Colby Cockrell, DMD
General Dentist & Managing Partner
Educational Background: After graduating from the University of Washington in 2003, I attended dental school at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in 2008.
Continuing Education Courses Attended: Implant Seminars Continuum Course – an 8 day, 88 continuing education credit intensive course with a live patient component, placing 20 implants on patients in the Dominican Republic. Ongoing Continuing Education through Spear Online Education.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? 2010.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I’m able to not just solve people’s dental problems and maintain their health, but I’m also able to cultivate relationships.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I’m passionate about getting to know patients beyond their dental health – their interests, hobbies and activities. Being able to see patients multiple times a year on a regular basis allows me to stay in touch with people in our community!
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I believe in customized treatment plans for each patient, not the one-size-fits-all approach that you may find elsewhere.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? I am an avid sports fan — if you didn’t know the score of last night’s game, you’ll probably hear about it while you’re in the office (Go Huskies!). I also enjoy golfing, skiing, and taking in the occasional rock concert.
Where were you born/raised? Born and raised in Olympia and I have always called Western Washington home.
Pets and Family: Married with two sons, Cameron and Carter. We have a cat and 2 dogs.
Jim Tsou, DDS
General Dentist
Educational Background: I have BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering before receiving DDS from NYU College of Dentistry. I served as general dentist in the US Army, attaining the rank of Major.
Continuing Education Courses Attended: I’m currently enrolled in the Spears Dental Education Program.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? 2018.
Where were you born? I was born in Shanghai, China.
Where were you raised? I grew up in the Philadelphia area.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I love educating patients on their oral health so they can make informed decisions for their well-being.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I love coming to work at Tranquility Dental because the team is absolutely wonderful and makes work feel like a pleasure. I love the dental profession because I am able to make an immediate, impactful, and tangible improvement in my patient’s lives.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? I love exploring all the sights and scenes that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Pets: Doughy is my 2 year old border collie.
Sophie Prellwitz, DMD
General Dentist
Educational Background: University of Notre Dame Class of 2013, University of Louisville School of Dentistry Class of 2017.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? 02/2021.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I hope to bring a high standard of treatment that utilizes my desire to care for others while drawing from my artistic side and attention to detail.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I strive to add to the patient experience with active listening and good communication.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I am excited to be part of a practice that puts the patient first while creating an atmosphere of calm and comfort to provide the best possible patient experience. I love the teamwork mentality within the practice and hope to continue to build trusting relationships with my team and patients.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? Hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, and snowboarding. I also enjoy oil painting and acrylic pours, DIY projects, and live music/concerts.
Where were you born? Newark, DE.
Where were you raised? Cleveland, OH.
Pets (significant others and kids too): Cat named Monte.
Asma Arara, DDS
General Dentist
Educational background:
Residency in Advanced Comprehensive Program | New York University, College of Dentistry
Master Degree in Clinical Research | New York University, College of Dentistry
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) | Tripoli University Faculty of Dentistry
Continuing Education Courses Attended:
Certificate Training in Dentistry | Duggan’s Institute of Dentistry in Costa Mesa, CA 2021
Affiliations or organizations you belong to:
American Dental Association
Washington State Dental Associations
Libyan Dental Associations
What year did you join the current practice? 2022.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? Because I am able to provide comprehensive dental care and help people maintain and improve their oral health.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? My favorite part is the interaction with many different people. Each patient has a story to tell, and every procedure provides a different challenge.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? Because each day I get the opportunity to provide a positive impact on the oral health and self-confidence of others; it’s extremely rewarding and enjoyable.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy cooking, baking, reading and traveling.
Where were you born? USA – California.
Where were you raised? Libya & Netherlands.
Roxan Molina-Abenoja, DDS
General Dentist
Educational background: I graduated from the University of Washington with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. I took an advanced course, such as CAD/CAM course, to prepare for my passion for aesthetics. I also took advanced training in internal medicine to provide care for those who are medically compromised.
Affiliations or Organizations: I am a recent member of the ADA and will also be part of the local dental society.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I love a family-oriented practice, as it is for Tranquility dental. I love seeing all ages and ensuring that everyone in your family is well taken care of in terms of oral health.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I appreciate all the parents/guardians for all the effort to bring everyone in the family to get great oral health treatment and advice.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? After office hours, I binge-watch Netflix and enjoy traveling with great food. If you have any restaurant recommendations, please let me know!
