Meet The Team
Uzma Ahmed
Clinical Director and Principal Dentist | GDC: 81118
Uzma qualified from King’s College London in 2002 and was a House Officer both at King’s and in Guy’s Hospital, working in Oral Medicine, Special Care dentistry dealing with phobic patients and Restorative Dentistry.
Having completed her MFDS with the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2005 she was in general practice in the south of London and Kent from 2003-2014 and also provided emergency dental care for the Croydon Primary Care Trust for 9 years. She took over Merrygate Dental Practice as principal dentist and practice owner in 2014, relocating to Brockenhurst with her family. Uzma achieved her Masters in Clinical Dentistry with King’s College, fixed and removable prosthodontics with distinction in 2018. This was a degree in advanced dental care, cosmetic dentistry, crowns, bridges, dentures and implants and care of the elderly and dental phobic and nervous Patients. In 2021 she re-qualified in intravenous sedation for adults with dental phobias and is currently completing her diploma in endodontics (root canals).
Most recently Dr Ahmed has been appointed clinical tutor by King’s College and works on their behalf teaching final year dental students in a broad spectrum of clinical dentistry in Portsmouth University Dental Academy, where she supports them throughout their most challenging year upto their graduation.
Uzma has a strong academic background, combined with over 20 years of clinical experience in which she prides herself in approaching her practice with empathy and pain-free dentistry. Uzma is interested in providing excellent quality dentistry for her patients in a comfortable environment.
TRACEY LIGHTFOOT
Associate Dentist
Tracey has been working at Merrygate Dental since 2005. She qualified in 1993 from Guy’s Dental Hospital. After a few years working in oral surgery within the hospital system, Tracey has dedicated her career to general dental practice.
Tracey has a gentle, friendly approach which has endeared her to generations of patents and they often come from near and far to have their teeth looked after. She provides a comprehensive range of dental treatments and has an interest in providing oral surgery within the practice.
She enjoys all aspects of dentistry and prides herself on her gentle, friendly approach.
Galya Gerina
Associate Dentist
Dr Galya Gerina graduated from Medical University Sofia, School of Dentistry in 2006, obtaining a Master’s degree in Dentistry – Doctor of Dental Medicine.
After providing private dental care in Sofia for the first five years, she moved to England. From 2011 to 2015 she worked for NHS and mixed practices.
Having secured a solid foundation in the provision of dentistry in a variety of settings, she has since 2016 focused her professional practice to the private dental sector in Hampshire, New Forest and Guernsey (Channel Islands).
For almost 2 decades in Dentistry, Galya has kept developing her skills and dental education predominantly in UK with a special interest in applying the modern techniques in the dental care. It enables her to provide more positive treatment experiences for her patients, to involve them more actively in the planning of their dental cosmetic treatment (smile enhancement, smile makeover), to secure a long-term predictability of the outcomes, based on exceptional attention to detail in restoring the teeth and patient’s oral and dental health.
Since 2019, Galya has had a special interest in controlling bruxism and restoring worn teeth, more common after COVID, especially with younger generations.
Dr Galya Gerina is known as a ‘’gentle dentist’’ and loves to take care of patients across the generations. She brings with her a passion for cutting edge techniques such as digital scanning of teeth as well as promoting importance of good healthcare and prevention to ensure our patients receieve the highest quality of care.
Galya is a mother of 2 children and enjoys classical music and taking long walks; something she continues to enjoy in the New Forest.
Karina Winderam
Associate Dentist
Dr Karina Winderam is an award-winning dentist who graduated from Kings College with Honours. Upon completion of her degree in dentistry (her second degree, having previously attained a BSc in biomedical sciences) she was ranked 2nd in the country out of the 1053 dental students graduating that year.
Karina grew up in Milford-on-Sea and her studies have taken her overseas to Singapore and Vietnam. She has a passion for general dentistry and particularly enjoys looking after people of all ages. Karina especially enjoys treating children and has a warm, friendly demeanour.
Karina hopes returning to the New Forest will start the beginning of a long and successful career in general practice here at Merrygate Dental. She has already expressed interest in further developing her root canal filling skills and enjoys practising all aspects of general practice.
Outside of dentistry Karina is an avid sportswoman, playing tennis to a high level and coaching in Bournemouth in the past and also enjoys running. She has completed several half marathons and is currently training for a full one.
Rafae Ahmed
Non-Clinical Director
Rafae is a qualified lawyer from Pakistan and did his law conversion in the UK from University of London. After working as a legal advisor for several international hotels in Pakistan, Dubai and England, Rafae became the co-owner of the practice in 2014 and looks after the non-clinical aspects of the practice such as the compliance, policies, advertising & marketing, HR and more. He is always available to discuss any ways in which we can improve the services we offer.
The only time he isn’t available is in the summer when he will be found with his friends playing for the Brockenhurst Cricket team or helping his daughter in the All-Stars cricket.
Patricia Jones “Eddie”
Dental Hygienist
Eddie grew up in Canada where her introduction to dentistry began, she started her training as a Dental nurse and completed her dental nursing qualification when she moved to England in her late teens.
Eddie qualified as a Dental Hygienist at Bristol Dental Hospital in 1980 and has been fortunate to have worked in various dental environments throughout her career: NHS practice, RAF Base in Germany, Harley Street and West End practices. She has worked in the Hampshire and Dorset area since moving here over 20 years ago. She loves her work and finds it very fulfilling. Eddie aims to provide a relaxed and caring environment. Her goal is to give each patient individually tailored treatment, by giving advice and guidance on proven preventative techniques to maintain a healthy mouth.
