Meet Our Team
Our friendly, dedicated, and energetic team is committed to working with you and your family to create a positive experience every time you visit our practice.
We welcome you with warm smiles to our practice!
Mrs. Barbara McRae
Office Manager
Mrs. McRae is office manager of our practice. She is a graduate of Benedict College and pursued further studies in education from the University of South Carolina. Formerly, she taught business education at Richmond Academy High School in Augusta, Georgia.
A diamond of many facets, she has been a wife for more than 35 years, raised four successful children, and has two grandsons, one granddaughter, and one newborn boy (Quadji). She is active in the community and an elder’s wife in her church, Church of the Nations. God has given her the gift of hospitality. Being hospitable is in her spirit to all she meets and those who know her.
As office manager of a Christian-based family dentistry, she delegates respectfully and professionally. Mrs. McRae awaits your visit to our practice; please do not hesitate to call.
Flavia M. Popescu D.M.D.
Dr. Popescu, a native of Romania, earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in May 2004 after completing six years of university study in Cluj, Romania. Soon after graduation, she began her career as a full-time dentist at the county hospital in Cluj. After meeting her future husband, a native of Atlanta, during a summer work abroad program, she immigrated to the United States. In April 2007 she was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine where she earned a D.M.D. in May 2009. Shortly after graduating, Dr. Popescu and her husband moved back to the north Georgia area and settled in Bethlehem. They attend First Romanian Baptist Church and First Baptist Atlanta.
She loves her job as a dentist. She especially enjoys meeting new people and wants to make a difference in the lives of her patients.
Lizbet Arana
Dental Assistant
Lizbet is originally from Lima, Peru. She has been a resident of Athens for 13 years. In 1998 Lizbet received her expanded duties dental assistant certificate from Gwinnett Technical College and has become more knowledgeable in the dental field assisting chairside of Dr. McRae. She currently attends Athens Technical College in pursuit of her next goal: to become a Hygienist. Lizbet prides herself in staying up to date with current dental procedures and high tech through attendance at continuing education courses and practicing the latest dental technology right here in the office.
Her most powerful lesson over the past 11 years of experience is the importance of building a relationship with patients. It is the greatest reward. Lizbet enjoys spending time with her loved ones. In her spare time she travels, loves to dance, create scrapbooks, interior decorate, and support charities. She looks forward to helping you with your various dental needs and providing you with the best quality and caring services possible.
Yolanda Navarro
Dental Assistant
Yolanda Navarro is a native of Mexico. She has been dental assisting at Dr. McRae and Associates Dentistry for 13 years. Her duties have expanded to assisting Dr. McRae at Atlanta Regional Medical Center and St. Mary’s Hospital. Mrs. Navarro is happily married to her husband, Kilder. They have three beautiful children. Yolanda will see you at the office.
Laiza Orduna
Dental Assistant
Laiza was born in Los Angeles, California. Her family moved to Athens when she was ten years old. After completing school, opportunity knocked at her door in the form of employment at Dr. Matthew McRae and Associates Family Dentistry. Laiza has enjoyed assisting Dr. McRae, learning new techniques, and operating with the latest equipment. Most of all, she enjoys teaching adults and children how to take better care of their smile. Ms. Orduna is one of the beautiful flowers that make up our bouquet of friendly and caring staff.
Vanessa Oblitas Fritz
Dental Assistant
Vanessa is a native of Lima, Peru. She has lived in Atlanta for the last five years. Vanessa enjoys being a dental assistant and helping patients with their dental treatment. When Ms. Fritz is not working, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Alee Vanessa, and family. She also loves to read and go shopping.
Cleo Dickerson
Hygienist Coordinator / Purchasing Agent
Cleo is a native of Maryland, but has been living in Georgia for the past 15 years. She has been an employee of Dr. Matthew McRae and Associates Family Dentistry since 1993. Cleo’s career began as one of the Dr. McRae’s assistants; she has now progressed to become the dental hygienist coordinator and purchasing agent for the office.
Ms. Dickerson graduated from Truett-McConnell College with an Associate of Arts Degree in 2001. She is presently working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her only son Michael is doing well in his second year of college. When time permits, she loves to read and shop, and enjoys the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. Let Cleo coordinate a healthy smile for you.
