive feedback from our patients! Seeing our patients excited to visit the dentist makes my day even more enjoyable. I would describe myself as spontaneous and adventurous, I love to try new things and visit new places with my family.
Daniela
Hi, my name is Daniela, I have been working for Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since January 2012. My favorite part of coming to work are our wonderful patients. They always have big smiles, ask interesting questions, or have silly comments. I have 2 wonderful little girls and an amazing husband. I come from a large family which helps me to communicate well with the little ones. Outside of work I like to spend time with my kids, being active, and playing sports.
Denisse
Hi, my name is Denisse, and I have been working for Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since 2010. I feel so fortunate to have found a career that I absolutely love. I love forming bonds with the families that we see and being able to see the kids grow up through the years. When I am not working my life pretty much is centered-around my son, whether it involves any of his 4 sports or volunteering at his school. We also enjoy going to the movies, or family trips to explore other cities as much as possible.
Janet
Hello and welcome! I grew up in Pendleton, Oregon and moved to Hermiston 10 years ago to work for Advanced Pediatric Dentistry. I am married and have a 13 year old daughter. I have been working as a Dental Assistant since 2003 when I received my certificate from Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton. Since graduation I have continued to expand my knowledge and have received my EFDA, Ortho, and Restorative certifications which allows me the ability to help the doctors even more. I love working with children and the rest of the Hermiston Advanced Pediatric Dentistry staff!
Jessenia
Hi, my name is Jessenia, and I have been working with Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since June 2016. I love working with kids because they help to create such a fun work environment. I enjoy learning new things every day. In my free time, I enjoy going to the movies, hanging out with friends, and time with my family.
Merlyn
My name is Merlyn, I have been with Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since January 2013. I work in the reception and check out areas. I enjoy being a part of the APD team and participating in the community events. It allows me to see how much children love coming to our office and how comfortable the staff makes them feel during their appointments. I have a daughter who loves dancing so a lot of my spare time is spent watching her come up with crazy dance routines and taking her to dance practice.
Michelle
Hello, my name is Michelle. I have been working for Advanced Pediatric Dentistry as a Dental Assistant since July 2015. I really enjoy working with kids and watching them grow and gain confidence at the dentist. I am originally from Boardman but recently made the move to Umatilla where my boyfriend and I plan to raise our daughter. During my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, going dancing, and traveling to visit new places.
Oscar
Hi, my name is Oscar. I was born and raised in San Fernando Valley, California for 19 years. I can say that I am happy to call my home Oregon, where I am raising my daughter and 2 sons with my wife Stephanie. I attended dental assisting school at Charter College and have been working in Pediatric Dentistry since graduation. Since graduation and working in the dental field, I decided to attend Portland Community College to obtain my Restorative Assisting license to extend my knowledge. As a bilingual dental assistant my goal is to make every patient I come into contact with leave with a smile on their face and a great experience.
Shane
Dr. Shane Schmidt is originally from Kennewick, WA. After High School he spent two years in Brazil and that is where he found his desire to be a dentist as he saw a great need for dental care among the children. He attended Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Richland. He graduated from Case Western School of Dental Medicine in 2010. He worked as a general dentist in Roswell, New Mexico and Haskell, Texas for five years before specializing in pediatric dentistry. He attended The University of Toledo Advanced Education in Pediatric dentistry program from 2015 to 2017. He went back to residency because children are his passion and he wanted the skills to help safely improve the dental health of children. He is excited to be back in the northwest after many years away. He spends most of his time on his profession, family, and faith, and when opportunity permits, he loves to participate in water sports.
Mackenzie
Hi! My name is Mackenzie Craik. Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born and raised in beautiful Walla Walla, WA. After spending a few years in Alaska as a small child, my family returned to the valley where I attended elementary/middle school, high school, and college. After completing my pre-doctoral studies at Walla Walla University, I continued on to the University of Washington for dental school. I then completed a two year Pediatric Dental Residency in Providence, Rhode Island.
My family and I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to travel around the country for my education over the past few years. It has been a great experience. It has also deepened our appreciation for the Walla Walla valley, and helped us to realize that there truly is no place like home. I am so grateful for the opportunity to provide specialized dental care for the children of this community.
When I am not at the office, you will most likely find me hanging out with my six favorite people. My wonderful wife Emily, and my five little men: Hamilton, Maxwell, our twins Montgomery & Winston and baby Quincy. We love being outside in the fresh air, cooking and eating as a family, growing vegetable gardens, and playing sports. We are also avid Seahawks fans, and are looking forward to watching the Walla Walla Sweets for many summers to come.
I hope to see you soon!
Mellissa
Welcome to our practice! I want to thank you for choosing us to take care of your child’s dental needs. I have been working for Advanced Pediatric Dentistry of Hermiston since August 2007. I am excited to work for a company that not only cares about our amazing patients but also for the community we live in. My favorite season is fall and love everything about that time of year! During my free time I enjoy traveling and spending time with my husband, daughter Kendal, and our fur babies. I look forward to meeting you and making sure your child’s dental experience is a positive one.
Iri
Hi my name is Iri! I have been working with Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since April 2018. I enjoy working with such great staff members who care for our patients and make each child feel welcomed. My goal is to provide great customer service and help family members with any questions and concerns they may have. I was born into a family of nine so I have lots of nieces and nephews, as well as a son so I’ve been around children my whole life. Kids are fun and creative which is one of the qualities I love most about them. Isaiah is 4 months old and speaks baby language. He is so fun to be around and I enjoy watching him learn and grow. My favorite show is Spongebob Squarepants and I enjoy watching it with my son.
F.U.N
F is for friends, who do stuff together.
U is for you and me.
N is for anywhere and anytime at all, down in the deep blue sea.
Dr. House
J. Kyle House, D.D.S. received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and served as a General Dentist in the US Army. While stationed in Giessen, Germany, he was given the opportunity to treat children and discovered that pediatrics was clearly his favorite field. He attended his Pediatric Dental Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington and the University of Washington. After leaving the Army, he spent five years as the Director of Pediatric Oral Medicine at Scott & White Hospital Systems in Temple, Texas. Dr. House completed his Pediatric Dental Board Certification in April 1996. In 1999, he moved to Oregon to open his private practice in Hood River, which has expanded to five clinics (three in Oregon and two in Washington).
Dr. House's main concern is advocacy and access to care for children. He has served on numerous local, state, regional and national organizations that work to improve children's access to dental care, and has testified on behalf of children on a national level, providing medical information to lawmakers. In addition, Dr. House is a Consultant to the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and has assisted in providing their Oral Clinical Exams since 2006.
Dr. House enjoys being an active part of the community and spending time with his wife, Jill, and his three daughters. His latest project is developing a vineyard and learning about winemaking and viniculture. He likes being outdoors and loves to cook, creating imaginative breakfasts, and – like a true Texan – can explain the critical differences between grilling and barbecue.