Susannah Bohannon, DMD
General Dentist
When Dr. Bohannon was a child, she experienced a traumatic accident and ended up in the emergency room. It was not a great place to have dentistry performed (the ER) and it created lasting dental anxiety for her. However, it also gave her a great appreciation for what a difference it makes when a dentist takes their time and performs dentistry in a gentle and kind manner. This early dental trauma also led to her fascination with other people’s teeth and more importantly their smiles while growing up. She realized when someone felt good about their smile, they often felt more confident and engaged in life more fully. These two aspects made her want to pursue a career in dentistry where she would have an opportunity to help people learn how to help care for their teeth to prevent the need for future, more serious dental appointments as well as partner with someone to help get them back to a state of oral health where they would feel proud to smile again.
Dr. Bohannon grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from high school in Lacey, Washington. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at St. Martin’s College and then moved to Philadelphia to obtain her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree. Upon graduating, she has been proud to provide dental care for the last 15 years here in Olympia, and now also the Spanaway area. She is excited to have joined the dental team at Tranquility Dental Wellness this year as she loves the special attention they give to making sure that their patients are as comfortable as possible while they receive dental care. It aligns with her desire for patients to have the best dental patient experience at every visit.
Dentistry is a fun and exciting profession as it is an ever-changing field with constant advancements in technology and many of these changes have transformed the way dentists provide dental care. One of the ways that Dr. Bohannon distinguished herself from other general dentists was by obtaining a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD). Only about 6% of general dentists in the US and Canada are AGD Fellows. It is one of the most prestigious awards in dentistry and designates that the awarded dentist has achieved a clear standing of excellence within their profession. Her goal is to deliver the best dental care which starts with evaluating each patient to learn what their specific and individual needs are and then develop a plan as to how she can best help them. She takes this honor very seriously and strives to give the best care and attention to each person, not only for their long term dental health but also to have the best dental experience each and every time.
Currently, Dr. Bohannon resides on a beautiful and peaceful lake in Lacey, Washington. She shares her home with her quirky and energetic dog who is forever finding new, clever ways to escape the fenced back yard – including swimming to the neighbor’s yards – when he feels like exploring the neighborhood! She enjoys a relatively quiet life and likes to spend time at home and enjoys tackling various new DIY projects. This year, she is also enjoying learning how to play pickleball and can see why it’s the fastest growing sport in America.
To become an AGD Fellow, a dentist must:
- Complete over 500 credit hours of continuing education in dentistry.
- Earn 350 of those 500 credits in live courses.
- Pass a difficult exam covering 19 different disciplines of dentistry, equal in difficulty to board certification exams.
Ran Wei, DMD
General Dentist
Educational background: Temple University: DMD; Columbia University: MS; Washington & Jefferson College: BA
Continuing education courses attended: Invisalign, root canal therapy, Spear Education.
Affiliations or organization you belong to: Washington State Dental Society, Pierce County Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, American Associate of Endodontist
What year did you join the current practice: 2024
Why do you enjoy the dental profession?: The dental field offers a blend of science, artistry, and hands-on work, allowing me to use a variety of skills. I enjoy the technical aspects of the work, engaging in lifelong learning, and gaining the satisfaction of solving complex problems. It also provides opportunities for building long-term relationships with patients and being part of a collaborative healthcare team.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients?: My favorite part about interacting with patients is building trusting relationships and making a positive impact on their health and well-being. Listening to patients’ concerns, providing compassionate care, and seeing improvements in their health can be particularly rewarding. Additionally, I value the opportunity to educate patients about their conditions and empower them to make informed decisions about their care.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day?: I enjoy this work because it allows me to assist people from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of questions and tasks. Every day presents new challenges and learning opportunities, which keeps the work engaging and rewarding. My commitment stems from a desire to provide accurate, helpful, and empathetic responses to those seeking assistance, making a positive impact on their day-to-day lives.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby?: Hiking, watching movies, reading
Where were you born?: Taiyuan, China
Where were you raised?: Grew up in China, came to US by myself when I was 16.
