Dr. Homyak grew up in Colombia where she graduated from dental school in 1997 at Universidad Autonoma De Manizales in Colombia, South America.
Dr. Homyak became board certified in California in 2002. She is passionate about continuing education and has completed multiple residencies in Esthetics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Advanced Occlusion, and Full Mouth Restorations.
She has belonged to the Seattle Study Club and Spear Study Club. In her free time, Dr. Homyak enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies include meditation, swimming, and traveling. Dr. Homyak is an active member of the community, volunteering at Care Harbor Events to provide free dentistry for the underserved.
Dr. Shula Harkavy attended the University of Washington, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. Dr. Harkavy graduated from the University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco, with high honors.
After dental school, Dr. Harkavy moved further down the coast and completed a General Practice Residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and joined Dr. Natalia Homyak’s practice in 2018.
Dr. Jessie Yang is passionate about creating beautiful and healthy smiles through patient education and the use of cutting-edge technology. She delivers compassionate, personalized care by getting to know her patients' needs, crafting individualized treatment plans, and ensuring a comfortable visit. In 2022, Dr. Yang joined Dr. Homyak's dental practice in Marina Del Rey and enjoys working with the caring and energetic team to make patients smile!
Dr. Yang received her Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University and her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Columbia University. To further her knowledge and skills, she completed a two-year General Practice Residency at the VA Medical Center in West Los Angeles and was distinguished as Chief Resident. With over 500 hours of post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, implantology, Invisalign, and laser dentistry, Dr. Yang is committed to providing her patients with exceptional care.
Dr. Yang values giving back to the community. She volunteered at local high schools, community health centers, and a student-run free clinic on the East Coast and continues to participate in outreach and educational events through the local dental society. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, spending time with loved ones, and exploring different cities.
As a child, Dr. Gong loved playing soccer. One day, as he went up for a head ball, he chipped his front tooth on another player’s head! “I was terrified that day, thinking I’d have to go the rest of my life with a broken front tooth, but when I went to my dentist and realized that the chipped tooth could easily be fixed with a simple filling, I was in awe of the potentially life-changing treatment that dentists are capable of.”
Understanding first-hand the impact that he could have on people’s lives by improving their smile, Dr. Gong began pursuing dentistry with a passion. Dr. Gong completed both his undergraduate studies and dental degree at UCLA. After a decade in West LA, he met his now wife who grew up here in the South Bay. Enjoying the sea breeze and laid back lifestyle, Dr. Gong knew this was where he wanted to plant his roots.
Dr. Gong believes trust is the foundation of all patient relationships and seeks to reflect that by educating patients about their dental needs and providing gentle, quality care. When it comes to dentistry, there are no silly questions and Dr. Gong loves teaching patients about why taking care of their teeth is so important.
Every year, Dr. Gong along with a team of dentists takes a trip to Guatemala to provide free dental work for patients in need, oftentimes for people who have never had the opportunity to see a dentist.
When he’s not talking teeth, Dr. Gong enjoys escape rooms, watching and playing sports, and spending time with his wife, Michelle, and newborn son, Eli!
Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons are the surgical specialist of the dental profession. The extensive training required to become an OMS differentiates them from other oral healthcare professionals.
After earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), OMSs complete a minimum of four years of a hospital-based surgical residency program.
They put in a minimum of 4 years of training in a hospital-based surgical residency program alongside medical residents in many different specialties, including anesthesia.
Dr. Tavari received her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Craniofacial and Dental Technology from the University of Southern California. She then attended the USC Ostrow School of Dentistry for her D. D. S., graduating with honors and continued at USC to complete a specialty residency program in Advanced Periodontology and earned a Masters in Craniofacial Biology (M.S.).
A periodontist is a specialist who aides in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth). In addition to graduating from a four-year dental school, a periodontist receives three years of additional training before earning their license to practice periodontics in the U.S.
