Meet Our Team

Christine graduated from San Diego State University, Point Loma Nazarene University, and Northwest Nazarene University with degrees in education. As a former English teacher and K-12 Principal, Christine and her husband, Aaron, and two children, Zeke and Damari, lived in Quito, Ecuador for 10 years as missionaries. They returned to San Diego in July, 2024, and she is excited to be joining the Cura Smiles team to help impact and transform the lives of those needing dental care. With a long history of working in nonprofit organizations, Christine is excited to support the work that Cura Smiles is doing.

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.

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.

Cecilia Farfán-Méndez is a Researcher with the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at UC San Diego and the Center for Studies on Security, Intelligence, and Governance (CESIG) at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Dr. Farfán is an expert on organized crime, US-Mexico security cooperation, and gender mainstreaming. Her work focuses on understanding the business models of criminal groups. 

Dr. Farfán has testified before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on US-Mexico border policy and has consulted for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Organization of American States, the United States Institute for Peace, and USAID. Dr. Farfán regularly guest lectures at the US Foreign Service Institute, is a member of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Urban Violence Research Network, and the strategy committee for the Journal of Illicit Economies and Development. 

A Fulbright scholar, Dr. Farfán received her doctorate in political science from UC Santa Barbara, her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and her bachelor’s in international relations from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

Eli oversees strategy and operations for McKinsey & Company's diligence program. In this global role within the Firm's Ethics & Compliance function, he works to evolve and scale the way in which the Firm forms a perspective on risk exposure across economic, geographic and political factors. Prior to moving back to San Diego, he spent approximately 10 years living and working in the Middle East between Cairo, Egypt and Dubai, UAE as a risk management consultant supporting multi-national companies expand their operations across the region. Eli holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and BA in Political Science from PLNU. When he is not analyzing risk, he is most likely doing something with his (and Cecilia's) German Shepherd, Pax.

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.

Blanca Banks is a wife and mother of 4 beautiful kids. She has been a resident of the City Heights community for more than 10 years now. She is an active volunteer at Joyner Elementary, the Secretary of PTSA & a member of SSC, and is also a part of the Wellness Committee and a PTSE member at Gompers Preparatory Academy. She volunteers at her church with her free time and is grateful to be a part of Cura Smiles.