List your pets (significant others and kids too): 2 brown tabby cats: Suki and Saya
Kaitlyn
Dental Hygienist
Educational Background: Pierce College Dental Hygiene Program, Class of 2015.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? I joined the team at Tranquility Dental Wellness in 2019.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I love educating patients on their oral health needs and making a difference in the way patients feel about themselves. I enjoy helping people become more confident about their smiles.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I like meeting new people and getting to hear about their lives. I like forming relationships with patients on a professional and personal basis.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I love my career and I am grateful for my coworkers. They help make the days run smoothly and are easy to be around.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love anything salt water-related and taking my dog on walks to new places.
Where were you born and raised? Puyallup, WA.
Pets: I have two fur babies, a dog named Baylee and a cat named Cohen.
Shelby
Dental Hygienist
Educational Background: Associates of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? 2022.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I enjoy interacting with people and I really enjoy being able to work at my own pace being in dental hygiene.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I really enjoy getting to know new people.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? The whole team is willing to help whenever they’re needed which is really refreshing.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? I like to exercise, hike, paint, and go on small adventures with my family.
Where were you born? Georgia.
Where were you raised? All over – I was an army brat.
Family: I have two kids; Camilla age 7 and Liam age 8 months as well as my boyfriend of 3 years, Cole.
Varvara
Dental Hygienist
Educational Background: Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Dental Hygiene from Shoreline Community College.
Continuing Education Courses Attended: Local anesthesia updates, oral piercing safety, suicide prevention, pharmacology, and pathology.
Affiliations and Organizations: Washington Dental Hygiene Association (WDHA) and American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA).
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? May 2022.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I like to determine where people are on their dental health journey and meet their needs at that level. I take pride in providing non-judgmental care to my patients.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? Talking about their day and winning them over with my hygiene geekiness. Conversations can often turn into swapping cooking recipes.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I like being a friendly face that people can trust at the dentist. Many individuals struggle with anxiety at the dentist and working for Tranquility Dental Wellness gives me the tools I need to pamper my patients as they deserve.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? I am a homebody most of the year. I like to “house putter”, work on house projects, cook and keep my home tidy. My husband and I try to splurge on one or two vacations a year. We love HOTEL LIFE and trying local restaurants wherever we travel. During our last trip to Vegas, my husband treated me to an anniversary dinner at Hell’s Kitchen.
Where were you born? Alaska.
Where were you raised? Pacific Northwest.
Pets and Family: I have a loving husband of 3 going on 4 years named Ben. Our daughter Piper just turned thirteen. We have 2 cats: BEANjamin Pickles and Dottie Grace.
Tawni
Dental Hygienist
List your educational background: St Martins University, Pima Medical Institute.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group?: 2022.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession?: I’ve always loved the aesthetic side of dentistry – providing someone with even just a little bit more confidence in their smile is hugely rewarding.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients?: This is probably my most favorite part of the job – connecting with, and gaining the patient’s trust. This is something I take a lot of pride in. All too often we see these extremely fearful patients and it’s important to me that they understand we are here to provide them with exceptional work and genuinely suit their comfort needs.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day?: It’s a good feeling when you wake up excited to go into work every day. Everyone I work here with is uplifting and supportive of each other. It’s fun and energetic all while maintaining a calming feeling.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby?: I spend a lot of time with family; traveling, boating, skiing, hiking, as well as crafting when I can find some time to slow down.
Where were you born?: Olympia, WA.
Where were you raised?: Olympia, WA.
Family: I have a 9-year-old son who continually makes me a better person every single day.
Betty Lee
Dental Hygienist
List your educational background: Bachelors in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group?: 2022.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession?: I have a job where I am able to leave people better than I found them. Being able to treat disease, find solutions to problems, and educate people on how to better take care of themselves is meaningful. I love being part of people’s journey in feeling healthy and confident about their oral health.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients?: Getting to form new connections with people and learn about them.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day?: I love the people. There are some really awesome people who are very good at their job that work at this office, and everyone helps everyone. I haven’t met a more supportive team.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby?: I try to plan activities that involve my family, my boyfriend and my dogs. We love being out in the sun, water, and even being couch potatoes. My days off tend to be pretty busy, but when I get some free time I love to play video games.
