Meet Our Team

Jonathan acts as the primary spokesperson and advocate for Cura Smiles, connecting with donors and community partners to advance the clinic’s life-changing work. In partnership with the Founder and Board of Directors, he provides strategic vision and guidance to the team running the clinic day-to-day. For Jonathan, Cura Smiles offers a deeply meaningful way to serve vulnerable populations in his local San Diego community. Jonathan also serves as the Senior Director of Development at Radical.

Briana Buser oversees the day-to-day operations of Cura Smiles. She plays a key role in managing Cura Smiles' growth trajectory, donor relations, organizational partnerships, and leads marketing and communications efforts such as newsletters, social media, and impact reports. Briana also assists in executing Cura Smiles' long term strategic plan to serve more people in the San Diego community.

Briana is a San Diego native and a graduate of The Master's University, where she studied business. She is passionate about the opportunity to do meaningful work and contribute to Cura Smiles' mission of providing sustainable dental care to underserved communities. In her free time, Briana enjoys spending time outdoors and discovering new coffee shops.

Janet Simpson, RDA, has been active in the field of dentistry for over 21 years, embracing various roles throughout her career. In addition to her work as a chairside assistant in both general and pediatric dental practices, she is also a speaker, inventor, and registered provider of continuing education, offering courses at dental conventions and online platforms. Janet is thankful for the amazing team of volunteers at Cura Smiles Dental Clinic, where she has the privilege of helping individuals facing pain and the stigma associated with poor oral health. When she’s not at the clinic or running her small business, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, scuba diving, and taking her dogs, Cozy and Boomer, on long walks at the beach.

Darlene is a Registered Dental Assistant with Extended Function (RDAEF) in the state of California. Darlene has worked in all areas of dentistry for nearly 40 years. She has also been involved in various dental missions both domestically and internationally. She also enjoys non dental missions with her church including volunteering at the boulder shelter for the homeless, home building projects in Tijuana, orphanage clean up and restoration in Mexico. When she isn’t working in dentistry Darlene enjoys cycling, finding treasures to fix up and resell, and walking with her dog Lucy.

For the past 47 years, Bill has served as an attorney practicing commercial real estate and business law. During that time frame, he has represented several multi-million dollar companies, and he has appeared before the United States Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Bill has served a number of other nonprofit corporations, including Via International (Chairman Emeritus), Optimist Club Foundation of Point Loma (current President), Preuss School UCSD, and was also on the board of directors of two nonprofits where he incorporated a focus upon PTSD and TBI.  He graduated from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, in 1969, and served in WestPac and Vietnam during his time in the Navy.

Thomas is a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University and Loma Linda University where he received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. Thomas currently practices at Del Mar Family Dentistry. After traveling to Nicaragua for 10 years to provide dental care to communities with little access to this kind of care, he launched Cura Coffee and Cura Smiles in an effort to provide sustainable dental care to underserved people in San Diego. Thomas and his wife, Tara, reside in San Diego with their two children, Owen and Stella.

Jordan, aka "Dr. Buzz," is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and has been practicing as a specialist for almost twenty years.  Since 2015, Jordan has been an adjunct faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University working alongside Dr. Sara Choung (fellow board member) and they co-teach a one-unit elective course entitled “Serving Through Healing: An Introduction to Health Professions.”  Dr. Buzz and Dr. Choung have been instrumental in maintaining a connection with PLNU to allow for PLNU pre-health students to have opportunities to volunteer in the Cura Smiles clinic helping and assisting our volunteer dental providers.  He is also dedicated to mission work and has served on dental outreach teams all over the world.  Even with that international experience, helping those in need in our own community is priority #1.  Dr. Buzzell, along with Dr. Fitzpatrick, were instrumental in establishing the clinic in City Heights. After setting up temporary dental clinics for two years in City Heights, Dr. Buzzell and Dr. Fitzpatrick realized that building a permanent clinic would best serve the needs of the community, and the idea for Cura Smiles was born. Jordan and his wife, Mandy, have three young children and reside in San Diego.  Dr. Buzz maintains a private pediatric dentistry and orthodontic practice in Santee, CA.

Amanda Thurman is a doctorally prepared Family Nurse Practitioner at the Health Promotion Center/Point Loma Nazarene University and full-time faculty at Azusa Pacific University. Her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Azusa Pacific University focused on training healthcare providers to screen for food insecurity in the clinical setting. She is active at Mission Church of the Nazarene in San Diego, CA, leading bible study and mission trips with her husband and 3 adult sons. Her passion is for providing care in underserved populations and teaching and mentoring nursing students. She is a BSN alum of Point Loma Nazarene University.

Ryan works as an account manager for a supply & equipment distributor, Henry Schein Dental. He helps by connecting dentists & manufacturers to the clinic to volunteer their time & donate materials, along with other operational support. His wife Lisa is a dental hygienist and they have three daughters, Jade, Jamie, and Stella. They enjoy fellowship at Pacific Hope Church in Kearny Mesa.

Paul A. Champlin graduated from SDSU receiving his accounting degree in 1977. Paul has been a certified public accountant for the past 44 years in San Diego developing his accounting and tax practice. He is actively involved at his church using his accounting skills and serving in many different ministries showing compassion and mercy toward those in need. He is also on the board of directors of a Christian nonprofit campgrounds and conference center. When not involved with the accounting practice or busy at church, Paul enjoys reading, traveling, and cheering on the Aztecs and Padres.

Sara's interest in chemistry was sparked in high school and she went on to study chemical engineering at MIT and UC Berkeley. She discovered her love of teaching and mentoring undergraduate students during graduate school. After doing research at Argonne National Laboratories, she started her teaching career at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2004. While Sara taught various chemistry courses, she also served as department chair of chemistry for five years and pre-health advisor for 13 years. As of 2023, she advises and mentors undergraduate students who plan to attend health professions schools as the Director of Health Professions Advising.  This includes the pre-dental students who serve alongside the volunteer dentists at Cura Smiles.

Scott Menath is a business leader, executive coach, and Chairman with C12 Business Forums, where he facilitates peer advisory forums for Christian CEOs and business owners.

Scott previously served as the second-generation leader of Menath Insurance, overseeing 41 employees across four offices and achieving approximately 15% compounded annual growth in revenue and EBITDA. His years working alongside nonprofits gave him deep expertise in governance, risk mitigation, and organizational sustainability. He has served on multiple boards, including as President of the Nevada Independent Insurance Agents Association and Treasurer of Pet Network Humane Society.

In 2025, following a spiritual transformation that reshaped his view of success, Scott relocated his family to San Diego to invest in leadership development and marketplace ministry across Southern California.

A graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University, Scott considers his faith in Jesus Christ and his family the center of his life. He and his wife Ashley are raising their sons to love Christ.