Share the Care Dental

	[our mission] [meet the staff] [presentation topics] Meet the Staff

Peggy Yamagata, RDH, MEd
Program Manager
Peggy, a Registered Dental Hygienist, is the program manager for Dental Health Initiative/ Share the Care. Her career in dental hygiene has included private practice, teaching at the University of Washington, and consulting. In 1994, Peggy became the program manager for Share the Care. She oversees all program operations including policy and program development. In addition, she serves as a community liaison promoting dental awareness, and lectures extensively for professional and community functions. Peggy has received numerous accolades from the American Dental Association, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and several community organizations for her efforts to provide access to dental care. She is a recipient of the Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award.

Howard Taras, MD
UCSD Contracted Principal Investigator
Howard Taras is a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at University of California-San Diego. He specializes in community pediatrics and school health. He develops, investigates, and promotes innovative ways to improve child/family health behaviors and to change the day-to-day practices of health professionals from various disciplines. Dr. Taras’s research, public speaking, and professional publications are on topics related to community-based system changes to promote health and on the topic of medical consultation to schools.

Renée Barrett, PhD, MPH
UCSD Contracted Community Health Program Manager
Renee Barrett is the community health program manager for the Dental Health Initiative/ Share the Care UCSD contract. Her career in public health has included consulting with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, serving as Assistant Director of a federally funded national resource center for the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program and consulting on Schooled in Asthma project for UCSD, School of Medicine in the Division of Community Pediatrics. She is responsible for the management and overall direction of the contracted programs, including implementation of objectives, organization and allocation of resources, and the training, development and supervision of contract staff.

Kristin Haukom, MPH
Health Promotion Specialist
Kristin has served as Share the Care's health promotion specialist since 2005. She earned her graduate degree in health promotion from San Diego State University. She brings more than 7 years of public health experience to the program, working in areas such as access to care, school oral assessments, health promotion, childhood obesity, tobacco cessation, and injury prevention. In addition to her public health experience, Kristin also brings a unique perspective on oral health, which she gained while working high school and college summers as a chair-side assistant for her father, a local orthodontist. Kristin works on special oral health projects for Share the Care.

Nancy Starr, MPH, RDH
Health Educator/ Dental Hygienist
Nancy first came to Share the Care in 1995 as a student intern. She continued to work with the program while training to become a hygienist and teaching at Southwest Community College. Currently, she works in the community to help educate professionals and families about the importance of oral health. She will be assisting in the dissemination of oral health education in child care and preschool programs and also among public health nurses. Nancy also coordinates sealant and fluoride varnish clinics throughout the County. In addition to her field work, Nancy also works as a dental hygienist in a clinical setting.

Druann Andrecht, RDH
Health Educator/ Dental Hygienist
Druann joined Share the Care in 2002. She is a registered dental hygienist who has worked in private practice, holding both clinical and administrative positions. For four years she was employed as a Dental Hygienist Educator and Consultant for a dental pharmaceutical company. She supports Share the Care by assisting in disseminating oral health education at community based organizations, among public health nurses, and library staff. In addition to her commitment with Share the Care, Druann is a Dental Hygienist Educator and Consultant for a dental pharmaceutical company and she serves as Director of Development and Outreach for a non-profit organization.

Olga O’Brien, B.A.
Community Health Promotion Assistant
Since 1994, Olga has served as the Share the Care Community Health Promotion Assistant. Her responsibilities include: overall office management activities essential for the daily operation of the program; and coordination of the emergency/preventive care provided to children referred to the program. Olga attends community outreach functions where she provides dental health education, and serves as bilingual liaison to further enhance our goal to communicate the message of oral health throughout the entire community.

Carissa McMasters, B.S.
Health Educator
Carissa came to Share the Care as a student intern. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2005 with a degree in Health Science, emphasis in Community Health Education. Carissa’s role with Share the Care is to disseminate oral heath and nutrition education through childcare and pre-school programs, the County Immunization Program, Child Welfare Services, and city and county library staff. Aside from the daily grind, Carissa enjoys training for marathons and going on road trips.

Molly Ralph, RD
Program Nutritionist
Molly joined Share the Care in 2007 and serves as the program nutritionist. She received her degree in Dietetics from the University of Illinois and completed her dietetic internship at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Illinois. Molly brings experience working as a hospital dietary technologist, at Gatorade Summer Sport Camps and as a nutrition educator at a children’s fitness camp. Molly served as a cabin dietitian at the American Diabetes Association’s Camp Granada, provided outpatient nutrition counseling to low income patients at the OSF Sister’s Clinic, and attended the Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago Pediatric Nutrition Conference. Her role in Share the Care is to develop educational materials and provide information to practicing child health professionals to achieve the goal of improved nutrition among San Diego County youth.

Janice Chincuanco, B.S.
Health Educator
Janice is a health educator for Share the Care, joining in 2007. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Health Science, emphasis in Community Health Education. Janice brings work experience from educating school-aged children (K-6) about the importance of oral health and nutrition. Her role with Share the Care includes disseminating oral health education through community based organizations and maintaining our organization’s website. She also assists in referring school children with emergency dental situations to dentists around the county.

Baxter the Beaver
Program Mascot

Baxter is Share the Care’s mascot. Baxter was created by artist Mike Nicholas. In 1998, Baxter granted a special wish by the Tooth Fairy to become “real” so he could go out into the public, meet new friends, and show them how to take care of their smile. He attends events throughout San Diego County promoting the message that a healthy smile is part of a healthy body. If you would like Baxter to visit your community event, please call (619) 692-8858 or email Baxter at: contact@sharethecaredental.org

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