BOARD MEMBERS
Dr. Lisa Phillips
Chair
Owner of Hope Pediatric Dentistry in Westminster, Colorado
She received her DDS degree at Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated with honors in 2006 and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. After dental school, Dr. Lisa was accepted into the Advanced Education for General Dentistry program at Bay Pines Veterans Administration Hospital in Bay Pines, Florida. After her residency at Bay Pines, Dr. Lisa then practiced in a general dentistry office in Florida, where she mainly treated children. Realizing how much she loved working with children, she returned to school and specialized in pediatric dentistry in 2008 at Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Dental Residency Program. She completed CHC’s two-year Advanced Specialty Training in Pediatric Dentistry in 2010 and received her board certification in Pediatric Dentistry in 2012.
Dr. Lisa and her husband, Cody, have two children, Jaren and Isla. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, visiting the mountain towns of Colorado (always trying the towns’ best ice cream shops), traveling, singing with her husband in their church band, doing all things crafty, and planning and hosting events. In addition to serving on the KIND board, she serves as an elder for The Northwest Vineyard Church, classroom parent at her children’s school, and her daughter’s girl scout troop leader. Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Lisa traveled to Jamaica and Haiti for dental mission trips. Dr. Lisa has a heart to serve and jumps in at any opportunity to help.
Dr. Lisa is a member of the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Metro Denver Dental Society, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Isaac Chung
VP, Chair-Elect
Orthodontist at iOrthodontics
Dr. Isaac Chung is an orthodontist at i-Orthodontics. He was born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He obtained his B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania as a Dean’s Scholar, where he received his Doctorate of Medicine in Dentistry with multiple honors. He continued his training and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania. This specialized training provided Dr. Isaac with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to provide his patients with beautiful smiles that last a lifetime.
Dr. Isaac is proud to call Colorado his home, where he continues to enjoy the beautiful mountains, some of the greatest snowboarding conditions in the world, and most importantly, proximity to his family. Dr. Isaac enjoys staying active playing basketball, snowboarding, and running marathons. He is also an avid Stanford football fan. Dr. Isaac and his wife have a daughter and an energetic dog. They enjoy cooking, baking, and going on outdoor adventures as a family.
Growing up as the youngest in an immigrant family, Dr. Isaac and his family have firsthand experience of the life-changing impact that comes from the work of numerous organizations. Having been the recipient of the generosity of so many individuals, Dr. Isaac has made it one of his life missions to always give back to others in his community. In addition to serving on the KIND board, Dr. Isaac also serves on the Dental Advisory Board for Project Worthmore, a Colorado-based non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide empowering programs and services to Denver-area refugees
Cindy Kelly
Immediate Past Chair
Co-Owner at 5280creations
Cindy has deep roots in the dental community with over 30 years of experience in the clinical, business management, and dental laboratory marketing roles. She and her husband Kevin own and operate 5280creations dental laboratory. Cindy is passionate about giving back to the community. As a mother and grandmother KIND holds a special place in her heart and she has volunteered her time with KIND for several years prior to joining the board. In addition, she is an active member of the MDDS Outreach Committee, MDDS RMDC Exhibits Committee, COMOM, and is a supporter of the Dental Lifeline Network.
Doug Lazure
Treasurer
Finance Manager Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Doug Lazure’s career has allowed him to learn and contribute to the success of Fortune 500 companies, higher education in Colorado, and now further the mission of the City and County of Denver. Doug has helped improve the health of employees, clients, stakeholders and communities at each of the organizations in which he has been affiliated.
Doug has always had a dedication to utilizing his skills to better the greater good and mentor those around him. Doug is dedicated to community service and using his talents to make a difference in the Denver community. Doug is the Finance Manager for Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) for the City and County of Denver. In this role, Doug is responsible for managing over $180M in revenue and over $1B in assets. Prior to working at the City, served as the Controller at Colorado State University’s Global Campus (CSU-Global), where he managed the Accounting and Finance departments while also serving on the University’s Leadership team.
Prior to CSU-Global, Doug worked for several Fortune 500 Companies, including Xcel Energy, PepsiCo, Ernst & Young, and ConAgra Foods in Denver, Chicago, and Omaha. Doug is a licensed CPA and has a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver, with a specialization in Business Strategy. Doug also holds dual Accounting and Finance degrees from Creighton University.
Doug moved to Denver in 2009 and is very active in the Denver community. Doug has always believed in collaborating with organizations which provide a product or service that contributes to the people in his community. He was chosen by the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation to participate in the Spring 2018 Impact Denver Leadership program. In this program, Doug obtained valuable leadership skills while partnering with a local non-profit to develop a writing anthology series for Veterans returning from combat. This anthology series allows Veterans to write about their experience in military conflict and the challenges they face re-integrating into society upon their return. This writing series was also extended to refugees to write about their experiences and the hardships they have endured in the journey for a better life.