She keeps her knowledge up to date by attending a variety of courses and further training programmes on a regular basis.
In her spare time, she enjoys travel, keep fit, gardening and skiing when she gets the opportunity. But most of all Eddie enjoys spending time with friends and her family.
Michelle Mercado
Dental Hygienist
Known for her gentle and kind approach, Michelle is available to provide hygiene services at the practice on Mondays. She is particularly good with phobic patients and likes to build her patients’ confidence as she carries out treatment and gives advice to optimise oral health. She has a calm and gentle nature, and her aim is to ensure patients have a positive experience within the dental environment leaving patients feeling comfortable and relaxed during treatment.
Originally from the Philippines, Michelle is a qualified dentist and has worked for many years in Hampshire as a dental care professional before starting her hygienist career.
Michelle lives locally with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking.
Kirsty Louise Stanfield
Lead Dental Nurse
Kirsty qualified as a Dental Nurse over 15 years ago and joined the practice in August 2014. She is available every day of the week with a reassuring smile and a kind word to help make your experience a comfortable one.
Kirsty has an uncanny memory which often surprises patients and dentists alike as she can recall vast amounts of information about our patients. She has a passion for work which makes starting on our early clinics a joy during the week! Kirsty is particularly good with children and undertook training to become “dementia friends” which has been invaluable over the years especially with those patients and the families living with dementia. She is hugely empathetic and always strives to make sure the nursing team is the best it can possibly be.
Her main outside interest is horse riding and she enjoys this to a competitive level, which prior to working as a nurse, took her all over the world.
Kirsty has two young daughters who keep her busy and who are often in the practice and have even been spotted in the reception chair welcoming patients in!
Lee Taylor
Lead Receptionist
Lee was a dental nurse 25 years ago and joined our team as a dental receptionist in 2015. Lee is available several days a week and is happy to help you with any queries you may have regarding your treatment. Having been at the practice for many years, she is a warm and familiar face and knows many of the patients as she has often been an important part of their dental journey. She is very good at gauging whether a patient is feeling anxious and is always careful, not only to put their minds at ease, but to make sure the rest of the team is on hand to make your journey a comfortable one.
In her spare time, she decorates wonderful cakes and enjoys long walks with her dog, Milo.
She is always happy to co-ordinate your appointments or pop the kettle on if you would like to come in and have a chat with one of our clinical staff.
Natasha Chant
Dental Nurse
Natasha qualified as a dental nurse in 2010 with the NEBDN national diploma level 3 in a local practice. She worked at Merrygate for several years before taking a hiatus in 2013 to concentrate on her family. She is a local girl and has returned to the practice in early 2024, where she has the flexibility to continue to look after her 3 children and also work in a practice she is very familiar with. Natasha is a softly-spoken, very caring and gentle nurse and we look forwards to her building up her days here at the practice in the future.
Natasha enjoys a range of fitness activities including; swimming, cycling and working out at the gym.
Cihangir Kepenek
Dental Nurse
“Jee-Han” is a qualified dentist from Turkey and he has practiced there in a clinic where he treated patients of many nationalities. His travels to the USA in 2014 and experiences with dentists there ignited a passion to amalgamate dentistry to deliver the best possible treatment modalities.
He and his wife moved to Lymington in 2023 and he has continued his passion for dentistry whilst studying to re-qualify here by nursing at Merrygate Dental. Jee-Han has an unmistakable and infectious smile and a kind demeanour. He loves to work chairside for both complex dental treatment and routine check-ups. He very supportive and loves working in our small team.
Outside of dentistry Jee-Han enjoys playing football for a local team in Bournemouth and Southampton. He also plays the guitar and loves to cook, and we are currently all enjoying the fruits of his labour in the kitchen!
Robyn Crouch
Trainee Dental Nurse
Robyn has grown up in Brockenhurst and has a large ancestral tree dating back decades in the New Forest. She’s always had a passion for hiking through the forest and photographing its wildlife. Robyn started her Dental nurse training in 2022 and is very passionate and looking forward to a challenge on this new career path.
She’s always enjoyed working with the public being sure to greet everyone with a warm smile, whilst working alongside dentists and hygienists for an efficient and professional service.
Robyn has two young children with her husband. Both enjoy growing vegetables in their garden, evening beach swims and spending time as a family.
Aimie Hodgson
Reception/Trainee Dental Nurse
Aimie grew up in and around the Forest and has a background in both healthcare and childcare. This has afforded her patience and a kind demeanour, and she is available most days of the week to help make your experience here at Merrygate Dental a pleasant one. She is excited to be in this new medical field and is keen to learn all the skills required. Aimie is cheerful and is always bringing in treats for the team to enjoy.
She is most recently looking forwards to getting on the property ladder and loves DIY and looking for bargains for her new home.
Ibraheem Ghafoor
Assistant to Non-Clinical Director
Ibraheem lives locally and is studying Medicine in Southampton University. He helps with admin work, including updating the practice policies, filing documents, and making a cup of tea for anyone that wants one!
Ibraheem has always had a passion for reading, and his favourite books include the works of Virginia Woolf and Sartre. He grew up in South London and moved to Dubai at the age of 9, learning multiple languages there in addition to his schoolwork, including Mandarin and Arabic! Ibraheem has a special interest in dementia and wrote a paper on the challenges with diagnosis and hopes in the future to make a real impact in this field.
His travels have given him a kind, tolerant, and understanding personality, and he is particularly good with children who fear the dentist