Board Members

Board President, Alan Felsenfeld, MA, DDS

Alan L. FelsenfeldAlan Felsenfeld, MA, DDS, of Marina del Rey, was appointed to the Dental Board of California on February, 2020. Dr. Felsenfeld is a board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon who has been in practice since 1977. He was a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry from 1995 to 2020. Dr. Felsenfeld is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American and International College of Dentists, American Dental Association, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, American Institute of Parliamentarians, Apollonian UCLA Dental Alumni, California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, California Dental Association, Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, Southern California Academy of Oral Pathology, Western Los Angeles Dental Society and the Western Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He earned a Master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa, a Doctor of Dentistry degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry and a certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery from Cook County Hospital. (Term Expires: January 1, 2027)

Board Vice President, Joanne Pacheco, RDH, MAOB

Joanne PachecoJoanne Pacheco of Fresno, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California by Governor Brown in April, 2018. Ms. Pacheco has been director of the Dental Hygiene Program at Fresno City College since 2017, where she has held several positions since 2000, including academic chair, full-time faculty and allied health chair. She has been a registered dental hygienist in private practice since 1985. Ms. Pacheco was a registered dental assistant in private dental practices from 1979 to 1985. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Educator's Association and the California Dental Hygienists’ Association. Pacheco earned a Master of Arts degree in organizational behavior from Alliant International University. (Term expires January 1, 2025)

Board Secretary, Lilia Larin, DDS

Lilia LarinDr. Lilia Larin is a general dentist in San Diego and has been in private practice since 1992. She is a Past President of the national Hispanic Dental Association and the American Association of Women Dentists. She is a current board member of the AAWD’s “Smiles for Success Foundation” and the San Diego County Dental Society where she works as Continuing Education Chair. She is also a past president of the San Diego Academy of General Dentistry, the San Diego Association of Women Dentists and is founder and Past President of the San Diego Hispanic Dental Association Binational Chapter.

Dr. Larin has served on the California Dental Association’s House of Delegates, CDA’s PAC Council, CDA's Government Affairs Committee and the American Dental Association’s Political Action Team. She has also served as a board member for MANA de San Diego a Women’s Leadership and Mentoring non- profit organization. Dr. Larin is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and a graduate of the Harvard Business School Club of San Diego Non-Profit Leadership Development Program.

Dr. Larin earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Before obtaining her dental license, she worked as a Registered Dental Assistant. She has been married for over 30 years and has three grown children. Her two sons are also dentists. (Term expires January 1, 2025)

Steven Chan, DDS

Steven Chan, DDS Steven D. Chan, DDS, of Fremont, was appointed to the Dental Board in April 2021. After earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Georgetown Dental School in 1978, he continued residencies in hospital dentistry and pediatric dentistry. He has been in private practice limited to pediatric dentistry since 1981. Dr. Chan served as President of the California Dental Association, the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, this nation’s honor society for dentistry, and founder of the California Dental Association Foundation. He holds Fellowships in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honor society. He is a life member of the American Dental Association, the three dental honor societies, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He was a member of a Leadership Institute at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Dr. Chan is on the Medical Staff at a regional hospital and serves on the governing board overseeing the off-campus subsidiary companies. (Term expires January 1, 2025)

Joni Forge, DDS

Joni Forge, DDS Dr. Joni Forge is a general dentist who has practiced in the Los Angeles area for over 35 years. She recently joined the faculty at University of Southern California as an adjunct clinical instructor in the Special Patients Clinic and is a published author of a dental children’s book. Dr. Forge earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Forge has served on the California Dental Association’s House of Delegates as well as Chairman of Community Relations for Los Angeles Dental Society and Peer Review for Los Angeles Dental Society. She is member of American Dental Association, California Dental Association, Los Angeles Dental Society, and the National Dental Association. (Term expires January 1, 2025)

