Our Team
Panatella Dental: Caring for Calgary’s Northwest
Dr. Joel ThurmeierD.M.D., B.Sc.
Dentist
A 2000 graduate of University of Saskatchewan’s College of Dentistry, Dr. Thurmeier has dedicated his career to helping his patients understand and choose the best treatment options for their individual needs. Joel loves to travel with his wife and three children, he would love an adventure in Japan! Dr. Thurmeier’s favourite sport is hockey, but who knew this modest, analytical dentist loved listening to alternative rock, rap & lounge music! Fun fact, Joel has never eaten a filet o’ fish.
Dr. Breton TraskD.M.D, B.Sc
Dentist
Dr. Breton Trask graduated from the University of British Columbia’s DMD Program. Originally from Invermere BC, Breton is not new to Calgary. Having had the opportunity in high school to leave home and attend the National Sport Academy to play hockey. Who knew that during his stay in Calgary he would end up crowd surfing during a Finger Eleven concert at the Calgary Stampede! Breton enjoys spending quality time in the great outdoors, if he isn’t hiking Mount Assiniboine, biking or skiing you will find him deep into a good game of golf, and hopes one day that would be at Augusta - one can dream!
Dr. Achala BhallaD.M.D.
Dentist
Dr. Bhalla graduated with her Degree in Dentistry from the University of British Columbia in 2002. Since then, she has practiced general family dentistry in both Edmonton and Calgary. Achala is a simple, positive, spiritual woman who is learning to play guitar! Stranded on an island Dr. Bhalla would have with her a good pair of walking shoes, a knife, something warm….a notebook to make herself ‘to-do lists!’
Dr. Cheralyn ThorsenD.M.D, B.Sc
Dentist
Dr. Cheralyn Thorsen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000. For five years, she sat beside Joel Thurmeier in Dental school and graduated in the same class. She is one of our resident Invisalign providers and provides facial aesthetic procedures in-house. Cheralyn feels she best helps her patients when they complete treatment they have been neglecting and finally restore their good oral health. Cheralyn loves spending time with her children outside the dental office. She’s a super proud mom to three very athletic kids. Sitting courtside watching them play volleyball or at the rink taking in a hockey game dominates most of her free time. When Cheralyn gets a little "me time," you will find her playing tennis, crocheting or enjoying happy hour! Fun fact, Cheralyn holds a record for escaping a locked room in the fastest time.
Dr. Gurshawn HeerD.M.D, B.Sc
Dentist
Dr. Heer was born and raised in Metro Vancouver and graduated from the University of British Columbia. Growing up, he has always had a passion for healthcare, which led him to pursue his career in Dentistry.
A little about Dr. Heer, he is a fun, creative, and outgoing individual, committed to living an active lifestyle. During his spare time, he loves playing sports like soccer and hiking. He also enjoys trying out new things and visiting different restaurants with his friends. If you have any good suggestions on delicious foods, send them to Dr. Heer's way!
Fun fact: Dr. Heer does not know how to cook, and has not turned on his oven or stove ever! Thank goodness for Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes!
Dr. Ahmed HelmyD.M.D, B.Sc
Dentist
Dr. Ahmed Helmy grew up in Cairo, Egypt, where he attended dental school getting his first dental degree in 2015. He moved to Canada in 2016 and attended dental school at the University of Alberta, completing his second dental degree in 2021. Dr. Helmy has a dog named Lilly, with whom he spends most of his time outside work. When Ahmed was a young boy, he dreamed of being a pilot when he grew up. That’s why his new favourite movie is Top Gun 2. Dr. Helmy’s fun fact is that he loves eating McDonald’s French fries with ice cream.
Dr. Menat Alla WahbaD.M.D.
Dentist
Dr. Mena Wahba graduated from the Universite De Montreal with her dental degree in 2022, then made her move to Calgary to begin her career. Travelling has always been a passion of Mena’s, with a visit to Bali, Iceland and Greece on her bucket list. Some of her craziest adventures have been skydiving and bungee jumping. While her downtime is spent with her beloved feline friends, Simba and Bisha. Fun fact, Mena speaks fluent French.
Jammie
Office Manager
Jammie (pronounced Jamie) has worked in the dental field since 1998. She brings an abundance of experience to Panatella Dental. Outside work, she is happily married with one daughter, who is currently in University. Jammie enjoys spending time with her extended family and her two rambunctious Staffordshire Terriers, Zoe and Comanche. She recently learned that the spelling of her name was a mistake on her birth certificate that was never fixed. And all this time, she thought her parents just had an odd sense of humour. Did you know that Jammie is fascinated with the footwork of Irish Step Dancing?
Shawna
Hygiene Manager
Meet Shawna, our hygiene manager. From general to specialty dentistry, Shawna has worked a variety of administration and management roles in the dental industry since 2005. Outside work Shawna’s interests include refinishing furniture, thrifting and being a Grandma. She has an affinity for Star Wars, particularly collecting all things Grogu. According to Shawna, she has led a pretty wonderful life; the only thing left to do is travel to Egypt.
