Meet the Dental Staff
Meet the team at Simply Smiles!
Meet Dr. Elizabeth Jacobsen
Welcome! I look forward to working with you and sharing with you the excitement and the rewards of having a beautiful, healthy smile.
After receiving an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Washington, I chose to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a dentist, and continued my education at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. I've always had an appreciation for art, a love of science, and a constant draw toward a career in the healthcare industry, so becoming a dentist always seemed like a natural fit for me.
I truly love dentistry, and enjoy sharing my passion for dentistry even beyond the practice. I have a great interest in community dental care, and spend a significant amount of time outside of the practice treating the underserved populations in the local community. I also enjoy volunteering for several community clinics, and believe in giving everybody in my community the chance to have a healthy smile. I constantly strive to provide the best care for all of my patients.
Continuing education is an important part of my job as a dentist, and in order to maintain my knowledge of dentistry and keep current with the latest technologies, I am an active member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the Seattle-King County Dental Society, the Washington State Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. I am also a member of several philanthropic organizations in Seattle, including Girls on the Run and Washington Women in Need.
I am happily married, and my husband, Jason, and I have a wonderful pet dog, a pug, named Jack. After spending almost ten years in school at the University of Washington, I am a loyal Husky fan, and I love cheering for the Dawgs! I also have a great passion for cooking, and I enjoy traveling, skiing, and spending time with my family.
Jana Restorative Scheduling Coordinator
Hello, I'm Jana and it is my job to schedule the most convenient appointment times for both patient and doctor. I have worked in the dental field for 20 years and I love being able to help patients feel at ease by educating them about the importance of a healthy mouth for a healthy body and healthy living. I have found that genuine communication and heartfelt caring are the number one items that make working with these people so great!
I have lived in Washington State for 38 years and have a beautiful son, Aiden, who is five and a half. I love to ski, play golf, tennis, pickleball, watch my son play sports, and catch up on movies when I get a chance.
Judy Financial Coordinator
Hello, I'm Judy and I have been working in the dental field for 25 years. My job mostly involves discussing financial responsibility for treatment and various payment options for patients. I also answer any questions about insurance and give patients contact information for their insurance company. We are a team of caring, topnotch dental professionals who are committed to making each of your dental experiences positive. We love our patients and enjoy treating them with extra care.
I am married to my husband, Tom, and we have two children, James and Stephanie. We also have a terrier named Cleo and a 15-month-old Great Dane, Averie. I love watching my children compete in basketball, swimming, water polo, and crew. I am a member of Auburn First United Methodist Church and enjoy playing hand bells and singing in Praise Band.
Kelly Registered Dental Hygienist
Hello, I'm Kelly and I am part of the great hygiene team, seeing people for care and maintenance appointments. I love making connections with people and getting to be a little part of their lives. Having grown up in Auburn, it's been fun to become reacquainted with some faces from my past. The team we have here is so wonderfully supportive of each other and honestly enjoys spending time with each other that it makes coming to work a joy! We love to treat our patients as if they are part of the family. Our front office and restorative staff are always there to aid the hygiene department in any way they can.
I am married to my husband, Larry, and we have two children, Bailey and Clara, and a cat named Scooby. I enjoy hiking, camping, bicycling with my family, and I love reading and music of many kinds. I volunteer at our church, St. John the Baptist in Covington, as well as at my daughters' school.
Kimberley Certified Dental Assistant &
New Patient / Hygiene Coordinator
Hi, my name is Kimberley and I joined the Simply Smiles team in 1997 as Dr. Rich's chair side assistant where I worked for over 11 years caring for patients. I Transitioned to the front office where I manage the schedule for our 3 Hygienist, New Patients and marketing. I want to change the perception patients have about dental offices by giving them a one-of-a-kind caring, exceptional dental experience. I get to change people's lives by helping them achieve good dental health and wash away negative dental experiences they may have had in the past. I truly feel blessed to work with such an amazing team. In fourteen years of working in dentistry, I have never encountered such a diverse and talented team of professionals assembled under one roof. We enjoy working and playing together and you will often hear the sounds of laughter in our practice along with smiling faces because we believe energy, passion, and fun must be part of our daily lives.
I have lived in Washington my entire life and am married to my husband, Will, who is a firefighter and EMT for the City of Renton. We have a 16-year-old love bird named Cuddles and a Shiloh Shepherd named Ryker who is our pride and joy! I enjoy cooking and baking for friends and family as well as spending time outside in my vegetable garden. I believe in helping animals and I am very passionate about the cause. By teaching compassion and care taking to people and educating them, I believe we can make the world a better place by being kind to animals.
