STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Meet our TWO newest team members: Alfonso and Katie

Dr. Jose Alfonso Salazar-Celi, D.D.S. - Staff Dentist

Jose Alfonso Salazar-Celi, who prefers to be called Alfonso, hails from Lima Peru where he obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the National University Federico Villarreal. After graduation, Alfonso worked as a dental surgeon at the National Institute of Family Well Being in the Center of Rehabilitation for Girls “Ermelinda Carrera” Dental Department (a government institution for people in need). While in Peru, he completed continuing education courses in endodontics, mental health, prosthetics, and pathology of the oral cavity.

After moving his family to New York in 1999, Alfonso worked as a dental assistant. They moved to Colorado in 2007, where Alfonso graduated from the International Dental Program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In 2009 he obtained his Colorado credentials. Since his graduation, he has been actively involved in the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association and the Metro Denver Dental Society.

Katie Nowicki – Dental Assistant

After graduating from the Emily Griffith Technical College of Health Sciences as a dental assistant in 2011, Katie completed an externship at Howard Dental Center. Katie found the experience so rewarding, that she volunteered in the hopes that there might be an opening in the clinic. Katie was rewarded for her diligence in July of 2011. She is now a full time chairside dental assistant. When she is not provided assistance to our dentists, Katie likes to do all things outdoors: hiking and camping, especially with her dogs.

Mirela Giurgiu, D.D.S., Dental Director

Dr. Mirela Giurgiu joined Howard Dental Center in February of 2010 as Acting Dental Director. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, School of Dentistry in Timisoara, Romania in 1998. After practicing in private practice in Romania for three years, Mirela moved with her family to the United States in 2001. They moved to Florida where Mirela worked as a dental assistant and a dental hygienist. Mirela and her family relocated to Colorado so that she could complete her studies to obtain a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Mirela graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dentistry International Student Program in December 2009.

Dr. Giurgiu’s professional goal is to work with underserved populations and is thrilled to have the opportunity to do just that at Howard Dental Center. Mirela, her husband and their two boys love living in Colorado with its beautiful scenery and outdoor opportunities.

David T. Zamboni, R.D.H., Dental Hygienist

David graduated from Community College of Denver in 1998 and has been a hygienist in private practice since then. He has extensive experience in soft tissue management programs. David has revamped our hygiene department in order to bring our patients to optimum oral health.

While he's not spending time with his children, ages 5 and 6, David enjoys gardening and baking.

Luann Husmann, R.D.H., Dental Hygienist

Luann is a Colorado native. She grew up in Lakewood and graduated from Lakewood High School. Following high school, she held various jobs in the medical records industry.

But Luann longed for a way to give back to the community by working in public health. She found her interest lay in dental hygiene and graduated from the program at Community College of Denver in May of 2010. While in school, Luann completed a rotation at HDC. She was hooked! She enjoyed working with our patients so much that, after graduating, she volunteered part time.

Besides spending time with her 13-year-old daughter, Luann enjoys camping, skiing, gardening and riding her motorcycle. Some of those hobbies may take a back seat when Luann’s new puppy, Tucker, starts his pet therapy training. Once trained, Tucker and Luann will bring smiles to faces at schools, nursing homes and hospice care centers.

Lydia Perez-Murdoch – Dental Assistant

Lydia graduated from Emily Griffith Opportunity School from the College of Health Sciences as a dental assistant in 2007. Her experience during a 2-month externship at Howard Dental Center, was educational as well as rewarding. Lydia wanted to give back to her community and liked the idea that Howard Dental is a nonprofit clinic benefitting the underserved. Because of her talents, she was offered a full time position after finishing the externship. Lydia enjoys working directly with patients and using her skills in assisting the dentists in chair-side procedures.

Debra Kralicek - Receptionist

Debra has a varied career in the dental profession – spanning over 20 years. Her expertise includes chair side and oral surgery assisting and front desk operations. Debra attended the Colorado College of Medical and Dental Assistants and the Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries course at the University of Colorado Dental School. Since 2001, she has been managing dental office front desk operations and patient coordination. Through those experiences, Debra developed an acute understanding of and compassion for patients’ oral health needs and related issues that affect their overall health.

Debra has three grown children. Her three (soon to be four) grandchildren take up most of her time outside the office and she enjoys them immensely.  

Hazel Ann Harris - Medical Case Manager

Hazel is known as a longtime community activist. Her life purposes are to love, educate and serve. Hazel speaks to community groups, schools, and universities about human rights issues. Her extensive experience in program administration, case management, community outreach, and advocacy has enabled her to work with thousands of individuals from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Hazel is passionate about HIV/AIDS work. As a case manager liaison, she facilitated communication and service coordination among Northern Colorado AIDS Project, Boulder County AIDS Project, and Beacon Clinic. She provided intensive and proactive case management in Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties.

Hazel received a BS from Knoxville College and a MAT from Smith College. She has held positions as a certified teacher, counselor, laboratory researcher and coordinator, and director of a learning center. Hazel is enthusiastic about working at Howard Dental Center, because it is a socially responsible agency of integrity and treats each patient with dignity.

Mary Salsich - Development Director

 
Mary has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector in addition to a varied career including therapeutic recreation, graphic and landscape design and real estate. She has worked in numerous Denver nonprofits developing, marketing and managing programs, implementing fundraising strategies and coordinating special events.

As a previous owner of a design firm, Mary parlayed her graphic design and marketing expertise to benefit the nonprofits with whom she has worked and volunteered. A graduate of the University of Colorado, she is currently working on her Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University.

Ernest Duff, Executive Director

Ernie has worked for social change, social justice and human rights for over twenty-two years both at the grassroots and national levels. He first worked in New York with the homeless, mentally disabled and chronically ill, then in resettlement of political refugees and rehabilitation of torture victims. After moving to Berkeley, California, he headed up a national effort providing comprehensive services for exonerated former prisoners of the U.S. prison system.

In 2006, Ernie and his family relocated to Denver. He returned to torture treatment as Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Survivors Center. A minister and psychologist, Mr. Duff holds masters degrees from Yale University and the New School for Social Research. He lives with his wife and two daughters, and a dog in Centennial, Colorado.