Where were you born?: Washington.
Where were you raised?: Washington.
Family: A boyfriend and three dogs.
Heather
Dental Hygienist
List your educational background: Merrit College AA Science
Oregon Institute of Technology Bachelors Dental Science with a Minor in Business and
Marketing.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group?: 2024.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession?: I enjoy the dental profession because I love seeing healthy smiles. I enjoy educating and motivating patients about oral health and how it relates to total body health. It is very
rewarding watching patients get healthier and seeing the emotional effect of better health has
on individuals.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients?: I am passionate about taking the fear out of dentistry by providing a warm safe environment and a relaxing, pain free experience. My favorite part of my day is watching the emotional transformation patients have after spending time in a relaxing safe environment.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day?: Tranquillity Dental Wellness is a wonderful organization and an amazing platform for dental professionals. As a provider, it is very rewarding to work in an environment where patient comfort is a number one priority. Spending the day with a like minded team with the same goal is an amazing experience.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby?:
I enjoy the outdoors hiking and spending time with my family and pets.
Where were you born? I was born on the East Coast but lived in California for most of my
life. I lived in the Bay Area until I moved to the North West in 2004.
Family: I have a daughter and two dogs.
Heather
Dental Hygienist
Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group? I joined in 2018.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients? I love dentistry because of the people. Building relationships, educating my patients and helping them work through their fears and anxiety are my favorite things.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day? I enjoy working for Tranquility because of the team and vision. I feel empowered to do what is right for each patient and provide personalized care. It is a positive environment and a work/life balance is encouraged.
Where were you born? I was born and raised in Michigan. I moved to Washington in 2008. I started dental assisting in high school and throughout college.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby? In my free time I like to be outside, travel, go camping, take photos, and work on our travel blog.
Family: My husband is Corey and we have three kids, Cohen, Lennon, and Sloane. We have a dog named Bella and a cat named Theo.
Amber
Dental Hygienist
Educational Background: My dental career first began in 2006, graduating from dental assisting school at SPSCC in Tumwater. After a 10 year career in assisting, I furthered my education for dental hygiene at Clark College in Vancouver, graduating with highest honors in 2018.
What year did you join the current practice and/or group?: After spending my entire 18 year career in Chehalis, I decided to expand my horizons for a new opportunity. Beginning 2024, my search was on and I found myself comfortably settled into the Tranquility team.
Why do you enjoy the dental profession? I knew very early on in life that I wanted to pursue dental; at the age of 12 I decided I wanted to be a dental assistant, and that’s exactly what I did right out of high school. It wasn’t long after assisting that I fell in love with all that a career in dentistry had to offer, but I wanted to do more to help people, so I pursued hygiene.
What is your favorite part about interacting with patients?: I love building relationships with my patients. In this field we aren’t just treating mouths, we’re treating people. I enjoy learning who my patients are on a personal level, just a little bit about their background and busy family lives. I also respect those who just prefer a nice quiet atmosphere.
Why do you like this practice and coming to work every day?: I feel fortunate after 18 years in dentistry to still love my job. Tranquility’s Tumwater team collaborates well, making it a nice environment to work in; but the relationships I build with my patients are also what I look forward to in my day. It honestly makes coming to work an easy thing to do.
Where were you born?: I was born in Alaska and lived in a village so remote I was nearly born on a bush plane while in route to the hospital. I remember the village, and also lived in Fairbanks for a period of time but after 7 years in AK, we moved to Washington.
What do you do outside of the office for fun or as a hobby?: Outside of work I enjoy doing anything I can with my family. Landscaping at home, going out in the boat, going on road trips, and everything in between.
Where were you raised?: I graduated high school in a small town called Adna, but I grew up in an even smaller picturesque community called Curtis. I didn’t end up moving very far away and don’t know that I’ll ever leave, I love the beauty of my home town.
Family: I have a wonderful husband named Tyler, who is an excellent father to our two young children ila and Ridge. We spend our days tromping around 6 acres with a garden, some chickens, and a really old goat! Somewhere, hiding from the children, are two really sweet cats named Jack and Ling. I’m a pretty lucky lady!
