Meet the Team

We recognize that all our patients are unique and deserve to receive dental care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented dental team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding dental experience every time you visit our practice.

We are pleased to welcome you and your family, and we look forward to working with you.

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Susan

Office Manager

I was very happy to join Dr. Tulipano in her new business owner adventure when she bought this office. I bring with me decades of practice management experience and had the pleasure of being a front-desk trainer for multiple offices within a large, corporate dental group. Here at Cortez Gardens Family Dental, I am responsible for all aspects of administrative management and patient interaction.

The people I interact with are the best parts of this job. It is a privilege to work with the team to serve our patients to the best of our ability. Our office environment is friendly, fun, and relaxed, full of laughter and free of stress and drama. Who could ask for more?

I am a grandmother to two awesome children, Roman and Marina. My daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and I share a home, so I have the pleasure of spending time with the grandkids every day. In my free time, I love being outside hanging out by the pool and spending time with friends. I also enjoy serving and being involved at church.

Michele

Front Desk / Dental Assistant

I began my career in 1999 at the front desk and loved the dental field so much, I decided to study for dental assisting! I graduated from Manatee Technical Institute in 2002 and recently joined the Cortez Gardens Family Dental team.

My goal is to create a pleasant experience for our patients, from their first phone call to the end of their appointment. I love working with our wonderful team and developing new relationships with our patients. I feel lucky to mean it when I say I love coming to work every day!

In my spare time, I like being with my husband and daughter watching movies, going to the beach, or playing with our three dogs, cat, and sugar glider.

Erika

Dental Assistant

I graduated from MTI in 2013 and started working in endodontic office. After a few years, I realized that while I wanted to continue working in the dental field, I wanted to do more of a variety of treatments. Cortez Gardens Family Dental was the perfect fit! I am here to offer the best dental care to patients, while making them comfortable and well informed about their treatment.

My passion is providing quality care and having fun doing it! Patients do not look forward to coming to the dentist, but I feel if you have fun and make the best of their appointment, then they will be more at ease—and even excited—when they return.

I have been with my husband for ten years; we were high school sweethearts and we now have a ten-month-old baby boy named Alonso! Our son is a handful but he brings so much joy to our life! Our hobbies include shopping for our 70-gallon freshwater fish tank, playing softball and baseball, and pretty much doing anything outdoors!

Kayla

Dental Assistant

I am a 2015 graduate from MTC for dental assisting. My prior experience was three years in pediatrics. Although I enjoyed working with children, I wanted to advance my scope of work and get into general dentistry. I am the newest member to this particular office and enjoying every bit of it so far. It’s nice working with a laid-back doctor who is happy to be here at the office. There is a lot of laughter, which helps keep the positive vibes going throughout the day.

General dentistry has so much to enjoy. I love meeting new people and having the opportunity to help people when needed. Dentistry has brought both of those to me on a daily basis, whether it’s just meeting somebody during a routine checkup or helping with a specific problem.

I was born and raised here in Bradenton. I have a little boy named Austin, who is the center of my world, along with his father Jesse. We have been together since 2011. He also is in the dental field and encouraged me to join. My home also consists of a cat named Avalanche, who is solid white and destroys everything he possibly can. I enjoy anything involved with family time or making memories with my son. He is pretty spoiled and we go on lots of trips to the zoos, aquariums, parks, and of course our beautiful beaches.

Allie

Registered Dental Hygienist

I have been in the dental field since 2011, first earning a certificate in dental assisting and then my Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene. I’m so excited to be a part of the Cortez Gardens Family Dental team. Everyone here is just exceptional with a can-do attitude and willingness to help each other out at any time.

Each day I work with patients, I focus on cleaning teeth and providing education and instruction for proper oral hygiene techniques. But my job is so much more than that. I enjoy connecting with my patients and getting to know each of them. I find joy in seeing their journey in my chair knowing I have made a difference in their oral health.

I am originally from Northwest Pennsylvania. My boyfriend and I decided to make the big move to sunny Florida. So far, I am enjoying every bit of outside time I can get! Riding around in my golf cart, spending time at the beach, and going saltwater fishing are just a few hobbies I have adapted in to my new Florida lifestyle.

Rebecca

Dental Hygienists

My career started in 1977, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Like most hygienists, I received my A.S. in dental hygiene and sat for the Florida Hygiene Board exams. The nuts and bolts of my role are patient care relevant to prevention and maintenance. In the realm of therapy, I am skilled in non-surgical periodontal therapies to treat gum disease. My passion — what I consider is the most important of all services I can offer — is preventive care. My focus is for my patients to require as little dentistry as possible to keep their teeth looking great, feeling great, and doing their job without jeopardizing their health.

Dr. KT honors me in that bcaus of my master’s in oriental medicine, I might see the world a little differently. Nutrition affects dental health and can help determine what approach might be best to use or how aggressive that approach might have to be to accomplish the task of achieving optimal health.

To balance out my medical mind, I love to build. I’m happy with a hammer or a garden hoe. Two cats own me. With any luck, the boat motor works and you can find me on the Upper Manatee River putting in at Ray’s Canoe Hideaway. Life is good.

David

Part-Time Hygienist / Maintenance

I earned my associate’s degree in dental hygiene from State College of Florida, Bradenton campus, in 2015. I met my wife Dr. Kate in 2011 and she has been educating me on dentistry the whole time. It was only our second date when she was looking in my mouth!

I was happy to join the team in 2018, seeing patients for hygiene services on Fridays, taking care of the books, and maintaining our building and grounds. It’s great to meet new people and see the result of someone getting their oral hygiene back up to good standards.

Dr. Katie and I have a son Joe, two dogs, and three cats. We like spending time together outside biking, hiking, and rollerblading, or venturing out to the state parks, aquariums, and zoos. I am the typical car guy and have built a hot rod in the garage: my wife says I love it more than her.

I love my community and have participated in the Sarasota RAM (Remote Area Medical) for several years. This event is a great way to give back to local families who desperately need medical services.

Rosanne

Dental Hygienist

They say time flies when you are having fun~~~It certainly is true for me!! After 50 years of working as a Dental Hygienist (the last 31 at this office), I am finally retiring. I have truly enjoyed my profession and all the Dentists and co-workers I have worked for and with. Everyone of them are part of my family. But nothing has made my work more enjoyable than my patients!! Over the years so many of you have become part of my family as well. Some of you I have seen since you were in grade school. I have watched you grow up, go to college, get married and now have children of your own. We have been through illnesses together, happy times, sad times, shared stories of grandchildren, golf games, and our dogs. Time moves on and so do we. I am looking forward to summers in the mountains, more golf and time with my husband and dog. I appreciate every one of you and especially my 30 years with Dr Leslie and this past year and a half with Dr Katie for making my job so enjoyable and I appreciate their excellent dentistry. It has been my pleasure!!!