Meet the Staff
All of our licensed staff maintain current, active California licenses and have taken courses in compliance with California’s statues and regulations, including CPR, infection control, and California law.
Interested in Joining Our Team? Visit Our Career Opportunities Page for Open Positions!
Are You in Need of Excellent Dental Care?
You can trust Dr. Chan for your general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry needs, as well as advanced dental treatments.
Renee Villano
Scheduling and Financial Coordinator
“I have been in the dental field since 1997. I thoroughly enjoy working with patients and helping them schedule the treatment they need. I am prompt, professional and goal oriented. I enjoy learning new things and always ready for a challenge. I like working in a practice where everyone loves what they do and it shows.”
Renee loves to assist patients with their needs. She joins our team with a wealth of experience. She holds current x-ray, oral conscious sedation and CPR certifications. Her resume boasts eighteen years of experience in administration, insurance billing and treatment planning. She is semi fluent in Spanish.
Renee was born and raised in Gilroy and still has family here. She and her husband, Jorge, have two children, a girl and a boy. Both Renee and Jorge enjoy spending time with their children, family and friends.
Renee’s hours are: Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday 7:00 a.m. to noon.
E-mail: [email protected]
Cyndi Carroll Spence, RDHEF, BS
Registered Dental Hygienist in Extended and Expanded Functions
“I believe in change. For some, change is difficult , but once in a while it feels good to get out of your comfort zone. I have gone through changes in my career and it was all for the best because it improved my life. it has taught me many life and career lessons so I welcome change and always will.”
Cyndi began her dental career as a chair-side assistant right out of high school. Her resume boasts experience in all aspects of dentistry, including dental hygienist, administration, office manager, insurance billing, accounts receivables, laboratory work, and teaching. For seven years Cyndi taught the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) for Dental Assisting.
In 1997 she received her Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from Cabrillo College. In 1998 she completed the Extended Functions (EF) Program from the University of California, San Francisco Dental School and consequently she became part of a select group of hygienists in California to hold the EF license. As a result, her license number is “6”. In 2006 Cyndi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health/Arts from the University of Saint Francis.
She has remarked that the only thing left is to become a dentist, but she is leaving that to one of her daughters. She may never completely retire from dentistry because she hopes to return to teaching in a dental hygiene program in the future.
Cyndi is originally from the Philippines but calls Gilroy, California home where her family has lived for over thirty years. She and her husband, Rich, have three wonderful daughters, a son-in-law, and a spunky grandson.
Both Cyndi and Rich have joined a local league to enjoy their love of bowling. Although they compete fiercely against each other, Cyndi says she will never admit that Rich is the better bowler. Also someday, since they love white water rafting, they hope to raft the Snake River.
Cyndi’s hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and on Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Cyndi is a member of:
- California Dental Hygiene Association, Santa Clara
- American Dental Hygiene Association
E-mail: [email protected]
Rhona Lee, RDHEF, MS
Registered Dental Hygienist in Extended and Expanded Functions.
“Every day I imagine the possibilities that await each patient experience. Sometimes patients and staff feel intimidated by changes. Our job is to help break it down for them, step by step. When that happens, everyone is rewarded.”
Soft spoken, personable, and always evolving, Rhona Lee is a talented and versatile dental auxiliary. Patients say she has a very calming personality. Rhona is a fifth-generation American Chinese who was born and raised in San Francisco
She graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Biological Sciences degree in 1973, from San Francisco State University with a master’s in Health Science in 1976, from Cabrillo College with an associate degree in Dental Hygiene in 1984, and from U.C. San Francisco after completing the Extended Functions Program in 1992. In 1992 Rhona became the first hygienist in California to hold the RDHEF license category. As a result, her license number is “1”
Rhona has worked for public health centers, the Migrant Head Start Program, and the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. In 1993 Governor Pete Wilson appointed Rhona to the Committee on Dental Auxiliaries, Dental Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, where she served as an officer for ten years.
From 1993 to 2009, Rhona served as the chair of the RDAEF/RDHEF California Licensing Exam. In 2009 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Rhona to the newly created Dental Hygiene Committee of California., where she served as its first President for two years. After serving under four governors, Wilson, Gray, Schwarzenegger, and Brown, Rhona retired from state service at the end of 2011.
From 1984 to the present Rhona has worked with her husband, Dr. Gar Chan, to create a practice whose backbone is clinical competency and excellence. Rhona’s hobbies include building realistic and fantasy miniature structures and displaying them at the Good Samaritan Hospital’s annual fundraiser.
Rhona is/has been a member of the following:
- California Dental Hygiene Association, Santa Clara
- American Dental Hygiene Association
- Prime Dental Hygiene Study Club, an affiliate of Seattle Study Club
- Santa Clara County Advanced Dental Study Club, Dental Hygiene
Are You in Need of Excellent Dental Care?
You can trust Dr. Chan for your general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry needs, as well as advanced dental treatments.
Susan M. Sakai, RDA
Registered Dental Assistant with Coronal Polishing, X-ray License
“I love seeing the expressions of our patients when they see the end results and it is exactly what they wanted, especially the veneers!”
One of the first things you notice about Susan is her quiet smile and a slightly mischievous twinkle in her eyes. As she guides each patient to a chair and then proceeds to assist Dr. Chan, her movements appear seamless. Little do patients realize is that below the façade of complete and utterly professional demeanor, is a personality full of mirth and laughter. Her secret is that since 1984, she has truly enjoyed her job. Guess what? It shows.
Susan was born and raised in Morgan Hill, California. She started her career in dentistry soon after graduating from high school by participating in the Regional Occupational Program in Dental Assisting offered in Gilroy.
Since 1984 Susan has assisted dentists in a wide range of dental procedures, including taking/developing radiographs, making custom whitening trays, retainers, night guards, polishing, and making temporary crowns. Her repertoire includes placing and removing ligatures, placing power modules, and altering Clear Aligner trays.
She has made appointments, posted procedures, and even billed insurance. Her strongest attributes are her flexibility, intelligence, and her willingness to go the extra mile for everyone around her. She makes sure all OSHA and infection control protocols are followed.
Susan keeps busy as a working mom. We are fortunate to have her as a part of our dental family.
Susan’s hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Sara Flores, RDA
Registered Dental Assistant with Coronal Polishing, X-ray License
“I have been working in the dental field since 1996. I wanted to be part of a wonderful dental team to use my knowledge and communication and clinicial skills to provide patients with exceptional care. I am conscientious, energetic, and professional. I am experienced and skilled in many facets of dental assisting. I always enjoy learning new clinical techniques and using my hands. I like working in a practice where everyone thrives and feels good about the work and services they provide for each individual patient.”
Sara loves every aspect of chairside assisting. She joins our team with a wealth of experience. She holds current x-ray certification, oral conscious sedation and CPR certifications. She obtained her certificate in Dental Assisting from Bryman College and attended both Evergreen and Foothill College. Her resume boasts twenty-seven years of assisting experience in crown and bridge, bonding and cementation, sealants, orthodontics, and lab work. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Sara’s hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
E-mail: [email protected]
Laura Stephens, RDH
Registered Dental Hygienist in Expanded Functions
“Laura is bubbly and loves to engage clinically and personally with her patients. Her goal is to seamlessly integrate into a forever office that treats its patients and staff like family.”
She loves being a mother of two young sons and gardening. She graduated with her certificate in Dental Hygiene from the Foothill Dental Hygiene Program in 2013 and is currently working towards her degree.
Laura’s hours are Wednesday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
E-mail: [email protected]