Debbie McCaleb
Dental Hygienist
Originally from Ohio, Debbie moved to Georgia in 1987. She received her associates degree in dental hygiene in 1989 from Georgia Perimeter College. Debbie has been an employee of Dr. McRae and Associates for 13 years. Debbie enjoys educating her dental family to the betterment of their oral and physical health. Seeing the improvements in her patients gives her great joy and a sense of accomplishment. She stays current with new ideas and concepts through continuing education courses. She is also an active member of the Georgia Dental Hygienists Association.
When not at work, she enjoys with her husband and family, camping, golfing, and crocheting. Debbie has two daughters, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She and her husband are avid UGA football fans. “GO DAWGS!” After 18 years Debbie retired from our office but occasionally temps for us. We are proud and glad to have her in our practice.
Leisa Ulrich
R.D.H.
Leisa is a native of Abbeville, South Carolina. She received her associates degree in dental hygiene at Greenville Technical College in 1999. Mrs. Ulrich relocated to Athens after her marriage to Mr. Ulrich and joined Dr. Matthew McRae and Associates Family Dentistry in November 2001.
Leisa and Michael have a three-year-old son, Will, and an 11-month-old son, Zach. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family in the great outdoors and boating. She’s waiting to put a sparkle in your smile.
Maricel Cid-Washington
Administrative Financial Coordinator
Maricel Washington is a native of Cuba and a naturalized American citizen who has lived in Athens for the past five years. Marcie is the administrative financial coordinator for the practice. Her duties consist of patient relations, collections, and billing. She speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Italian. Marcie graduated in 1985 from The University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in business administration and remains current in knowledge by reading professional journals and attending continuous educational courses.
Marcie is happily married to Walter Washington. They have one beautiful daughter, Lorraine, and three lovely pets. Marcie is very family-oriented — exacting and professional at work or play. She treats all clients like family, and with much respect, and she looks forward to seeing you in our office.
Sheena Hall
Front Desk Receptionist
Sheena Hall joined McRae Family Dental in September 2003. She was born in Greenville, South Carolina and graduated from the Madison County High School. What she loves and enjoys about being a receptionist is greeting her patients with a friendly warm smile, making them feel like family, and helping them with their insurance and any questions they may have.
Out of the office, she devotes her time to her four handsome boys — Mali, 8; Corey, 6; Jordan, 4; and Matthew, 4 — along with her beautiful daughter, Kayla, who is 19 months old. She also enjoy spending time with her family and friends and going to church at Hill Chapel Baptist. She currently resides in Athens.
Melissa Beard
Dental Hygienist
Melissa joined McRae Family Dental in November 2004. She grew up in Royston, Georgia. She is a graduate of Madison County High School. Melissa attended Athens Technical College where she received her degree from the dental hygiene program in 2004. Dental Hygiene has always been her destiny. She has wanted to be a hygienist since she had orthodontic treatment in middle school. The bond that she has with her patients adds so much value to her life.
She is married to Ryan. They have a daughter named Haleigh. They reside in Carnesville, and during her spare time Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, decorating, and fishing.
Natalie Findlay
Dental Hygienist
Natalie is a native of Richland, Washington. Recently she relocated to Georgia after marriage to her darling husband in May 2007. After attending Brigham Young University, Natalie graduated magna cum laude from Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport with a bachelor’s in dental hygiene.
During Natalie’s spare time she enjoys traveling, socializing, daily flossing, attending church, running, volleyball and spending time with her husband. Natalie’s favorite part about her job as a dental hygienist is spending time with all of her patients.
Kelly King
Dental Hygienist
Kelly King, originally from Easley, SC, joined McRae Family Dental in May 2011. She received her bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Gardner-Webb University in May 2008. After graduating, she decided to further her education and pursue a degree in dental hygiene. Kelly then attended Greenville Technical College where she received her degree from the dental hygiene program in May 2011.
Her favorite part about her job is being able to make a difference in her patients’ lives, whether it is answering questions and discussing oral hygiene or simply laughing and bringing a smile to their faces. Her enthusiasm and zest for life is apparent through her work ethic and interaction with her patients. Kelly and her husband, Kristopher, reside in Hart County. They have two children: Deuce the chocolate lab and Marbles the cat. In her spare time, Kelly loves spending time with her family and friends, running, and attempting to cook.
Carmen Rubio
Front Desk Receptionist
Carmen Rubio is originally from Peru. She’s lived in Athens since 1993. Carmen graduated from Athens Technical College, after majoring in business administration technology, in August 2011. Shortly after graduating, she joined McRae Family Dental as a receptionist and has enjoyed greeting and helping patients. She has one son who is the light of her life. Her goal in life is to be a better Christian every day.