Meredith McKenzie, ESQ

Meredith McKenzieMeredith McKenzie of Los Gatos, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California. McKenzie has been vice president and deputy general counsel at Juniper Networks since 2012. She was senior director of intellectual property at Symantec Corporation from 2006 to 2012, director of litigation, licensing and IP for Cypress Semiconductor from 2001 to 2006 and corporate counsel and director of IP at Enuvis Inc. from 2000 to 2001. McKenzie was an associate for Howrey LLP from 1998 to 2000 and patent agent and design engineer at Intel Corporation from 1993 to 1998. McKenzie earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. (Term Expires: January 1, 2024)

Angelita Medina, MHS

Angelita Medina, MHSAngelita (Angie) Medina was appointed to the California Dental Board by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in January 2021. Prior to retiring from Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, after 33 years of service, Ms. Medina held the positions of Director Children’s Health Outreach Initiative, Associate Director of the OB Overflow Program, Chief of Admissions and Financial Services at LAC-USC Medical Center and Assistant Director of the County’s HMO Program. Since her retirement she continues to advocate for healthcare access for all. She also continues to volunteer with various community nonprofits and is currently an appointee to Los Angeles County Library Commission. She has her BS in Business Administration from the University of Redlands and her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California (USC). She currently resides in Whittier. (Term Expires: January 1, 2025)

Sonia Molina, DMD, MPH

Sonia Molina, DMD, MPHSonia Molina, DMD, MPH, of Los Angeles, was appointed to the Dental Board of California by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, 2020. Dr. Molina has been a Dentist and President at Molina Endodontics since 1992. She is a member of the California Dental Association, Clinica Romero and the Harvard Club of Southern California. She earned a postdoctoral degree in endodontics from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. (Term Expires: January 1, 2024).

Rosalinda Olague, RDA, B.A.

Rosalinda OlagueRosalinda Olague, RDA, M.A. was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Dental Board of California in April 2018. Rose has been a registered dental assistant with Pacific Dental Services® since 2008. She started her career with the company as a lead registered dental assistant at Monet Dental Group. In 2015, Rose was promoted to regional back-office manager for Southern California’s South Inland Empire and San Diego regions. Rose was recognized for her dedication and exceptional performance by being awarded the company’s 2017 eXtraordinary Performance Platinum Award. In April 2018, Rose joined the Pacific Dental Services national support team as Sr. Specialist for Dental Assistant National Strategy and School Relations. In March 2021, she was promoted once again to Sr. Manager, Dental Assistant Strategy and University Relations. Rose received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from La Sierra University, and a Master of Arts degree in business management from University of Redlands. She is currently pursuing her PhD in organizational leadership at La Sierra University. Rose is a member of the American Dental Assistant Association. (Term expires January 1, 2025)

Yogita Thakur, DDS, MS

Yogita Thakur, DDS, MSYogita Butani Thakur, DDS, MS, of Foster City was appointed to the Dental Board of California by Governor Newsom in August 2022. Dr Thakur is a board-certified Pediatric Dentist, serves as the Chief Dental Officer at Ravenswood Family Health Network, and holds hospital privileges at Stanford Children’s Hospital. She obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from VYWS Dental College and Hospital (1996). She received a Master of Science degree in Dental Public Health at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry (2002) and certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from UCSF School of Dentistry (2010). Dr Thakur is a member of California Dental Association, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. She has held several leadership positions advocating for Oral health Access and has served on the Board of San Mateo Head Start, chair of the CPCA Dental Director Peer Network, is currently a NNOHA board member. (Term expires January 1, 2027)

James Yu, DDS, MS

James YuJames Yu of Fremont, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California by Governor Brown in April, 2018. Dr. James Yu has been a dentist at James K. Yu DDS since 1984, where he has been an acupuncturist since 2008. He has been a radio talk show host at AM 1450 since 2000 and radio talk show president and owner at the Chinese Today Radio Station since 2015. Yu is Bay Area leader of Medical Services International and President of Northern California Chinese Media Association, and a member of the American Dental Association, California Acupuncture Association, San Francisco Dental Society, Application of Acupuncture in Dental Practices, San Francisco Chinatown Salvation Army, American Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture and the American Society of Chinese Medicine. He earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and a Master of Science degree in acupuncture from the University of East-West Medicine. (Term expires January 1, 2024)