He currently serves on the Associate Board of Big Green, where he is passionate about the work of this organization, whose primary functions is to build learning gardens in elementary and high schools to educate children on the benefits of growing real food while providing tools to sustain each school’s Learning Garden. Prior to joining Big Green, Doug was a Board Member on the Mile High United Way Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) for several years, and through the ELC was able to learn about and engage in civic leadership, give back to the Denver community, and network with other professionals and active volunteers.
Jason Langley
Governance Officer
Vice President, General Counsel at ClearChoice Management Services
Jason Langley is the Vice President, General Counsel at ClearChoice Management Services, which supports ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, a national network of dental implant practices. Jason leads the legal and compliance department, which is responsible for managing the legal and regulatory issues facing the company and providing general legal support and risk management services throughout the ClearChoice network.
Jason has been a member of the ClearChoice team since 2012, serving as a trusted adviser on a broad array of legal, regulatory, and strategic business matters. Before joining ClearChoice, Jason worked in private practice for a healthcare-focused law firm in Denver and served as a law clerk to Hon. Nathan B. Coats of the Colorado Supreme Court and Hon. Steven L. Bernard of the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Jason received his undergraduate business degree from the University of Georgia and earned his law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
Dr. Kevin Patterson
Past Chair
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Denver Metro OMS
Dr. Patterson is a member of the Colorado Dental Association, American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, the Colorado Medical Association, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons where is past president.
He received his degree in biology from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1983 and continued his education at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry completing his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1989 and a General Practice Residency in 1990. From 1992-1998, he attended the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, completing a six-year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. While completing his residency, Dr. Patterson received his Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1996 from Mayo Medical School.
After completing his residency program, Dr. Patterson returned to Colorado to begin practicing as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon as well as becoming an associate professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in the Department of Surgical Dentistry and the General Practice Residency Program. Dr. Patterson is past-President of the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and is currently on the executive board of the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society and is a board member of the JP Opioid Interaction Awareness Alliance.
Dr. Patterson has been practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery in Colorado since 1998 and remains dedicated to the well-being and oral health of all his patients. He has a special interest in providing care for individuals who may not have the means to obtain care in regular clinics. He devotes a significant amount of time providing care for children and adults through organizations such as Kids in Need of Dentistry, Colorado Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, The Metropolitan Denver Dental Foundation Smile Again Program and The Metropolitan Denver Domestic Violence Program.
Rosa Melendez-Nguyen
Board Member
Medicaid Manager for Denver Public Schools
Rosa Melendez-Nguyen is a product of Denver Public Schools where she graduated from Denver’s North High School in 1988. Rosa feels honored to be able to serve the community and passionate about making the world a better place than the one she grew up in. Rosa gets her passion and perseverance from her parents.
Rosa’s greatest accomplishment began in 2002 when she started her career in Denver Public Schools Medicaid Department and rose through the ranks to become Medicaid Manager.
Rosa loves nature and enjoys photography. In her free time, she spends quality time with friends and family.
Rosa is a strong believer that “Healthy Kids are Better Learners.”
Pam Sletten
Board Member
Vice President of the Sletten Group, Inc.
Pam Sletten has been in the Dental Practice Transition business for the last eighteen years, helping dentists from all over the United States and Canada plan and implement successful practice transitions. Pam works directly with the dentists and their teams on all details of the transition to accomplish successful results, whether the transition includes a practice purchase or sale, adding an associate to the practice that will eventually become an owner/partner, or any practice management details that may arise pre and post-closing. Along with her father Paul Sletten (founder and owner of The Sletten Group, Inc.), she helps facilitate team retreats, workshops and seminars for training purposes.
Prior to joining The Sletten Group in 2001, Pam was a manager for Morton’s Steakhouse restaurants opening different locations throughout the country. These skills of working with large teams, planning and implementing successful grand openings for the restaurant group, and working to assure an excellent experience for all guests has translated extremely well into her current career helping dentists and their teams create excellent results through successful practice transitions.
Pam graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1990 with a dual degree in Organizational Management Fine Arts and has remained a student at heart since that time. After graduation, Pam moved to the mountains of Colorado and began working in the restaurant industry opening restaurants throughout the Keystone Resort ski area. Her last job, prior being hired by Morton’s Steakhouse was Food and Beverage Director at the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
Pam is a board member of KIDS IN NEED OF DENTISTRY (KIND) and volunteers annually for COLORADO MISSION OF MERCY (COMOM). She is also a member of the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration (AADPA) and she spends a great deal of her free time volunteering throughout the Denver area for causes that are important to her. She is former President and currently sits on the board of the Denver Center Alliance (DCA) which is the fundraising arm for the children’s programs at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA). She is also a current Board Member and the Executive Director of Development for the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center (RMMSC).
