In The News
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October 2015 Issue
The Rocklin News Messenger
February 4, 2015
After 36 years as a dentist, the last nine in Rocklin, Dr. Kris Martinson retired from his dental practice at Sterling Pointe Family Dentistry.
Dr. Feroz Nawabi is taking over Martinson's practice. Nawabi's focus is on preventative dentistry.
Following is an interview of the new dentist, Dr. Feroz Nawabi, by Martinson.
Martinson: Please share some of the highlights of your background.
Nawabi: I have lived in several countries, including Germany, and I have experienced many historic events and have been exposed to various cultures and languages. These experiences have enriched my life and have helped me in my career to understand, communicate and empathize with patients from all walks of life. Though I have lived in several states in the U.S., I have spent most of my life in California, specifically the San Francisco Bay Area where I grew up. This is also where, in college, I met the love of my life, my wife, Joanie Haley, who has been my rock and the backbone of my existence.
Martinson: How did you train for your professional life?
Nawabi: I grew up in very impoverished circumstances. I am the first person in my family to attend college and the only one to earn a doctorate degree. My father was forced to work 16-hour days to put food on our table. This was a constant reminder to me of the importance of having an education. Because they had many children to feed, an education was out of reach for my mother and father. With both my mother's encouragement and father's advice, I studied very diligently while working several jobs to get us through the socioeconomic struggles we faced. I hold an associate of science degree in natural sciences, a bachelor's of science in biology with a concentration in organ systems physiology and a minor in chemistry, with honors. I attended the prestigious University of Southern California School of Dentistry, where I earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree, graduating as one of the top students in my class. This was a very difficult task as I had three children of my own while in dental school. I volunteered at every possible opportunity during this time to learn and serve the community with several organizations such as the Union Rescue Mission in L.A., as well as the USC/UCLA mobile clinic program, where I served as the student staff director. Through these organizations, we provided the indigent population with free dental care. Upon graduating, I served in the 88th Medical Squadron in the United States Air Force as a captain and a general dental officer.
Martinson: Tell us about your family and some activities you enjoy outside of the office.
Nawabi: My wife, Joanie, and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with the purchase of the practice in January. In my spare time, I enjoy studying comparative religion, sculpting, playing the piano, online video gaming with my three children, weight training, teaching, playing volleyball, football, spending time with the love of my life and my children.
The Rocklin News Messenger
By Richard Myers
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Dr. Kris Martinson has fond memories of Rocklin.
Martinson, who moved his practice to Rocklin last June and opened Sterling Pointe Family Dentistry, has a rich history with this area.
"I got my first varsity letter here in Rocklin," Martinson said.
Martinson grew up in Loomis and attended Del Oro High School. What he remembers most about Rocklin from his early years was competing at a cross country meet here. He placed well enough to earn his letter.
Martinson has several other ties to the area, which is one reason why, after 27 years, he moved his dental practice to Rocklin. His 'cousin and his sister and her husband live in Rocklin. He has other family members who live close by in Loomis.
Martinson had an established practice in Sacramento, but he longed to return to the Placer County area. He liked Rocklin for its potential growth. Plus, he had the close connections and memories.
When the Sterling Pointe shopping center on Highway 65 started to become a reality, Martinson was one of the first to sign a lease. That was in November 2003. But it wasn't until last spring that he was finally moved in.
Now that his office is in Rocklin, Martinson has come to appreciate the city even more.
"What's not to like?" Martinson said. "I like my patients and I really like the people here in Rocklin. I also like being in more of a country setting. It's a lot different from Sacramento."
Martinson is a family dentist. He sees children up through senior citizens. Because of the office's close proximity to Del Webb's Sun City development, Martinson noted a lot of his patients are seniors.
No matter what age, Martinson said the key is to make the patient feel at ease.
"People are mostly scared of the unknown," he said.
So, Martinson tries to be as gentle and as careful as he possibly can. He also explains what procedures he is doing to try and calm patients' nerves.
Sterling Pointe Family Dentistry offers a couple of special features to help educate patients. One is an intraoral camera.
"We use it to take close-up pictures of your teeth," explained front office manager Sallie Johnson.
Patients can view the pictures on a computer screen. The pictures can be enlarged to show patients exactly where problem areas might lie.