Our Team

Gary Steen, DDS, FAGD, MeCCS, MBA

Dr. Steen trained at the University of Washington and holds MBA’s from ASU and Thunderbird.  After graduating from dental school in Seattle, Dr. Steen moved to Europe and practiced for 5 years in the public health systems of Norway and Switzerland.  He is licensed to practice in Scandinavia as well as Arizona, Colorado and Minnesota.

Dr. Steen is a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Orthodontic Society, the College of Oral Sedation in the American Society of Dental Anesthesia, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation and the Arizona, California and American Dental Associations.

Dr. Steen is a classroom junkie, completing between one and two hundred hours a year in continuing dental education.  The Academy of General Dentistry is primarily an educational group and his fellowship status in the Academy is an acknowledgment of educational achievement.

Dr. Steen is an avid bicyclist and has ridden throughout the Rocky Mountains, the Peruvian Andes and the Alps.  In other activities, if the snow is good, chances are you will find him skiing somewhere.  He is formerly a certified instructor in the Rocky Mountain Ski Instructors Association.  Dr. Steen speaks German, Norwegian, French and Spanish and is a private pilot.  He holds a general contractor’s license in Arizona for residential and small commercial construction.

 

 

Michael Choi, DMD, MSD, Prosthodontist

Dr. Choi trained in South Korea and at UCLA and did his implant and prosthodontic residencies at Loma Linda University. His primary practice is in Irvine, CA, with an emphasis in dental implants, and he treats special restorative cases at Centercare.

Dr. Choi is a member of the American College of Prosthodontics, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the Academy of Osseointegration and the California and American Dental Associations. His research has been published in The Journal of Implant Dentistry, and he has taught clinical dentistry at Loma Linda University.

When Dr. Choi and his wife left Korea in 1993 to begin graduate studies in the U.S., their son John, now a 20-year-old college student, was 100 days old. Isis, his 14-year old daughter, is a superb swimmer and qualified to compete in the Junior Olympics.

Less well known about Dr. Choi is the fact that he earned a black belt in Tae Kwan Do when he was in middle school. Yet another reason to treat him with respect.

 

Linda Beguin, DDS, MBA

Dr. Beguin is both a clinician and administrator.  She has been in private practice and has served for a number of years as dental director for CIGNA Healthcare of Arizona.  In addition she served as dental program manager in the Arizona Department of Health Services and is currently the dental consultant to the Arizona Department of Insurance.  She is certified in healthcare quality management by the American Board of Quality Assurance.  Dr. Beguin monitors quality assurance and training at Centercare.

Dr. Beguin was introduced to dentistry in high school while working as a dental assistant in the Mercy Care Clinic.  She entered dental school at UCLA after college and graduated at the top of her class.  She returned to Phoenix as one of the first women to practice dentistry in Arizona.

Dr. Beguin’s earliest dreams weren’t dentistry.  Throughout childhood she wanted to be a ballet dancer and studied and performed under Kelly Brown at the Phoenix School of Ballet.  She continued dancing through college and for years afterward.  She maintains agility today with Pilates and Yoga.  Dr. Beguin has painted, thrown pottery and is an accomplished jeweler and silversmith.

 

Sian Behnfeldt, BS, RDH

Sian trained at Lamar University and has worked primarily in periodontal practices for over 20 years.  She has extensive postgraduate training in periodontal therapy and brings a high level of clinical skill and knowledge to Centercare.

Sian is a member of the Arizona and American Dental Hygiene Associations and is licensed in Arizona and Texas.

Sian was raised on a Texas ranch with horses, and still has a strong equestrian streak in her.  She does hunter-jumping riding in Phoenix and does trail rides throughout Arizona and in California.  Sian is married and a mother to a five-year old boy, Otto.

Mariola Widuch, DMD

Centercare has been serving patients downtown and in the historic districts for twenty years, and Mariola has been part of that for sixteen of those years.  She is the omnipresent glue that connects all the parts of the practice.  For supplies, insurance, software, clinical procedures, patient histories and all the details that make a dental practice go, Mariola is the final resource for everyone around her.

Mariola is a dentist, trained at the Medical Academy of Gdansk, Poland.  Within a month of completing her studies there, she was on a plane for Chicago to marry her American sweetheart, Mark.  They came to Gilbert and have a family of two boys, 8 and 13.  Under Arizona law, Mariola would have to get additional training, out of state, to fully license to practice dentistry here.  That hasn't been feasible for her yet, but we benefit hugely, nonetheless, from her knowledge and skills.

 

Jessie Dooley

In our office when you hear footsteps or a "beep-beep" it's probably Jessie. She's the energizer bunny for Centercare. All restorative and implant-related issues will pass through her, and patients seeking appointments with either Dr. Steen or Dr. Choi should ask for Jessie.

Outside of her dental training, Jessie is trained in tutoring autistic children. Additionally, she competes in NPC (National Physique Committee) competitions. She recently won first place in "figure" class in a regional contest and will be competing at a national level in Chicago in June.

Jessie has a collection of over 40 Barbie dolls, all still in their original boxes!

Ashley Radeff

Ashley came to us 5 years ago after finishing formal training in the Phoenix College dental assisting program.  She has become a gifted surgical assistant for both Dr. Steen and Dr. Choi.  Assisting in surgery requires long intervals of unwavering concentration, a steady demeanor and a quick eye and hand.  Ashley was made for the job.  Because surgery patients are usually sedated, she is one of the assistants who have been sent for additional training in caring for and monitoring sedated patients.

Ashley is back in school again, with the idea of leaving us, at least temporarily. She is studying toward dental hygiene, which will eventually put her into a full time course of study for 2 years.

Raquel Barron

Raquel is the principal x-ray technician and infection control monitor at Centercare. She is originally from Wisconsin and came to us three years ago with a background in optical healthcare and in photography. She has received extensive training in radiography and in sterilization and is the principal trainer for the dental assistant externs that are sent to Centercare from schools around the valley. Her camera skills are much used as well with the large amount of intraoral photography that we do.

Out of the office, Raquel spends weeks every year as a mentor to socially challenged teens in urban Phoenix and in out-of-town camps. Those are the days. At night she dances. Salsa is her latest undertaking.

Stacey Wassmer

Stacey is the insurance coordinator for Centercare, coming here following years as an insurance examiner with a large medical insurance company, along with many other years in the dental field. Insurance companies rule the world, as we know, and that includes ruling the medical and dental fields as well. Having someone actually come from that industry is a big boon for us and for our patients.

Out of the office, Stacey takes yoga and has played softball and tennis. She and her husband, Jeff, are enthusiastic 4-wheelers, boaters and campers.

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