Work with an Exceptional Periodontal Team in Falls Church and Alexandria

Munazza, better known as MJ, has lived in the Northern Virginia area for most of her life. 

She graduated from George Mason University with a B.S. in Biology in 2008, and has worked in the dental field since 2003.

MJ started her employment with Dr. Gouldin in 2004 and has since mastered all administrative and clinical duties. She was Dr. Gouldin’s lead surgical assistant for over 5 years and currently serves as the Practice Administrator at Northern Virginia Periodontics, where she is committed to helping others by ensuring the practice runs smoothly and providing exceptional care to patients. With a passion for supporting those around her, MJ strives to foster a positive and caring environment for patients and colleagues.

MJ loves spending quality time with her beautiful family. In her spare time, she loves cooking, crocheting, and traveling.

Jennie was born in Fort Collins, CO, to a military family, and she has lived in 8 states before officially settling in Alexandria, VA.

She attended Bayside High School’s Health Sciences Academy, obtained a B.S. in Biology from Radford University and became a Certified Dental Assistant at Northern Virginia Community College.

When not at work, Jennie is either reading a mixture of autobiographies or thrillers, learning new recipes, biking the Mt. Vernon trail, or tending to her plants.

Above all, Jennie enjoys spending quality time with her family and her two parrots, Sunny and Kiwi. “Fun Facts” about Jennie include her and her husband are high school sweethearts; her favorite number is 13 because it doesn’t get enough love; and she loves playing board and card games.

KJ joined the Northern Virginia Periodontics Team in September 2019 as Dr. Gouldin’s personal assistant and scribe.

Her efficiency, intelligence, and delightful personality was recognized immediately by all members of the NVP Team, and she has evolved into our Communications Coordinator, handling all digital communication between of our doctors/hygienists and our referring offices throughout the DMV area.

KJ embodies and demonstrates daily a core virtue that all of us at NVP strive to achieve, and that is to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.

In KJ’s leisure time, she is currently enjoying the process of remodeling her new home which she shares with her family.

Brooke began her career in the dental field in 2017 after graduating with a degree in business from Faulkner University. She has worked in both periodontics and orthodontics.

Brooke moved here from Alabama in 2020 and is enjoying all there is to do in the area. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, painting, and going to the park with her son.

Her favorite part about the periodontal field is building relationships with the patients and learning about all the surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

Melissa began her career in dentistry in 2018.

After a few years as a dental and oral surgery assistant, she decided to expand her knowledge in the treatment coordination aspect of the dental field, as well as periodontics.

As a newer resident of Northern Virginia, Melissa is still enjoying getting to know the area. She enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family, loves the beach, and trying out new places to eat.

Melissa is passionate about the dental field and sharing knowledge with others.

Andrea grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and pursued Psychology at The University of Maryland, graduating with her bachelor’s degree. Her venture into orthodontics sparked a deep passion for dental care. Driven by this interest, she expanded her expertise in dentistry. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her four rescue cats: Queso, Matcha, Mango, and Ramen, along with cooking and reading.

Emily grew up in rural central Pennsylvania. She attended Penn State, where she earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. The convenience store “Sheetz” originated in her hometown of Altoona, PA, and she worked there for 11 years in high school, college, and beyond.

In her past life, she also worked for the USPS delivering mail.

Emily entered the world of dentistry by working as a patient coordinator in an orthodontics office and she quickly became obsessed with teeth! In her free time, her favorite things to do are hiking/camping (okay, maybe glamping), testing new recipes, baking pastries, and spending time with her friends and family.

Stevie relocated to Northern Virginia in 2020 when her husband’s career brought their family to the DC area. Originally from Kansas City (Go Chiefs!), she now calls Falls Church home, where she lives with her husband and their three boys. 

With twelve years of experience in the dental field, Stevie is a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Her passion for dentistry began early, inspired by her grandfather, a dedicated dentist who ran a private practice in North Carolina. His mentorship sparked a lifelong love for all things dental. 

Outside of work, Stevie stays active with running and pickleball and enjoys hosting gatherings with friends and family, making the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories.

Richard Niner is a passionate Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) with a diverse background in both biology and healthcare. After earning a degree in Biology from Radford University, Richie took on a role as an assistant at NVP in 2021, where he gained valuable hands-on experience and a deeper appreciation for patient care.

Richie studied dental hygiene at Fortis College, seeking to develop his skills further. After completing the program, he became a licensed RDH.

Today, he works as a dental hygienist, blending his love for science with a commitment to helping others achieve better oral health.

Carmen is a Certified and Registered Dental Assistant who has been in the dental field since 2000. She is fluent in Spanish and has many years of experience in dentistry.

Carmen appreciates that our periodontists are conscientious about providing the highest quality periodontal and dental implant treatment, and she is proud to be part of the practice! Carmen and her husband, Giovanni, have two children.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, going to the beach, and attending her children’s sporting activities. She also loves to travel anywhere her friends and family want to go.

Karla grew up in Puerto Rico until she moved to the States at a young age. While transitioning from Puerto Rico to Milwaukee, she managed to learn and become fluent in English.

Shortly after, she made her way to Philadelphia where being in health care, precisely in the dental assistant field, spiked an interest. She started pursuing this career path by enrolling in the All-State Career program and obtaining an EFDA Dental Assistant Diploma.

While becoming a dental assistant in Philadelphia for a duration of eight years she decided it was time for a change of scenery and joined Northern Virginia Periodontics in the fall of 2022. During Karla’s free time, she likes to explore new sights in the DMV area and spend time with close friends
and family.

Alicia was born and raised in El Salvador and later moved to the United States, where she discovered her passion for dentistry. With 16 years of dedicated experience as a dental assistant, she has developed a deep enthusiasm for her role as a periodontal surgical assistant. Alicia is committed to providing exceptional patient care, offering empathetic and personalized support to individuals from all walks of life. A devoted family woman, she shares her life with her husband, Vincent, and their three children—Alejandro, Gabriel, and Victoria—along with their beloved dog, Bella, who brings joy and companionship to their home. In her free time, Alicia enjoys preparing meals for her family, engaging in physical activities together, and exploring the beauty of Alexandria, which she cherishes as her home.

Lindsay was born and raised in northern Virginia and attended Radford University. Her passion for dentistry started in 2015 when she worked as a treatment plan coordinator at an oral surgeon’s office. She wanted to be more involved with patient care and their well-being, so she obtained her certification, which led to her current position as a surgical assistant. Outside of NVP you can catch her playing trivia, leading a local hiking/running group, and spending time with family and friends. She’s a huge movie and music buff, her brain is like a rolodex of random facts and useless information.

Vanessa was born and raised in Alexandria, VA. Her interest in teeth did not develop until she had braces and was fascinated by the process – especially the doctor and assistant interaction. The way they worked together to make her feel confident about her smile was when Vanessa knew being in the dental field was what she wanted to do as her career. Now, with 2 kids, her dental knowledge can be passed down! She finds joy in crocheting and spending time with her family during her free time – especially going on TJ Maxx runs with her mom and daughter!