TashayeRDA
RDA Team Lead
Tashaye graduated from KDM Dental College in June of 2017, she is a born & raised Calgarian! Tashaye comes from strong Jamaican home where music, food & culture are the root of who she is. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, catching a soccer game with her dad or a tennis lesson with her sister. Fun fact about Tashaye, she loves exotic cars.
KarenRDH
RDH Team Lead
Karen has been with Panatella Dental since it opened in 2010, and has worked with Dr. Thurmeier since 2005. Karen is happily married with 2 beautiful daughters. If Karen isn’t watching or playing volleyball, you may find her nestled in watching a great documentary working on her latest knitting creation! Karen would love to learn about her heritage, travel to Japan and become a regular blood donor! One thing about Karen….you will never find her without her lip balm!
Rupi
AR Team Lead
Rupi came to us all the way from India in 2010! She arrived with her post graduate degree in computer networking. She is passionate about learning new things & has the bug to travel & explore new places! Rupi LOVES music…her first concert was none other than…. USHER! If she isn’t using her super power of incredible speed to travel around the globe you will find her spending quality time with her husband & 2 daughters! Weird fact about Rupi…. when she was a little girl, her and her sister ate a box of chalk!
RamanvirRDH
Hygienist
Ramanvir moved to Canada from India in 2006 and pursued her ambition of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist. She graduated from Canadian Business College in Toronto in 2009 and joined the Panatella Team in 2010. In high school, Ramanvir was a champion swimmer in the women’s division. On Ramanvir’s bucket list would be to take a cruise, travel to Switzerland & she would love to learn how to scrapbook!
TanyaRDH
Hygienist
Tanya started in the dental field as a Dental Assistant, obtaining her certification from Columbia College in 2006. After spending some time as a Dental Assistant, Tanya chose to return to school to become a Dental Hygienist. After graduating from Toronto College of Dental Hygiene in 2010, she returned to Western Canada. Tanya is an avid country music listener, who would have guessed that her first concert was none other than Snoop Dog!! Tanya’s biggest fear is a snake, and if she could choose a superpower she would be invisible.
KadianRDH
Hygienist
Kadian is a former Dental Assistant and received her diploma in Dental Hygiene from The Ontario Dental Education Institute in 2014. This empathetic, easy-going, independent gal’s first love is her son! She enjoys spending quality time at the soccer field watching her son play! Kadian’s first concert was Nicki Minaj, no wonder she loves pop and r&b music! She wouldn’t find herself stranded on an island without match sticks, a bag of potatoes and a big machete!
LindaRDH
Hygienist
As a hygienist since 2009, Linda is a great addition to the team at Panatella Dental. Her years of experience has allowed her to continue perfecting her care for everyone she meets, and is well loved by everyone. In her personal life you’ll find wonderful tales of travelling the globe, with hiking Machu Picchu and a visit to Greece in her sights. One of her craziest experiences in life was flying a plane, with a little help.
Arianna
Hygienist
Arianna joined the Panatella family as a new graduate of hygiene school in the spring of 2023. She has a passion for helping people and enjoys working with kids. Originally from El Salvador, Arianna moved to Canada with her family when she was young and continues to speak Spanish and English fluently. Her favourite pastime is watching The Office or Formula One racing with her two cats.
Ayat
Hygienist
Born and raised in Calgary, Ayat is the fifth in a line of six siblings. She has been an Aunt since she was 12 years old, and to-date has a total of 5 nephews and 4 nieces, with more on the way. Ayat first worked as an occupational therapy assistant in a specialized dementia unit. As her career aspirations grew, she ventured to Toronto for her hygiene degree. She has a love of good food and enjoys trying new restaurants. Her bucket list includes visiting Indonesia, sky-diving, and moving to a country that doesn’t have snow.
Harpreet
Hygienist
Harpreet began in dentistry as a dental surgeon in India before moving to Canada in 2016. She transitioned to becoming a dental hygienist in 2019 while living in Fernie, BC. Her young family is the best part of her life, as she spends time listening to Indian pop music and cooking traditional dishes. Being an adventurous person has taken Harpreet to cliff diving into one of India’s deepest rivers, without knowing how to swim and simply relying on a life jacket!
Lisa
Hygienist
Panatella Dental welcomed Lisa to the team after she graduated with her Advanced Diploma of Dental Hygiene in 2024, from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. She dreams of traveling the globe, seeing floating lanterns and ice skating on a large frozen lake. Her travels have already brought her to Kenya during her time in hygiene school to paragliding in Switzerland! Her favourite movies are anything Disney or Marvel, with The Amazing Spiderman at the top of her list. Which is ironic because her biggest fear is spiders!
Sharan
Hygienist
Sharan graduated with her hygiene degree in the summer of 2023 from Toronto. Moving to Ontario for school was the first time she had been away from her family. Living away from her support system, Sharan developed a passion for cooking and learned to navigate many challenges on her own. Taking that leap she found a great sense of confidence in herself. Fun fact about Sharan, she is the tallest woman in her family!
