Our Team

Dr. Maher, to borrow from the John le Carré novel, is a Tinker Dentist Soldier Guy – a man of many talents and interests.

Tinker: He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University where he studied composite materials, computer aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM), mechatronics, and fluid mechanics.

Dentist: From BYU, Dr. Maher returned to his native California to pursue his DDS degree from the prestigious University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco. He is a certified Cerec® (“same day” crowns) and Invisalign® (“invisible” orthodontia) provider.

Soldier: Having completed his formal dentistry training, Dr. Maher began his Dentistry Residency with the U.S. Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he was awarded a one-on-one mentorship with distinguished specialists in oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and general restorative dentistry. While at Ft. Benning, Dr. Maher was certified in Airborne School where he learned to jump out of airplanes before he and his family were transferred to Hawaii.

Dr. Maher shipped out of Schofield Barracks in Hawaii to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as Brigade Dental Surgeon from August 2006-2007. In Iraq, Dr. Maher was the sole provider of comprehensive dental care for over 5,000 U.S. coalition service personnel and civilians.

Guy: He is fluent in French and enjoys skiing, cycling, spending time with his family, and tinkering with cars.

Through a combination of state-of-the-art technology, sensible treatment plans, and genuine devotion to the unique needs of each patient, Dr. Maher preserves healthy teeth and gums, alleviates oral discomfort, and improves the appearance of smiles on a daily basis. He has applied his unique blend of artistic and technical skills to produce durable and aesthetic results in hundreds of happy patients. A young dentist with a grasp of the most innovative, minimally invasive new procedures, Dr. Maher is dedicated to lifelong learning through continuing education courses.

Dr. Maher is licensed by the Dental Board of California and is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and California Dental Association.
 

Dr. Lara Kachachi received her DDS from University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Prior to pursuing her dental degree, Dr. Kachachi earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia. After some time spent working in nuclear imaging, Dr. K was inspired by her aunt (the only dentist in the family) to change paths and pursue a career in dentistry. She went on to earn an M.S. in Biomedical Science from Florida Atlantic University while shadowing and assisting at her aunt’s dental clinic, before moving to the west coast to attend UOP.

Dr. Kachachi fell in love with the Bay Area during her time in SF, and decided to stay here indefinitely after graduating from dental school. 

Dr. Kachachi takes a conscientious approach in caring for her patients. She strives to empower patients to take an active role in their well-being and oral health by emphasizing patient education and understanding. Above all, Dr. Kachachi wants her patients to feel comfortable and at-ease.

In her free time, Dr. Kachachi loves to get outside! On the weekends you can find her hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, or taking a mini road trip for a fun new adventure. She also takes every opportunity she can to give back to the community, and volunteers for pro-bono dental events regularly.

Mindy has been practicing Dental Hygiene for 20 years and joined Dr. Maher's team 8 years ago. She specializes in periodontal disease management and treatment. Mindy has lived in Walnut Creek for 25 years with her husband and 3 daughters. She enjoys running, working in my garden, and taking care of my chickens, dog Eddie and cat Al Davis.

Ellen has worked in Dentistry as an Office Manager and Hygiene Administrator for more than 25 years. She is a Native Californian and was born and raised in the Bay Area. In her personal time, she, her husband Tom and their dog Duke enjoy spending time with family and friends. They enjoy camping and vacationing at their cabin in King’s Canyon. What Ellen enjoys most about her role is the interaction with our wonderful patients. She is dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for every patient and having a great team atmosphere. 

Susan has practiced dental hygiene in California for more than 35 years. Her undergraduate education began at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California.  She later obtained her dental hygiene degree from Loyola University in Maywood, Illinois. She has served on the Dental Hygiene Board of California as an examiner and  has held many offices for the Mt. Diablo Dental Hygiene society including Vice President. She currently resides in Walnut Creek with her husband and enjoys spending time with her two daughters, family, and friends. She is happy to be part of Dr. Mark Maher's fantastic team for the past year. 

Janai is relatively new to the dental field and started working with Dr. Maher as an intern and upon completion of her internship, joined Dr. Maher's team permanently. What Janai enjoys most about her job is being able to provide patient's with exceptional quality of care. When Janai isn't working she enjoys spending her free time with her husband, going on road trips and hikes with their two dogs, cooking and trying new foods, and spending time with her family.