Our Professional Staff
Dr. David Zelby is an Atlanta-based prosthodontist and current Chief of Staff. When not volunteering at the BMDC, he operates Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Atlanta. He is a gifted dentist who taught at Emory University Dental School for more than a dozen years and has perfected the smiles of thousands of patients. He began volunteering one day a month at the clinic in the mid-1970s, eventually upping his time to two days a month. He now supervises a staff of more than 140 volunteer dentists, two full-time hygienists, three full-time dental assistants, three full-time administrators, a manager, seven administrative volunteers and an intern from Year Up, a training program that provides young urban adults with technical and professional business skills.
Keith Kirshner joined the Ben Massell Dental Clinic in January 2012 as its Director. Originally from Pennsylvania, Keith and his wife relocated to Atlanta after many years in Washington, D.C. As Director, Keith has a dual role. His primary focus is expanding capacity for care through the recruitment of new volunteer dentists and engagement with community partners. Additionally, he oversees BMDC staff and management. A graduate of Skidmore College, Keith brings a strong consulting, sales and business development background with him. He has worked with research and development heads of Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and medical device firms as well as elected officials across the country.
Barbara Jones, also from Atlanta, joined the BMDC staff in 1975. She is a graduate of Atlanta Area Technical School, where she now serves as a clinical supervisor for aspiring dental assistants. Barbara has a wealth of knowledge about dentistry, as she has served in many capacities at the clinic. As Clinical Supervisor, she oversees the training of hundreds of dental students, dental assistants and pre-dental students. Barbara, a true “people person” with a great sense of humor, enjoys cooking, dancing and a great game of football.
Stacie Staple joined BMDC in December 2012 as the Administrative & Projects Manager. A native of Atlanta, Stacie has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a background in administration and customer service as well as public relations in the nonprofit sector. As well, she worked in community development and planning for the city of Cape Corral, Fla. And believe it or not, she happens to have experience as a dental assistant. In addition to administrative and front desk responsibilities, Stacie works on fundraising and other projects with Keith Kirshner.
Jen Sarafin joined JF&CS in 2011 as a case manager for the Caregiver Crisis Support and Care Planning program of the Aviv Older Adults - Tools for Aging division. In this role, she is responsible for providing support to low-income caregivers of older adults. Jen holds a B.A. in english and women's studies from St. Olaf College and earned her master's of social work from the University of Michigan with an emphasis on mental health. Jen previously worked as a therapist with adults at the Psychological Clinic at the University of Michigan. She currently is working toward her LCSW.
Elizabeth C. Davis is a dental hygienist at the BMDC. A native of North Carolina, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor of science in dental hygiene. She joined the clinic’s staff in 2003.
Irina Lindova, the BMDC’s other dental hygienist, travelled a bit further. A native St. Petersburg, Russia, where she worked in the medical field, Irina moved to Atlanta in 2001 and joined the clinic in 2008. She is a graduate of the Georgia Perimeter College School of Hygiene.
Alexis Dunlap, an Atlanta native, assists all the dentist volunteers with their procedures. She is a graduate of the Atlanta Metropolitan School of Dental Assisting.
Eliene Jean, from Miami, assists all the dentist volunteers with their procedures. She is a graduate of the Atlanta Metropolitan School of Dental Assisting.
Tracie Garrett of Houston graduated from the United Education Institute School of Dental Assisting in Morrow, GA.
Jessica Castillo, originally from Chicago, moved to Atlanta in 2004 and joined the staff of BMDC in the summer of 2012. She is a graduate of the United Education Institute (UEI) and assists volunteers with all procedures. In particular, she enjoys helping to restore bright smiles.
“My mom would bring my brother and me to the clinic to ‘volunteer.’ We would create, design and paint plaster-animal giveaways for the pediatric patients of the clinic. This was sooooo much fun for us. When were a little older – 10 maybe – we were allowed to put together extraction post-op kits, which was a huge responsibility. Growing up, I learned the importance of giving back, as it was a requirement in my family. When I started my own family and began my career, I came to Ben Massell to continue the commitment to service that I loved so much as a child.” - Deborah Fluker, former long-time employee.
