Leadership
Dr. Brad Hester
Hometown: Redmond, OR
Dental School: Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
Practicing general dentistry in Bend for more than 20 years, Dr. Hester’s passion is helping people achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. His interest in dentistry began at an early age deciding on dentistry as a career in 7th grade. His college years were spent at the University of Portland, graduating with a B.S. in Biology. Dr. Hester won a scholarship to play baseball at the University and was voted Most Valuable Player as well as achieving the Highest Batting Average award during his senior season. He went on to earn his D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon.
In 1988 Dr. Hester opened his private practice in Portland, practicing there until 1994 when he moved back to his roots in Central Oregon.
Committed to providing the best, most advanced dental care, Dr. Hester invests hundreds of hours each year enhancing his skills and keeping up to date on advances in the dental field. He has studied with some of the world’s leading authorities in dentistry including Dr. Peter Dawson and The Pankey Institute (reconstructive dentistry), Dr. David Hornbrook (esthetics), Dr. Carl Misch (Implants), and Dr. Ken Reed & William Gottschalk (IV Sedation).
We are proud to announce that Dr. Brad Hester recently became the Oregon Dental Association’s (ODA) 128th President!
Dr. Hester is married to his wife of 33 years, Kelly, who works as an RN at Volunteers in Medicine. They have five grown children and two dogs. In his free time, Dr. Hester enjoys outdoor activities, fine woodworking, and most recently building and racing Baja off-road cars.
Dr. Mary Kate Grady
Hometown: Palos Heights, IL
Dental School: Creighton University School of Dentistry
Dr. Grady comes by dentistry naturally; her dad is a dentist and her mom is a dental hygienist. She was born and raised in Palos Heights, a small town southwest of Chicago, Illinois. She went to Marquette University for undergrad and graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska in 2017. She completed her Advanced Education in General Dentistry with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Spokane, Washington. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association and the Central Oregon Dental Society.
When she is not working, she loves spending time with her husband, Jed, out on the golf course. She also enjoys taking their dog, Marv, on runs and hikes, and cooking up new dishes.
Dr. Haley Van Volkenburg
Hometown: Roseburg, OR
Dental School: Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
Dr. Van Volkenburg decided to pursue dentistry at a young age due to the profound impact that dental professionals made in her life and with her smile. As an avid learner, she appreciates the chance to be challenged and inspired in dentistry. She values building relationships with patients to encourage them to meet their oral health goals while providing a welcoming, thoughtful, and cheerful environment. With the ever-changing advancements in the dental field, Dr. Van Volkenburg prioritizes continuing her education in order to provide the best possible care for her patients.
Dr. Van Volkenburg is a native Oregonian and grew up in Roseburg, OR. She attended Oregon State University for her undergraduate degree and continued on to graduate from OHSU School of Dentistry in 2019. During her time at OHSU, she was an integral part of the American Student Dental Association, Student Research Group, and the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry. She also co-founded the Women in Dentistry Club and coordinated multiple volunteer dental clinics. Today, Dr. Van Volkenburg stays involved in the American Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association, and the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Van Volkenburg is thrilled about her recent move to Central Oregon with her fiancé, Brian, and is looking forward to experiencing all it has to offer. When not at the office, you can find her visiting family, skiing, cycling, reading a good book, planning her next travels, or trying new recipes at home.
Dr. Nicole Tasooji
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Dental School: Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
Dr. Nicole Tasooji grew up by the beach in San Diego, where most of her time was spent splashing in the waves or hunting for sand crabs. Dr. Tasooji devoted her teenage years to excelling at both academics and sports. At 5’11, she was a towering force on both the basketball and volleyball court. She traded the ocean for the deserts of Arizona, where she attended the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and graduated among the top of her class. Dr. Tasooji then continued her education at the prestigious University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City. She has been blessed to work in unique places from the rural hills of Mexico, to the jungles of Jamaica, to the eastern shore of Maryland, and now back on the west coast. She is confident in all aspects of dentistry, with special interests in cosmetics, surgery and working with individuals with special needs.
In her free time, you can find Dr. Tasooji out exploring with her husband and Sheltie-Terrier mix, Odysseus (Ody). She loves to rock climb, practice yoga, and enjoys iced lattes. Dr. Tasooji loves live performances and can’t wait to once again be front row at concerts, theatres and comedy shows.
Dr. Tasooji believes a healthy and beautiful smile is important to a person’s overall health and well-being. She is fulfilled by helping people understand and take control of their own oral health.
Dr. Sumra Zaidi
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Dental School: University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Sumra Zaidi grew up in New York where she enjoyed spending time with her four sisters, exploring Manhattan, and finding the best pizza and bagels that New York has to offer. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the City College of New York and completed her doctorate in dental surgery at the University at Buffalo.
She had always dreamed about living on the West Coast, so traded in her snow boots for rain boots and moved to Seattle, WA. She completed advanced training in oral surgery, implant dentistry, root canal therapy, intravenous sedation, and pediatric dentistry through a General Practice Residency at Swedish Medical Center. During residency, she had the opportunity to treat patients with various medical complexities, special needs, developmental delays, and dental phobias.
Dr. Zaidi decided to pursue dentistry as a way to combine her love for science and art, but her favorite part of dentistry is working with people everyday and helping them feel at ease in the dental setting. Her goals in dentistry are to work with like-minded dentists to provide the highest quality of care to her patients.
In her free time, Dr. Zaidi enjoys trail running, mountain biking, skiing, and doing yoga with her fiancé, Sam, and their dogs, Abby and Molly. She is so excited to join the amazing team at Bend Family Dentistry to provide the best care and impact a positive change in her patients’ lives!
Dr. Gregg Jones
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Dental School: Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry
Dr. Jones says he was drawn to dentistry by the opportunity to develop relationships with patients and to apply his skills to help people stay healthy.
Dr. Jones is a Eugene native with a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies and Biology. After finishing his second undergraduate degree from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, he went on to finish at OHSU School of Dentistry.
Dr. Jones relishes living and working in Central Oregon. He and his wife, Kelle, have a home near Sunriver. He is the father of two grown sons, Sheldon and Taylor. They enjoy many of the outdoor activities the region has to offer, including hiking, cycling, kayaking and snow skiing. Recently, he was certified as a volunteer with the Deschutes County Sheriff Search and Rescue Foundation after completing a challenging eight week academy.
Dr. Jones has training in contemporary, cosmetic and general dental techniques. He uses these skills to benefit patients of every age. More importantly, his excellent clinical skills are exceeded only by his compassion and care for patients. His goal is to create a partnership with his patients and to understand each patient’s unique needs and desires, focusing on preventative measures to create their ideal treatment goal.