Dr. Colleen Nothern was born the fourth daughter of five children to her supportive and encouraging parents. In Grand Island, Nebraska she enjoyed small schools that nurtured her strengths and interests. She went to college and dental school at Creighton University. She chose dentistry as a profession when she met a retired dentist doing a service trip in the Dominican Republic. She was assigned to help him with patients and felt she found her calling. Year to year, she says dentistry sinks deeper into her bones. She feels a sense of rightness and relief to be sitting chairside with a patient, technically practicing her craft.
Before buying Dr. Willcox’s practice on South Lamar, Dr. Nothern was employed as an associate dentist at a private office in Georgetown. She worked only there in her first 11 years as a dentist, and is thankful for the close mentorship and unique influence she received among those excellent professional colleagues.
Dr. Nothern knows that she sleeps well at night, because she is forthright with patients and is careful and meticulous in her clinical work. Her patients know her as communicative, personable, understanding, and dedicated to her quality of work.
When Dr. Nothern is not at the office, she is passionate about working on her ever-changing yard. She likes to cook and eat with friends and to find and give new life to old objects and furniture, She loves road trips, camping, reading, writing, dancing, and roller-skating. She recently had a long break from work, to see her sweet old dog Amos Moses through his end of life. She's now back to work (December 2021) and is feeling good to be kindly welcomed home by staff and patients at Little House.
|
dr. randi polster is our new associate dentist |
Dr. Randi Polster was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University College of Dentistry where she first received her bachelors in Dental Hygiene, then later earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Dr. Polster is proud of her humble path into dentistry. Her journey began within a foundation in patient education and disease prevention, and she loves that her skills have developed from there. She finds she can share a unique perspective with her patients, one that encompasses many angles and viewpoints. After graduation, Dr. Polster and her husband moved to Austin and never looked back.
Nurturing her own creative nature and love of working with her hands, Dr. Polster has found dentistry to be an extension of her artistry. She loves watching the transformation of her work and strives for the highest excellence. Dr. Polster feels that fostering patient education creates healthier outcomes. She prides herself in the ability to listen and understand her patients' individual and unique needs, and she is also thrilled to form personal relationships with the patients at Little House Dentistry.
When Dr. Polster is not treating patients, she is spending time with her family around their home in South Austin. In recent time, her love for travel, food, and music has taken a backseat to her newest love, her son Riley, born in May of 2020. She loves the way life has changed with parenthood. When she's not busy chasing her crazy toddler around the house, she likes to cook and bake, particularly the sort that involves tiny, impossibly elaborate detailing. She also loves tending to her garden, riding the Peloton Bike and doting on Wilson, her 6 year old Goldendoodle. Her favorite way to wind down after work is with a family stroll around the neighborhood, all of them together.
Dr. Nothern and Dr. Polster are both excited to support each other and share the schedule of patient care. They like talking about treatment planning and methodology. They align in all the important ways; philosophy of care, work/life balance, and work culture. Both agree, they are entirely fortunate that all came together so harmoniously.
Nurturing her own creative nature and love of working with her hands, Dr. Polster has found dentistry to be an extension of her artistry. She loves watching the transformation of her work and strives for the highest excellence. Dr. Polster feels that fostering patient education creates healthier outcomes. She prides herself in the ability to listen and understand her patients' individual and unique needs, and she is also thrilled to form personal relationships with the patients at Little House Dentistry.
When Dr. Polster is not treating patients, she is spending time with her family around their home in South Austin. In recent time, her love for travel, food, and music has taken a backseat to her newest love, her son Riley, born in May of 2020. She loves the way life has changed with parenthood. When she's not busy chasing her crazy toddler around the house, she likes to cook and bake, particularly the sort that involves tiny, impossibly elaborate detailing. She also loves tending to her garden, riding the Peloton Bike and doting on Wilson, her 6 year old Goldendoodle. Her favorite way to wind down after work is with a family stroll around the neighborhood, all of them together.
Dr. Nothern and Dr. Polster are both excited to support each other and share the schedule of patient care. They like talking about treatment planning and methodology. They align in all the important ways; philosophy of care, work/life balance, and work culture. Both agree, they are entirely fortunate that all came together so harmoniously.
dr. catherine tien
is a professor at ACC school of dental hygiene and remains
a collaborating dentist for little house dentistry
Dr. Catherine Tien was born in New Jersey and went to undergraduate college at the University of Pennsylvania. She worked in clinical research for Penn Medicine, before returning to her home state for dental school at Rutgers University.
After completing dental school, Dr. Tien served on Active Duty in the United States Air Force. While her primary role in the Air Force was providing dental care to patients, she also took on several unique roles, including providing forensic dental services, coordinating treatment for military dog dental emergencies, and providing training to healthcare students and staff.
When Dr. Tien is not at the office, she likes to hang out with her husband Alex and 70-lb lapdog Bobie. The three of them can be seen around Austin trying new food and taking long walks together.
Dr. Tien has been an extraordinary asset to Little House Dentistry, seeing patients leading up to and through Dr, Nothern's temporary leave of absence. Our patients have regularly spoken of Dr. Tien's kindness, honesty, and the way she has been thorough and exacting about her work. Dr. Tien has also assisted Dr. Nothern in making small adjustments to the practices and procedures designed for most ideal patient care.
Dr. Tien has recently shifted her focus to the realm of education. She has just taken a position as professor of dental hygiene at ACC. Dr. Nothern and Dr. Tien are excited to remain in regular collaboration, as they both believe that the perspectives of dental education and private practice should inform one another. This will be a rewarding relationship, hopefully for years to come.
After completing dental school, Dr. Tien served on Active Duty in the United States Air Force. While her primary role in the Air Force was providing dental care to patients, she also took on several unique roles, including providing forensic dental services, coordinating treatment for military dog dental emergencies, and providing training to healthcare students and staff.
When Dr. Tien is not at the office, she likes to hang out with her husband Alex and 70-lb lapdog Bobie. The three of them can be seen around Austin trying new food and taking long walks together.
Dr. Tien has been an extraordinary asset to Little House Dentistry, seeing patients leading up to and through Dr, Nothern's temporary leave of absence. Our patients have regularly spoken of Dr. Tien's kindness, honesty, and the way she has been thorough and exacting about her work. Dr. Tien has also assisted Dr. Nothern in making small adjustments to the practices and procedures designed for most ideal patient care.
Dr. Tien has recently shifted her focus to the realm of education. She has just taken a position as professor of dental hygiene at ACC. Dr. Nothern and Dr. Tien are excited to remain in regular collaboration, as they both believe that the perspectives of dental education and private practice should inform one another. This will be a rewarding relationship, hopefully for years to come.
