Dr. Hillary Diffee recently joined the Alencar Family Dentistry family, to assist Dr. Oliveira in providing superior dental services to their clients. Dr. Diffee comes to the practice via the University of Florida where she studied biology and minored in communication studies, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, where she received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine.
After graduating, she was accepted into an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program through the Navy at the Branch Health Clinic Sewell’s Point in Norfolk. While in the Navy, Dr. Diffee served as the Dental Division Officer aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) aircraft carrier for two years before being restationed in Virginia Beach where she currently serves as Division Officer of the Branch Health Clinic Dam Neck. She will officially separate from the Navy on July 5 at which time she will become a full-time associate with Dr. Oliveira.
“It’s a lot to look back on,” said Dr. Diffee of her career in the Navy. “In five years, I feel like I have experienced more than some people will in a lifetime. I am so thankful for the diversity in my tours, the opportunities they afforded, and even the challenges that came with. These five years built me as an individual, a clinician, and a leader.”
One of her more memorable experiences from her duties in the Navy was serving as a dentist aboard the USNS Comfort on the Continuing Promise 2022 humanitarian medical mission to the Caribbean. On this deployment, Dr. Diffee and her team of medical personnel visited Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Haiti, providing volunteer healthcare in representation of the United States.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list mission for me,” said Dr. Diffee. “It was incredible to represent the US and foster international relations by bringing my dental skills to the frontline. It was by far the most rewarding dental experience I have had in my career, thus far.”
That kindness and compassion is one of the things that first drew Dr. Oliveira to Dr. Diffee’s resume. He is very honored and happy to have a Navy dentist becoming the new associate for Alencar Family Dentistry.
“Dr. Diffee is caring, passionate, professional, and a great human being,” said Dr. Oliveira. “Alencar Family Dentistry could not be happier with the choice to be our new dental associate.”
In fact, Dr. Oliveira was so impressed with Dr. Diffee’s credentials he asked her not to accept any other offers until he had a chance to finish working on an implants Master’s degree in Germany so he could meet with her in person. She was glad she waited.
“When I went and interviewed with him, his practice really stood out to me because it was definitely the most family-oriented office out of all of the practices I interviewed with,” said Dr. Diffee. “You can quickly tell that Dr. Oliveira and his team love dentistry, and they are enthusiastic about it. They have a great team that cares for each other and works well together, and it’s obvious that they are on the same mission of caring for their patients in the best way.”
Dr. Diffee is looking forward to transitioning from her military life to private practice, and she is excited to learn from Dr. Oliveira as she works side-by-side with him.
“For me, dentistry is about caring for people and using my skills and my heart to provide a service to others,” said Dr. Diffee. “Alencar Family Dentistry offers that opportunity. Dr. Oliveira is exceptionally educated and I am confident he is going to make a really amazing mentor for me. He’s just a wonderful man and I’m truly excited to work with and learn from him. I am completely honored to be invited into the practice and I am extremely excited to meet some new patients and care for people in this area.”
ALENCAR FAMILY DENTISTRY
711 Greenbrier Parkway, #101
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757-546-0301
AlencarFamilyDentistry.com
