A native of Rhode Island, Debbie has been practicing Dental Hygiene for over fifty years and has been a part of Dr. Whalen’s team for the last twenty-seven. With an interest in all things dental, Debbie especially enjoys one on one time, providing quality dental care and chatting with her great patients! Debbie is a member of the ADHA (American Dental Hygienists’ Association) and an ACE Fellow (Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics). When not at the office, Debbie enjoys traveling, pilates, and promoting Japanese Embroidery.

Nicole began her dental career in 2006 as a dental assistant for a specialty office.Having no prior experience, she fell in love with dentistry and throughout the years, was cross trained in all aspects of the dental setting. Being empathetic by nature and wanting to further her education, she went back to school. In 2019 she was accepted into SUNY Orange’s highly accredited dental hygiene program. After graduating with honors in 2021, we were thrilled to welcome Nicole to our team!

In her spare time, Nicole likes to enjoy all aspects of being a Beacon resident; from taking her dog, Pixie, down by the river to exploring all the local shops, cafes and restaurants. With her positive energy ands friendly personality, Nicole looks forward to providing a relaxed and comforting experience for you here at Dental Design Studio.

Carrie has been a lifelong resident of the Poughkeepsie area. She began her dental career in 1983 as a dental assistant. In 1996 Carrie graduated from Orange County Community College's Dental Hygiene Program. Carrie returned to school in 2014 where she attended Hudson Valley Community College and received her certification in Anesthesia. She has a passion for providing excellent oral health care and making a difference in her patients overall health.

In her free time Carrie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring local restaurants and music and anything outdoors.

Zandra grew up in Poughkeepsie and graduated from Poughkeepsie high school in 2007. In 2010 she moved to Staten Island and furthered her education. Zandra graduated 2014 as valedictorian from Saint Paul’s School of Nursing where she received her associates in Occupational Studies. After moving back to Poughkeepsie, Zandra joined Dr. Whalen in June of 2016. Zandra believes hard work and her passion for helping people, made her successful in becoming a board certified dental assistant in May of 2019.

Zandra is highly knowledgeable with implants and is Dental Design Studio’s implant coordinator. On Zandra’s day off she likes seeing friends/family and practicing archery.

Jessica is native to Poughkeepsie and still resides there. She is a 1999 graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School. Her career in dental started after school hours her junior and senior years. She left dental and worked for IBM for several years but her passion for dental brought her back. Jessica started at Dental Design Studio in October of 2018 and is head coordinator of all orthodontic Clear Aligner cases.

In her free time she enjoys getting together with family, friends and being outside in the nice weather.

Dasha is a Certified Dental Assistant. Originally from Eastern Europe, Dasha moved to Florida when she was 20 years old. While in Florida, she attended the Atlantic Technical College where she studied Dental Assisting and became a Certified Dental Assistant. She has now been a CDA for over 5 years. In 2022, Dasha moved to the Hudson Valley and has loved living in the area since. She is very excited to be part of the team at Dental Design Studio, especially because of her love for cosmetic dentistry. In her free time, Dasha loves to go to New York City, hang out with friends, and travel!