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Who We Are

Are you searching for a dentist or orthodontist for your child? SmileBuilders Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics is here to serve! Located in San Marcos, CA, we accept pediatric patients from across San Diego County. Meet our team below!

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Pediatric Dentists

Marjan Rashedi, DMD Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Marjan Rashedi, DMD

Dr. Rashedi is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She has a degree in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA. She graduated with honors from Boston University School of Dental Medicine and completed her General Practice Residency from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

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From there, her lifelong desire to treat children led her to complete two additional years of specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a hospital consistently ranked in the top ten of all U.S. Children’s Hospitals.

Dr. Rashedi proudly serves as a staff member at Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego. She has been recognized as a young leader in San Diego County and named a “40 under 40” by both the San Diego Metro Magazine in 2016 and the San Diego Business Journal in 2018.

A believer in lifelong learning, Dr. Rashedi is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Dental Practice, American Business Women’s Association and American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists. In her spare time, Dr. Rashedi enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Shiva Mohazab, DDS Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Shiva Mohazab, DDS

Dr. Shiva Mohazab became board-certified through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2015. She is local to San Diego and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from San Diego State University. She then attended UCLA School of Dentistry for her Doctorates of Dental Surgery (DDS) and participated in several dental mission trips abroad.

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Her love for children led her to decide on pursuing a specialty, and she completed an extra two years of advanced training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Puerto Rico, where she was trained on dental management of young children, including special needs children, using both behavior management and sedation techniques. During her time in Puerto Rico, she became fluent in Spanish and grew a passion to serve the Spanish-speaking community as well.

Dr. Shiva Mohazab is a member of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Diplomates for Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and San Diego County Dental Society. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, hiking, beach volleyball, deep-sea diving, cooking, hosting friends and family, and most of all, salsa dancing.

Neehal Ghoniem, DDS MS Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Neehal Ghoniem, DMD MS

Dr. Ghoniem has a degree in Psychology and Chemistry from the University of Miami. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine and completed her General Practice Residency at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in San Diego.

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Her passion for advocating for and treating children led her to pursue pediatric dental specialty training at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. This dental school is consistently ranked in the top five of all U.S. dental schools. Dr. Ghoniem also received a Masters of Science in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Ghoniem is board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Ghoniem is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Dental Association, and the San Diego County Dental Society. Dr. Ghoniem enjoys running, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her friends, family, husband, and daughter in her spare time.

Kathryn Dardis, DDS Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Kathryn Dardis, DDS

Dr. Kathryn Dardis is a board-certified pediatric dentist and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University with a degree in Zoology. She went on to graduate from one of the country’s consistently top-ranked dental schools, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where she was class vice president, a curriculum committee student representative, and a member of the Scholars Program in Dental Leadership.

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There she was recognized with the Donald A Kerr Award in Oral Pathology and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Student Award. Dr. Kate completed her residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Dr. Kate is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the California Dental Association, and the San Diego County Dental Society. She is thankful to call San Diego her home for all the outdoor opportunities provided by our sunny climate. In her spare time she loves to run, practice yoga, sail, hike, camp, and travel with her husband, friends, and family.

Jaclyn Barrera DMD Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Jaclyn Barrera, DMD

Jaclyn Barrera, DMD is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Biology and specialization in Neurobiology. She earned her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine.

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Her passion for pediatric oral health and education motivated her to pursue two years of specialized training in Pediatric Dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief resident.

Jaclyn Barrera, DMD. is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, and the San Diego County Dental Society. During her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking/baking, being outdoors, volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and spending time with her family and friends.

Orthodontists

Virginia Kim DDS Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Virginia Kim, DDS

Dr. Virginia Kim is a board-certified orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. She received her dental degree (DDS) from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. She then continued onto the University of Southern California for her postdoctoral orthodontic residency where she received 3 more years of critical specialist training and became an expert in creating smiles that look beautiful and last a lifetime.

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Dr. Kim’s professional interests include the identification of the correct timing of treatment to minimize the amount of time a patient is in active therapy. Dr Kim uses only the most advanced technologies including digital technology, self-ligating brackets, Acceledent, and Invisalign which allows her to create beautiful smiles faster and more precisely than ever before.

Dr. Kim is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists and the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). In her spare time, Dr. Kim enjoys traveling, exploring San Diego and spending time with her friends, husband, son and daughter.

Mina Katchooi DDS MSD Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Mina Katchooi, DDS MSD

Dr. Mina Katchooi is a board-certified orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. She received her dental degree (DDS) with the Highest Distinctions from the Minnesota School of Dentistry. She then completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the University of the Pacific.

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Dr. Katchooi practiced general dentistry for five years and served as affiliate faculty at the University of Washington in Seattle before pursuing her interest in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. She served as Chief Resident during her orthodontic training at the University of Washington in Seattle, a top-rated orthodontic residency program.

Dr. Katchooi’s research and clinical work in orthodontics has earned many awards, including the American Association of Orthodontics Thomas M. Graber Award of Special Merit, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics Annual Case Presentation Award, and nomination for American Association of Orthodontists Charley Schultz Resident Scholar Award.

Dr. Katchooi’s research on accelerated tooth movement has been published in orthodontic journals, presented in major orthodontic meetings, and awarded by the American Association of Orthodontics. She has served as a contributing editor for the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, Quarterly Bulletin, and as a recognized reviewer of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Dr. Katchooi is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). In her spare time, Dr. Katchooi enjoys painting, skiing, yoga and blogging about dentistry and orthodontics.

Dental Assistants

Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Yin Zu Marin Cordova

Registered Dental Assistant

Jessica Cordero

Dental Assistant

Denisse Zavala

Dental Assistant

Cecilia Hernandez

Dental Assistant

Sarah Schuberg

Dental Assistant

Jaqueline Cruz Magana

Dental Assistant

Dayany Soto

Dental Assistant

Arely Garcia

Dental Assistant

Kitzia Contreras

Registered Dental Assistant

Elizabeth Caro

Dental Assistant

Cinthia Gutiérrez

Dental Assistant

Amber Carillo

Dental Assistant

Jessica Perez

Dental Assistant

Edith Paz

Dental Assistant

Charlie Ibanez Feria

Dental Assistant

Administrative Staff

Children's Dentist & Orthodontist in San Marcos, CA | SmileBuilders Children's Dentistry & Orthodontics

Tanya Craig

 

Kenya Carreno

Scheduling Coordinator

Airleen Diaz

 

Erendira Martinez

Scheduling Coordinator

Rosa Sarmiento

 

Coral Leyva Martinez

Scheduling Coordinator

Nadia Lopez

Scheduling Coordinator

Rosano Dorado

Scheduling Coordinator

Kim Ramos

Scheduling Coordinator

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