Jennifer
Receptionist - Patient Care Professional
Jennifer is often the first smiling face you see when you arrive and the last friendly voice as you leave. With us for nearly 10 years, she brings warmth, efficiency, and genuine care to every interaction—patients absolutely love her infectious personality and joyful spirit!
Before joining Starfish Dental Care (after a 20-year career with Dr. Albert Konikoff), Jennifer already felt a deep connection to our family of staff and patients. One of her greatest joys is sharing a laugh with everyone who walks through the door while making sure all your needs are met—from scheduling and insurance filing to managing accounts.
She's proud to contribute to our patient-focused, no-pressure approach to care. Jennifer is happily married to her favorite guy, Junior, and mom to two wonderful children, Rae and Jared. Outside the office, she loves family time with their sweet fur babies, mowing the lawn in the sunshine, cooking, and singing loudly enough to brighten our reception area!
Jennifer is also fluent in Español—feel free to chat with her in your preferred language.
Lori
Dental Hygienist & Team Leader
Lori has been by Dr. Zapatero's side for over 34 years—she was his very first hire when the practice opened in 1992! Starting as a dental assistant in those early days, she later earned her dental hygiene degree from Old Dominion University before realizing her true passion was right where she began: chairside assisting and delivering exceptional patient care.
Her unmatched loyalty and versatility have allowed Lori to excel in nearly every role in the office over the decades. As our team leader, she guides us with quiet expertise and a joyful spirit—patients always comment on her genuine smile and how much she clearly loves what she does.
We're incredibly fortunate to have Lori's steady presence helping create the warm, patient-centered environment we're known for.
At home, Lori is married to Steve, and they have two wonderful children, Kyle and Kacy, plus a beautiful Rottweiler who rules the roost. In their free time, the family loves escaping to their beach house on Hatteras Island, soaking up the Outer Banks sunshine and making memories together.
Lisa
Lead Dental Hygienist
A lifelong Virginia Beach native and Cox High School graduate, Lisa holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Business Finance and Dental Hygiene from Old Dominion University. After 15 successful years in residential real estate—helping families find their perfect homes—she followed her curiosity into dental hygiene in 2011, joining Starfish Dental Care in 2020
Lisa loves continuing education and stays at the forefront of hygiene technology. She is a graduate of advanced Dental Hygiene courses at the prestigious L.D. Pankey Institute, where she trained on the innovative EMS Airflow Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) system—and proudly introduced this gentle, effective technology to our practice. Maintaining the highest standards of patient care and professional ethics is at the core of everything she does.
Her warm, relationship-focused approach makes her a perfect fit for our no-lecture, patient-first philosophy—helping patients achieve optimal oral health with comfort and confidence.
Recently, Lisa became a proud grandmother to little Archer—adding even more joy to her life! She's married to David, and together they have three children: Abigail, Zachary, and daughter-in-law Meghan. Their home is kept lively by two energetic Cairn Terriers, Finley and Oliver.
Lisa gives back through community service —building many lasting friendships along the way. In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, hiking, biking, and peaceful sunrise walks on the beach.
Dr. Dag Zapatero, DDS
Doctor
A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Dr. Zapatero has dedicated over 30-plus years to advancing the art and science of dentistry. He has been consistently recognized as one of "America's Top Dentists" and honored twice by the Journal of Dental Technology as a leader in the profession.
Dr. Zapatero stands among an elite group of general dentists with rare distinctions, including:
- Fellowship and Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry
- Two Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) Awards—one of the highest honors in continuing education (very few dentists earn even one)
- Visiting faculty and one of only 60 international Pankey Scholars at the L.D. Pankey Institute
- Adjunct faculty member at the UNC School of Dentistry
- At-large member of the Virginia Dental Association's Legislative Committee
He is especially proud of his selection as a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Dentists, an honor limited to just 3.5% of dentists nationwide.
With this depth of expertise, Dr. Zapatero brings a thoughtful, no-lecture approach to every patient—prioritizing lasting results, genuine relationships, and your comfort above all.
Elizabeth
Liz joined our practice in 2004 and quickly won her patients over with compassion and empathy. Liz grew up in Virginia Beach and earned her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree from Old Dominion University. Liz is entering her twentieth year of practice and continues to improve her patient care through advanced education opportunities while embracing technological advancements in dentistry. Liz credits her years at Starfish Dental for allowing her to grow both personally and professionally in an environment that focuses on individual patient care over production quotas. Liz loves developing a personal connection with her patients and would love to meet you too. Outside of the office, Liz is often traveling, staying healthy, and working on her home inside and out with her husband, Rob. Inside their home, they have two rescue cats and a very talkative parrot, Fletch.