The Quadrant - Winter 2025

IN THIS ISSUE:

A Meaningful Gift for the Holiday Season

Remembering Mayor Bob Foster

Resident Spotlight - Dr. Jonathan Plascencia

Inspiring Local High School Students

Last Call for the Events Survey

Annual Celebration for our Staff and Doctors

Holiday Closure

Make a meaningful gift this holiday season - whether it’s a year-end contribution or a donation in lieu of a physical gift - when you give the gift of time, trust and care to the kids who need it most!

• $25 - Five dental kits for local health and wellness fairs

• $50 - An oral hygiene visit and screening in our Oral Health Education Center

• $75 - A specialized cleaning from one of our pediatric dental residents

• $100 - A consultation with an oral surgeon as a child begins their journey to smile reconstruction

• $250 - An orthodontic retainer for a teen after their braces are removed - helping to maintain their new smile

• $500 - Two visits for comprehensive oral health care

Click here to give your gift today! You can also learn more about how you’re giving the gift of time, trust and care when you click here.

Watch the Full "Give a Gift" Video with Key Moment Markers

After clicking the link above, look for/click on “...more” below the video to skip to various key moments!

Watch a Shorter Version of the Video

We join with the rest of the community in mourning the loss of Former Mayor Bob Foster. Our hearts go out to his wife Nancy, his family, and all who loved him. 

Dr. John Blake, our current Board President and former Executive Director, shared the following:

“Mayor Foster was a giant in support of so many Long Beach non-profits, and certainly the Children’s Dental Health Clinic. He always made the time to come by the clinic and say hello to patients and staff. He even helped us raise funds as an auctioneer at one of our anniversary gala events. Our entire Board and CDHC family will miss his genuine smile (great teeth!) and caring, ‘can do’ attitude.”

[Pictured, from right to left: Dr. Blake and Mayor Foster at our 77th Anniversary Gala in 2009, along with Dr. Jana Martin, a former Board President who was honored at that year’s event.]

Where are you from?

I grew up in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a low-income neighborhood where access to dental care was limited. Later, my family moved to San Diego, so I could pursue a better education and greater opportunities.

What do you do for fun?

I enjoy exploring new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, and traveling whenever I can. I also appreciate finding simple ways to unwind and recharge with the company of my wife and dog.

What inspired you to go into pediatric dentistry?

My own childhood dental experiences had a major impact on me. Growing up, my family believed, "if it doesn't hurt, you're okay," and routine dental care wasn't part of our lives. I experienced dental disease early on and saw how limited access, language barriers, and lack of oral health education affected families like mine.

These experiences motivate me to break those barriers for other children by providing culturally competent care, focusing on prevention, and helping families understand oral health in a supportive, relatable way.

What's a favorite memory you have from working at the Clinic?

One of my favorite memories was treating a very anxious patient who entered the clinic crying due to previously poor dental experiences. During the appointment, I guided him through proper brushing and flossing techniques, used positive reinforcement, incorporated age-appropriate distractions, and used euphemisms to keep him comfortable.

By the end of the visit, he was able to regulate his emotions, walked out smiling, and said, "You're my favorite dentist." Seeing that transformation reaffirmed why I chose pediatric dentistry.

If I could have one superpower, it would be...

If I could have one superpower, it would definitely be magic! I'd use it to make dental visits fun, like making my gloves change colors, turning the suction into a tiny dragon, or making stickers appear out of thin air. A little magic would make every appointment way more exciting.

Is there something else you'd like to mention?

As someone who grew up in an under-resourced immigrant community, resilience and empathy guide my work. I'm committed to staying current in pediatric dentistry, advocating for marginalized families, and expanding access to oral healthcare for children. I'm excited to continue learning, growing, and making a meaningful difference.

Click here to learn more about our collaboration with the Post-Graduate Pediatric Dental program at USC's Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital.

Earlier this fall, we participated in GPS Your Future®, a career discovery event presented by EXP, another local nonprofit that helps high school students from under-resourced communities. This annual event is a key part of EXP’s focus on bringing industry and schools together to deliver an innovative, career-based curriculum that makes classroom learning relevant and exciting. This year, they introduced 400 students from more than a dozen partner schools to various career paths while showcasing high-growth industries.

We were one of the newest partners to host a booth at the event’s career expo on the lawn at CSU Dominguez Hills, where we featured displays and handed out information about the paths to becoming a Pediatric Dentist, Registered Dental Hygienist and Registered Dental Assistant. We also connected with students and program managers from local partner schools, such as the Biomedical Engineering program at Long Beach’s Sato Academy of Math and Science and the Biomed Careers Academy at Lawndale High School.

You can get a glimpse of the career expo and see some of the interactions at our booth in this video featuring Executive Director/Dental Director Dr. Mackenzie Martin, Early Intervention and Outreach Manager Jean Petrillo, RDH, and Intern/MPH-D Candidate Kyrah Hunter.

Last week, we gathered to celebrate this hard-working team and all they do to create bright, healthy smiles at our annual holiday party for our staff and doctors. As you can see, it was an afternoon filled with lots of smiles and cheer!

We also raised a glass to celebrate the anniversaries of those team members who’ve dedicated 5-35 years to being a part of our CDHC family and that clinic magic. It was absolutely awe-inspiring and a wonderful way to close out another year with the best team around - hands down!

The Clinic will be closed for the holidays between Tuesday, December 23 and Friday, January 2 to give our hard-working team a well-deserved break. We will reopen on Monday, January 5.

If you have any questions (especially if they're related to year-end gifts!), you can send us an email at info@cdhc.org - or simply reply to this email.

You can see more stories like this and exclusive content when you follow us on social media!

You can learn more about the Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) and how you can join us in making a difference for the children and families in our community at cdhc.org.