Meet Our Team

Meet The Doctors

dr alesia full

Dr. Alesia Apana

Dr. Apana is passionate about dentistry and how she can connect with her patients by giving them a beautiful and healthy smile. She takes the time to get to know her patients one-on-one, helping them to make informed choices about their dental health. She strives to provide the highest level of treatment, including crown and bridge restorations, root canal therapy, implant restorations, the latest in cosmetic dental procedures, and clear aligner therapy. While most dental procedures are routine, Dr. Apana understands that each patient’s level of comfort needs to be addressed by providing the options of nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. Because she demands the best for her patients, she is continually furthering her clinical education by learning new technologies and techniques aimed at providing the highest quality of care. She also maintains an active membership in the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, and Northeast District Dental Association.

Education

Dr. Alesia Apana is a Floridian at heart and spent her childhood growing up in South Florida. When she graduated high school, she moved to Gainesville and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education at the University of Florida. Knowing that she wanted to go into healthcare, Dr. Apana began volunteering at Shands Hospital and soon learned about her love for dentistry. Dr. Apana decided to remain at the Gator Nation and receive her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Florida, graduating in the top 10% of her class. She then went on to complete a General Practice Residency at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY where her advanced training allowed her to further her clinical knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for her patients. Dr. Apana practiced dentistry in the greater DC metro area for a few years before making her way back to Florida.

Fun Fact

When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Apana enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children.  On the weekends, Dr. Apana and her family love to be out exploring St. Johns and Jacksonville. She also enjoys traveling, reading, and baking.

Dr Neal Patel

Dr. Neal Patel

Dr. Patel is passionate about staying up-to-date on the newest trends and techniques. In conjunction with cosmetic dental procedures, he has incorporated injectables and dermal fillers to help his patients achieve the esthetic results they’ve always wanted. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, North Florida Dental Association, Jacksonville Dental Society, and American Academy of Facial Esthetics. As the owner and primary dental care provider at Vitalize Dental, Dr. Patel is personally invested in your oral health and overall well-being. He is dedicated to providing the very best care and service to all of our patients to help them achieve their desired treatment goals.

Education

A Florida native, Dr. Neal Patel was born and raised in Jacksonville. He moved to Gainesville, Florida for his undergraduate education where he became a Florida Gator! At the University of Florida, he studied Microbiology and Cell Science to better understand how the environment and our bodies interact at the basic level. He looked into different careers in healthcare, and his experiences at the ACORN dental clinic helped him realize a lifelong passion for dentistry. 

Following graduation, Dr. Patel attended the University of Maryland Dental School where he was one of four students chosen to be a part of an Advanced Education honors program during his senior year.

Fun Fact

Dr. Patel and his wife enjoy exploring the great outdoors with hiking, biking and skiing among their favorite activities. They are avid travelers and enjoy visiting different countries worldwide to experience new cultures and cuisines. On your visit to Vitalize Dental, you’ll see Dr. Patel bouncing around the office, making jokes, keeping the patients and staff energized and laughing. His goal: “Smile, Always!”

Meet Our Team

Claudia Paye
Practice Administrator
dental practice administrator Claudia
Charity Graves
Patient & Insurance Coordinator
Patient & Insurance Coordinator Charity
Linda Sainsurin
Patient Coordinator/Dental Assistant
Patient Coordinator/Dental Assistant Linda
Stephanie Drabek
Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienist Stephanie
Amie Kuzio
Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienist Aime
Julia Wiench
Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienist Julia
Valeria Barros
Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant Valeria
Juliane Rafaelli
Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant Juliane