Pina
Admin Team
Born and raised in Calgary, Pina is a Calgary Flames fan! She is a kind, passionate & positive individual who has been in the dental industry for over 10 years. Pina one day hopes to Sail the Ocean, give parasailing a try and travel, travel, travel!!! If she was ever to be stranded on an island Pina would take with her an iPad, some body cream and a bag of chips!!
Shav
Admin Team
Shav joins our team with a passion for helping people. She has always had an interest in healthcare, and after working in insurance for the last few years, this was the natural next step in her career. Shav has one daughter who she absolutely adores, and her chocolate lab - who she loves just as much. In her spare time, Shav coaches volleyball, and enjoys long walks with her pup! Fun Fact: Growing up Shav’s Disney Princess was always Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Amanpreet
Admin Team
Amanpreet is still young in her career as a dental administrator, prior to pursuing her passion for healthcare she was an Engineer! During her down time, Amanpreet enjoys going for walks, relaxing with some nice music, and traveling the world when the opportunity presents itself. Amanpreet loves being with her family, which has doubled in size as she is now a newlywed!
Saron
Administration
Meet Saron, a dental assistant by trade that has found she enjoys the administrative aspect of dentistry more. Originally from Africa, Saron moved here as she began high school. Her greatest passion is hiking in the summer, heading to Kananaskis or Jasper every chance she gets. Her craziest adventure to-date is travelling all the way to Amsterdam for a 3-day trip!
Anjo
Admin Team
Meet Anjo, a welcome addition to our administrative team. After gaining four years of dental experience in Ontario, she has returned home to Calgary to be closer to her family. Growing up she learned to play the Harmonium and was an avid volleyball player for 12 years. If she could have dinner with anyone in the world, it would be Henry Cavill. We wonder what his reaction would be to find out that her favourite movie is Marvel’s Avengers series and not DC’s Superman!
Maha
Dental Assistant
Maha grew up wanting to be the tooth fairy, so it makes sense she has settled on a career in dentistry. She is currently a valued dental assistant with aspirations of possibly more schooling to become a dental hygienist. Maha is an adventurous thrill seeker, with bungee jumping already on her completed list. She plans to go skydiving, and hike the longest trail in Canada called the Great Trail as well. Maha has four siblings including a fraternal twin brother. With her friendly and compassionate personality, Maha is excited to meet you at your next visit!
BonsituRDA
Dental Assistant
Bonsitu has come to Calgary from her native Ethiopia. She has a large family, being one of six siblings. Her career options were either nursing or dental assisting and as she grows in the field she hopes to advance her career to become a dental hygienist. Bonsitu is always looking to challenge herself and learn new things, this is one of the reasons she enjoys being a dental assistant. In addition, she enjoys challenging herself with photography. The one thing she cannot live without is her family, with her mom being her hero.
MilkaRDA
Dental Assistant
Milka has been an excellent part of our team for a few years now and has a love for healthcare. Before becoming a dental assistant Milka had dreams of becoming a nurse or doctor. Milka is kind and caring in all aspects of her life, she is always ready to help those around her. She loves anything chocolate and in her spare time she enjoys yoga and hiking. When it's time to kick back and relax you can find Milka listening to the cello, classical music, and sometime some pop music mixed in. Milka hopes to one day travel through Europe to experience everything it has to offer!
Sohna
Dental Assistant
Sohna made a career change to become a dental assistant upon moving her family of five to Canada from London, England. She is passionate about self-improvement and learning something new. Travelling through-out her life has enabled her to immerse herself in different walks of life, which has broadened her perspective and love for the people around her. One trip was quite unexpected when she made a last minute decision to buy a plane ticket and join her sister on a vacation. When she was only supposed to drop her sister off at the airport!
Fareya
Sterilization Technician
Fareya joins our team with 4 years of experience in dentistry, and a thirst for knowledge - prior to joining our team she had hopes of being a professional student. Fareya has a very positive outlook on life and will find the bright side of anything life has to offer. Fareya loves animals - and while she does not currently have any pets at home, she has been a foster parent to several cats over the years. She even got to name one Samwise the Gamgee. Fareya hopes to travel the world to see all seven of the world's wonders, and speak fluently where all her adventures lead.
Jaci
Dental Assistant
We welcomed Jaci to the Panatella Dental family in the spring of 2024, to our team of assistants. The many talents of this young lady include playing the French horn and the piano (sort-of), and has a passion for art and drawing. When she was just 8 years old, she climbed a mountain and walked a thin rope between two giant cliffs! Fun fact; her cousin is Terry Fox.
Arline
Dental Assistant
Arline’s career in dentistry began in 2017 as a sterilization assistant, in 2023 she returned to school to become a dental assistant. Outside of work, Arline’s favourite time is without a doubt spent with her three children. Cheering on at basketball games, rewatching Marvel’s Black Panther or simply exploring the sites Calgary and area has to offer. Taking her kids to Disneyland is on the top of her bucket list.