Dr. Rania El-Hawary was born in Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from University of Ottawa in 2004 where she earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering. She then pursued her dental degree and graduated as a D.M.D. from McGill University in 2008. She then completed a General Practice Residency, also at McGill University.

Dr. El-Hawary became a clinical teacher at McGill in the Dental Residents Clinic in 2009. Subsequently, she also moved into private practice in both Montreal and Toronto. Dr. El-Hawary enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and keeps up to date with a variety of continuing education courses.

One of Dr. El-Hawary’s passions is helping the underprivileged and those who cannot access oral healthcare. She travelled to Ecuador with a Dental Mission Group to provide free dental services to impoverished families. Dr. El-Hawary continues to provide dental services on a volunteer basis to those in need in partnership with Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Mission.

Dr. El-Hawary lives in her hometown of Ottawa with her husband and two energetic boys. She spends her free time reading, exercising, baking; and enjoys most to spend time with family and friends.

Dr. Negotei graduated from the University of Toronto’s dental school in 2024 and later settled in Ottawa to practice. Prior to that, she received her Honours Bachelor of Science from Wilfrid Laurier University, graduating with high distinction. In 2023, she went on a dental mission trip to Grenada where she worked in a fast-paced setting with limited resources to provide valuable care to the local community.

Dr. Negotei enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and strives to create a welcoming, comfortable environment for her patients. In her spare time, she enjoys baking and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Dr. Silk Lim was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences at Western University and went on to earn her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Toronto.

After practicing in London, Ontario, Dr. Lim moved to Ottawa, which she has proudly called home for the past several years. She enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and takes a collaborative approach to care, helping patients feel informed and comfortable throughout their dental journey.

Dr. Lim is passionate about lifelong learning and professional growth. She is actively involved with the Ottawa Dental Society, serving on the Continuing Education Committee to organize learning opportunities for fellow dentists. Committed to giving back, she has also provided care through non-profit dental clinics and Ottawa Public Health, helping to improve access to oral health care within the community.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Lim enjoys spending time outdoors, staying active, and exploring Ottawa’s diverse food scene.

Tina has been working in the dental field for 23 years in the capacity of Office Manager, Receptionist, Treatment Coordinator, Clinic Coordinator, Dental Instructor and Dental Assistant.

Tina graduated as a Certified Level II Dental Assistant in Ottawa Ontario 2001 after moving from Newfoundland in 1999.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, the gym and spending time with her family and little dog Charlie. Tina also loves to cook and bake, she says it is her therapy.

Vienna is the first smiling face you see as you enter, and she will make you feel at ease. As a graduate from Algonquin College, Vienna brings over 20 years of knowledge as a dental assistant to her customer service at our front desk. She prides herself in making the administrative aspects a breeze for our patients and helping to navigate through treatment and insurance plans. One of her favorite parts of working at Dows Lake Dental is meeting patients from around the world and getting to know them. Vienna enjoys being active and trying new restaurants with her family and friends.

Originally from a farm near Waterloo Ontario, Grace graduated from the bilingual college Collège Boréal in Sudbury where she received the Golden Scaler award for the Highest Academic Achievement.

In 2024, Grace travelled to Costa Rica with a volunteer organization to provide free dental services for in-need communities. She continues volunteer to provide free dental services in Ottawa at the Ottawa Mission health clinic.

Although Grace is very passionate about oral health, she understands that coming to the dentist can cause anxiety. She does her best to put her patients at ease by providing a friendly and comfortable environment, gentle cleanings, and loves to get to know her patients. She focuses on education by providing useful oral care tips for patients and participates in a variety of continuing education courses.

In her free time, Grace enjoys travelling, visiting family and friends, painting and sketching.

Gabriela graduated from the Dental Hygiene program at Algonquin College in 2025 and previously worked as a Dental Assistant for 3 years. She is passionate about educating others on oral health and providing gentle, patient-centered care. Gabriela strives to create a comfortable, welcoming environment and prioritize each patient’s needs.

Outside of the clinic, Gabriela enjoys reading, watching movies and series, cooking, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Melissa was born and raised in southern Alberta. She moved to Ottawa 3 years ago and quickly fell in love with the people and beauty, particularly on the Quebec side. She completed the Registered Dental Assisting program at CDI College in 2019.

Melissa values hard work, compassion for others and believes in making a difference in the way patients feel about their oral health. Going to the dentist can be very daunting, it is her goal to make everyone feel a little bit better after being at our office.

Melissa loves being outdoors in her spare time and enjoys fishing, camping, gardening, and bike riding with her son. She also loves to cook and believes that food, great friends and family are everything.

Rahma is a dedicated dental assistant who graduated from Willis College.  She is a motivated dental assistant and enjoys helping people feel comfortable and cared for during something that can often be stressful. She is interested in healthcare and dentistry because it allows her to make a direct impact on patients. She loves working in a hands-on work environment where she can continue learning and improving her skills. 

While not working,  Rahma enjoys spending time with her kids and family.  She loves being outdoors, enjoys the beauty of nature,  and also travelling out of town and spending time with friends. Rahma loves dancing, learning new languages, new cultures and cooking.