Theresa (Tracy) M. Anselmo, MPH, BSDH, RDH
Board Member
Interim Public Health Director at the La Plata County Public Health Department
Experienced in the fields of dentistry, public health and health policy, Tracy has focused her career on advancing oral health equity through policy and coalition development.
Tracy has had a variety of roles involving the planning, implementing and evaluating strategic policy and health initiatives in her work as Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials, the Oral Health Program Manager for the County of San Luis Obispo CA, and the Dental Director for the State of Colorado. She is currently serving as the Interim Public Health Director at the La Plata County Public Health Department.
Tracy received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of Colorado and her Master’s of Public Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She is a third-generation Coloradan.
Carol Rykiel, MS, RDH
Board Member
RDH Manager of Integrated Dental Services at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Carol Rykiel graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine with her BS in Dental Hygiene and received her MS in Management from Colorado State University. She is the RDH Manager of Integrated Dental Services at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless located in Denver, CO where she has served for the last 8 and a half years. She manages a robust team of RDH’s, and the Oral Health Patient Navigator that work in traditional, mobile and medically integrated settings. She is the Project Manager for the Diabetes/Cardiovascular Disease Oral Health Grant at CCH.
Dr. Bianca Hoffman, DMD
Board Member
Dr. Hoffman is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist in private practice in the south Denver area.
She was born in Suriname, South America and then grew up in south Florida. She attended the
University of Central Florida to study Molecular & Microbiology and graduated with Honors. She
then went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Nova Southeastern University in
2012. Dr. Hoffman attained advanced training through the General Practice Residency here at
Denver Health Hospital. Being around children always brought her the greatest joy, so she then
went on to pursue a specialty in pediatric dentistry, as well as a Master of Sciences degree at
Nova Southeastern University and graduated in 2015.
She is active in organized dentistry locally; being a member of the Colorado Dental Association,
Metro Denver Dental Society & Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She has served as
Secretary for the Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She has served as delegate at the
CDA House of Delegates and as speaker host at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention. Dr.
Hoffman currently serves as clinical adjunct faculty at Denver Health’s pediatric residency
program. Nationally, she is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Hoffman attributes her love of serving others, to her late grandfather, who had a heart for
public health and spent his career helping others. She finds so much joy in giving back to the
community and has enjoyed volunteering at KIND’s SmileFest annually! This event is such a
great time to connect with our community, while continuing to spread awareness of the
importance of optimal oral health for all children. She will continue to work to improve access to
care to children in need so that each child can have the opportunity for the healthiest start in
their oral health journey, as it profoundly impacts their overall well-being and happiness.
Additionally, Dr. Hoffman has enjoyed volunteering at another fantastic local nonprofit, Project
Helping, which provides varying avenues of positive support to individuals in need within our
community.
Personally, Dr. Hoffman loves going to the mountains with her family. Together with her husband
and two girls, they enjoy exploring beautiful Colorado through camping and hiking trails. Some
of her hobbies include yoga, crafting, baking, & most recently taking piano lessons together with
her daughter.
Ellie Burbee
Ex-Officio, KIND Executive Director
Dear Friends of KIND,
In life we often find our paths leading in directions we don’t expect; many times those paths lead us to a better place than we could have imagined. July of 2017 marked my 4th year volunteering for Kids in Need of Dentistry. As their new Executive Director, I reflect on the full-circle journey that has brought me here and feel immensely grateful. While unpredictable, it has uniquely prepared me for the challenge of finding ways to grow a dental-focused organization, while still holding fast to its 100-year-old charitable legacy of serving Colorado’s children in need. It is both a privilege to work alongside the fiercely passionate KIND staff and board, as well as an honor to be entrusted by them with leading the charge to serve thousands of children. These children have often never seen a dentist before and may not again, meaning that our opportunity to make an impact may only be the few unfamiliar moments they spend in our dental chairs with us, as strangers. Yet they demonstrate such bravery, as they place their trust in us to help them. These children are often not sure where their next meal might come from, or where they will call home next week, but somehow have found their way into our clinics, and into our hearts.
It is our first and most valued responsibility to fulfill our mission’s promise to increase their health and happiness. To those in our community who continue to volunteer, donate, and support KIND, you are truly heroes to these children. I take your commitment seriously and look forward to sharing more of our vision for growth with you over the next few months and ask for your advice as we strategize how to get there. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me and the rest of the team at KIND. We look forward to seeing you in the community very soon.
With gratitude,
Ellie Burbee Executive Director
© 2022 Kids in Need of Dentistry