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Meet the Pinetree Dental Centre Team

Our team is committed to ensuring your care comes first. Connect with your dental care team.

DR. GUNJAN WALIA

Dr Walia looks forward to serving you and your family at Pinetree Dental Centre. Dr. Walia graduated in India in 2007 and migrated to Canada with her family in 2019. She passed her Canadian National Dental Board certification and continues her passion for dentistry. She has an extensive experience in general dental practice. She prides herself in providing gentle and stress-free dental care. Her practice philosophy is to listen to her patients and provide patient-centred care and treatment in a comfortable environment. With her compassionate nature, she will make your dental experience a pleasant one. 

 

Outside of her professional activities, she enjoys being surrounded by her family and taking care of her home. She loves to spend time outdoors and travelling. Apart from this, Dr. Walia is a seasoned meditation and yoga practitioner.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

DR. MAGDA KALINOWSKI

Dr. Magda Kalinowski is a graduate of the UBC Faculty of Dentistry and has practiced for several years in local dental offices throughout the Greater Vancouver area. In the peak of her dental career in Europe she owned her own dental practice before relocating to the Lower Mainland in 2000. She is a General Practitioner and is highly referred to for treatment of children and disabled patients and holds membership with the British Columbia Dental Association, Canadian Dental Association and Advanced Orthodontic Study Club for General Practitioners at UBC. Dr. Magda’s calm reassuring manner welcomes and creates a comfortable atmosphere. Her personal approach ensures you will receive the quality of care necessary to set you and your family’s treatment care plan in the right direction.

 

In her free time, Dr. Magda enjoys spending time with her husband and children. When she gets the opportunity, she enjoys hosting friends and family for delicious home cooked meals and to share and create memories.

DR. SRIKANTH TATIKONDA

Dr. Sri graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences in India. Before relocating to Canada in 2015, he practised dentistry in India. Pursuing further education, Dr. Sri earned a Master’s in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver, during which he also obtained certification as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). After completing his master’s degree in 2018, Dr. Sri commenced the licensing process to practice as a general dentist in Canada. He has since held various roles in dental clinics and is now practising full-time as a dentist, in addition to serving as a clinical skills instructor. Since 2020, he has actively taught clinical skills for university bench preparation and the Canadian dental board exams.

 

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. Sri enjoys watching movies, listening to music, reading, and spending quality time with his wife, daughter, and friends.

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DR. MARISSA GARCIA

Dr. Marissa Garcia is a Board Certified Periodontist and has been working in private practice since 2006. She obtained her dental degree and a Diploma in Periodontics at the Cayetano Heredia University, Lima, Peru, before pursuing a Diploma in Periodontics and Masters in Science degree at UBC. Marissa served as Director of the Undergraduate Periodontics Program at the University of British Columbia for 15 years and reached the level of Clinical Professor. In recognition of her teaching at UBC, she earned the prestigious W.W. Wood Award (2014) for excellence in education and twice received the American Academy of Periodontology Educator Award (2008 and 2015).  As a clinician, Dr. Garcia believes that it is important to educate the patient as well as listen to their needs and provide support and reassurance during all steps of periodontal treatment.
 
Between juggling being a mother of two teenagers and working full time in private practice, Marissa enjoys dancing Zumba and reading novels in Spanish.
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Anna​

Anna, our Dental Assistant, has been working in dentistry since 1995. Anna has always enjoyed working with people and her role at Pinetree Dental Centre is to assist Dr. Magda and ensure you are comfortable throughout your visit. Anna enjoys hiking and travelling and taking in the sights, museums and architecture of new places. She hopes her future travels will include Morocco and Peru. Around town, you will find her walking her dogs or getting out with friends for coffee or a day at the beach. One day Anna hopes to learn to express her creative side through learning to paint with oils.

 

 

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Louise

Louise is the friendly, cheerful face and voice of Pinetree Dental Centre. She joins the team with 7 years of experience in the dental field and a love of helping people. Louise enjoys spending time with her husband, their little boy and their dog as well as cooking and trying out new recipes. She absolutely loves South America and hopes to travel extensively there to more fully embrace the food and culture. A safari is also on her travel bucket list. To keep fit you will find Louise at the gym or doing classes in yoga and boxing.  

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Mariah

​Mariah always wanted to work in the dental field and earned her Diploma of Dental Hygiene from Vancouver Community College. She joined our team in 2018 as a Registered Dental Hygienist and is excited that her role offers her a path to help educate people about the importance of maintaining good oral health habits. Mariah loves to bake (especially french macarons) and she hopes to travel to France one day and tour around Paris, Nice and Marseille to explore the city of lights, the culture and of course the amazing food. Mariah likes to keep active and plays soccer and plans to learn how to snowboard.

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Jenna​​

Jenna became a part of the Pinetree Dental team in 2017 and now works with us as a Certified Dental Assistant and Office Administrator. Jenna is cheerful and kind and wants everyone to have a healthy, happy smile that they can be proud of. Some of her hobbies include hiking, drawing and spending time with her family and friends. Jenna loves animals and dreams of rescuing a dog one day. 

Deborah

Deborah has been a part of the Pinetree Dental team since 2012 and brings with her over 20 years of dental reception and office management experience. As early as she can remember, she has always loved going to the dentist and maintaining good oral health care has always been important to her. She is passionate about photography, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, good movies, and going for walks with her husband and their dogs Makena and Pearl. Maui is a special destination that she loves to visit often. If she can find the time she hopes to brush up on her French.

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