Lori Registered Dental Hygienist
Hi, my name is Lori, and as an Hygienist I spend my day educating patients on how they can best care for their mouths and provide polishing and periodontal therapy to help them achieve optimal health. Having the privilege of working in one location for so many years has given me a sense of a second family. Seeing some of my younger patients grow up and bringing their children in to be seen as patients is gratifying. I love building relationships with my patients. I work with a great team of professionals with Dr. Rich leading our way. We love what we do and are eager to see that our patients get the best care possible.
I am originally from Salem, Oregon, and have lived in Tacoma since 1988. When I have free time I like to travel and explore, work in the garden, sew and do paper crafting.
Nicole Certified Dental Assistant
Hi, I'm Nicole and I have been creating a welcoming and caring environment for our patients for five years. I love to help our fearful patients get through their appointments and become more comfortable coming to the dentist. I like to have a good time while I am working with the patients, so when they can have fun and laugh with me, it always makes my day better. Our team is so great because we all want our patients to be healthy and happy. Dr. Rich is very comforting to the patients and explains things very easily. Our entire team works so well together because we all agree to coach each other and ask for help!
I am a native of Tukwila, WA, and have lived in Federal Way since April, 2009. I am married to my husband, Tim, and enjoy reading, seeing movies, and spending time with my family and friends. When we are able, we also like to travel. We have an energetic Yorkie/Chinese Crested Powderpuff mix named Brewser.
Traci Registered Dental Hygienist
Hello, I'm Traci and I have worked in the field of dentistry for over 25 years. My job involves teaching and helping people take care of their mouths and learn what it takes to achieve a healthy smile. If people have healthy teeth and gums, they have a better chance of having a healthy body overall. I feel that we have one of the most caring and helpful teams that I have ever worked with. We all work well together and really care about patients and their comfort. Dr. Rich is such a gentle man who cares about his patients and his team. He is so knowledgeable about all aspects of dentistry and communicates that knowledge to his patients with a caring and gentle attitude. We truly care!
I am married to my husband, Keith, and we have a son. Kendall. I enjoy playing golf, softball, scrapbooking, photography, and travel. I am involved with my church as an advisor on many of the retreats and mission trips for the junior high and high school age youth. It is wonderful to be a mentor to our young people. I also volunteer in the Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Van where I care for people that don't have any way of getting dental care of any kind. It is so rewarding to help people in the community that need our help.
Alicia Registered Dental Assistant
Hi, my name is Alicia. I have been working in the dental profession since I graduated from high school. After having braces as a child and realizing a passion for working with the public, a career in dentistry was an easy decision for me. I enjoy learning new technologies, as well as any other techniques that will give my patients the best possible dental care experience. I am very excited to have become a part of this amazing team in 2011.
I am a Federal Way native, and enjoy going to movies and exploring the outdoors with my fiance Thomas. I also enjoy cooking and trying new recipies. I look forward to meeting you!
Lita Certified Dental Assistant
Hi, I'm Lita. I have been working in dentistry since 1998, and joined the Simply Smiles team in early 2011. It is exciting to work with a team that is truly dedicated to their patients, and determinded to give the best care possible. I love dentistry and am passionate about meeting people's needs, and will make every effort to help you be comfortable with your treatment in our office.
As a military kid growing up, I have lived in California, Florida, Germany and, since grade school, in Puyallup. I enjoy travelling, reading, gardening and spending time with my wonderful teenage son Kyle, my fiance Jake and our Bouvier-Rott mix, Stella.
Paige Registered Dental Hygienist
Hello, my name is Paige, and I am so blessed to be part of this team. From day one I noticed the quality of care that was discussed and then delivered. You are judged by the company you keep, and I wanted to align myself with people who care about the ones they serve. This is that team.
My husband Rick and I have four children and a granddaughter, and have been married for over 26 years. I have lived in three countries and nine states during my years as part of a military family, and I look forward to meeting you and hearing your tips for good hiking areas!
Kaylee Registered Dental Assistant
Hi my name is Kaylee, and I joined this amazing team in late 2011. I graduated from Renton Technical College's Dental Assisting program in 2010. I love my career choice because I get to spend my days making people smile, and my day-to-day goal is to have our patients walk out of our office with a new view on going to the dentist. Our entire team is passionate about what we do and gives 110% every day to keep our patients happy and healthy
I was born in Federal Way and currently live in Algona. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, watching movies, playing video games and playing with my pets. I have two dogs, two cats, and a bird, so you can see that I love animals! I also love to travel and enjoy going new places and meeting new people
Meet Dr. Rich | Kenya Volunteer Experience | Meet the Team | What Sets Us Apart | Photographic Artistry by Dr. Rich
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Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation
Washington State Dental Association
