GT Thiagarajah – Chief Executive Officer

Gokulan Thiagarajah brings over two and a half decades of business management experience to Dental Support Group. With his entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Thiagarajah has made dental management a career specialty.

As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thiagarajah has created a vision through hands-on experience that helps him to continuously keep Dental Support Group up to par with the ever-changing technological advancements. Recognized industry-wide as one consistently at least one decade ahead of the times, Mr. Thiagarajah built New England Dental Group to the premier dental care provider in the Northeast, bringing to the practice next-level excellence in terms of care, systems, and processes. Now he offers this valuable experience to our client practices.

Dr. Margarita Panajoti, D.M.D. – Chief Dental Director

A respected practitioner for over 25 years, Margarita Panajoti earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Her memberships include the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the CEREC Study Club. As Chief Dental Director of Dental Support Group, Dr. Panajoti imbues her philosophy to the professionals of our client practices. As she explains:

“It’s our job to help each patient make the right decisions by educating them and carefully explaining all their options…including the pros and cons of each.” At the same time, she adds: “Self-education must be a continual activity. It is vital to keep up with the ever-improving technological innovations and treatment methodologies.”

Among her many “make a difference” commitments is her active support of the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (also known as Doctors Without Borders.)

Jayne Carey – Clinical Hygiene Director

A practicing Dental Hygienist with more than 30 years of experience, Jayne Carey has been employed in many different practical settings — from Orthodontics to Periodontics — and has worked with many mentors advancing her career.

Keeping at the top of the field through seminars such as “Dental Boot Camp,” “Excellence in Dentistry,” and “Advanced Laser Training.” Ms. Carey is in demand as a continuing education speaker, and is active in the community school systems promoting good oral health. Her memberships include The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Nova Scotia Dental Hygienists Association (NSDHA).

In her role as Clinical Hygiene Director for Dental Support Group, Ms. Carey motivates dental professionals in providing excellence in “Overall Health Care.”

Veena Reddy – Controller

Veena Reddy brings over two decades of financial management experience to the company, helping our client practices manage financials, budgets, payroll, and human resources.

Gezime Zito – Financial Officer

With years of experience in business administration to share, Gezime Zito helps our client practices in a number of ways, including daily refreshing of financial date, reconciliation of all transactions and accounts biweekly, recording and categorizing all payments and expenses, vendor/supplier payments, helping with the payroll process and more. In addition, Ms. Zito provides analysis and financial reports when needed.

Alicia LaClair – Director of Operations

Elizandra Diaz – Billing and Insurance Specialist

Top insurance specialist Elizandra Diaz helps our client practices navigate the sometimes challenging waters inherent in the field, making sure the practices receive compensation while simultaneously achieving the optimal coverage for patients.

Emilia Koka – Billing and Insurance Specialist

Emilia Koka joined us in 2015 with a degree in Biology from Worcester’s Assumption College. Her duties include checking claims, administering insurance payments, and insuring that patients’ insurance benefits are utilized properly.

“I love helping our patients feel welcome and well-informed about any procedures they are about to undergo,” she says. “Our staff does its best to cater to each individual need…patients feel truly cared for.

Outside office hours, Emilia spends her time in filmmaking, writing, reading, and playing the guitar.

Caroline Coogan – Director of Marketing

Joining us in 2021, Caroline Coogan was charged with the task of spreading the word about our services…an assignment she took up with vigorous enthusiasm. “Everyone deserves the best treatment possible,” she says, “and it’s my privilege to help them get it.”

A graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, Caroline worked in the automotive industry before switching to the dental field. Among her daily activities are spearheading our online presence, keeping up with social media trends and opportunities, and overseeing the flow of patient inquiries. Her message is simple: “Our skilled staff members will sit down with you, one-on-one, and discuss any and all concerns and desires you may have regarding your oral health…and follow through on them”

When not working, Caroline can usually be found working out at the gym.

Kathleen Gurney – Team Leader

Treatment Coordinator Kathleen Gurney brings over 30 years of experience in the dental field to our practice. Kathleen graduated from Becker College with a Bachelor of Science. She attended Dental Assistant School at Springfield Tech. She is certified in CPR and OSHA.

She resides in Auburn, Massachusetts, and enjoys walking, working out, reading, and vacationing with her family.

Mike Anastasi – Chief Operating Officer

A professional in the field since 2002, Mike Anastasi joined us in 2022. After finishing Saint John’s Prep in Danvers, MA, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication from Waltham’s Bentley University.

“I love the people and the culture here,” he says. It’s a great group that feels like an extended family…and family that most definitely includes our patients.”

Mike’s main role is expanding the orthodontic business segment across all of Dental Support Group’s current and future locations. A major motivation for him is patient satisfaction. “I enjoy seeing how a beautiful smile can — and does — transform a patient’s life.”

He, like his co-workers and our patients, appreciate the latest dental and orthodontic technology we use to provide the best treatment possible.

In addition to spending time with his family and friends, and golfing, Mike is active in his family’s foundation: Spectrum for Hope/Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation, which helps families affected by autism.

Walter Mason – Chief Financial Officer

A Bentley College graduate, Walter Mason brought his twenty-years of experience as a C.F.O. to our practice in 2023.

Walter has the primary responsibility for managing our finances, including planning, risk management, record-keeping, compliance, budgeting, and reporting.

“The people here are great to work with,” he says. “They make it a pleasure to act as a team in problem-solving. And it’s apparent they are key in taking the anxiety out of visiting the dentist.”

After business hours, Walter enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife, three children and two dogs. The family’s activities include golf, dance performances, long walks, and watching sports and movies.

Cheryl Demelo – Director of Human Resources

Cheryl Demelo ought to know how great our team members are …she’s the one who’s in charge of keeping them happy!

After more than thirty years in the long-term care field, Cheryl joined us in 2022.

Among her many tasks are employee recruitment, performance appraisal, and reward management. “My main focus is to make our practice successful through our people,” she says. “I enjoy the people I work with very much!”

In addition to her admiration for our team members, Cheryl appreciates — and believes our patients do, too — our clean and beautiful offices and convenient locations.

When not working, Cheryl enjoys spending time with friends and family. And here’s a fun fact: she’s a Justice of the Peace and loves officiating at weddings in her free time.

Emily Paul – Business Systems Director

A 2020 graduate of High Point University, North Carolina, Emily Paul studied business administration, with a focus on sales and marketing. She joined us in 2022.

Emily’s busy day includes participating in the design and plan of upcoming offices, working with contractors, architects, and advertising agencies. She communicates with each office on a regular basis, keeping protocols consistent, while implementing new business systems and fielding questions from various sources practice-wide.

“It’s my job — and my pleasure — to communicate to the public this vital message: that our extremely qualified staff will make sure that each patient’s needs are not only satisfied, but done so with care and the utmost respect,” she says.

During her non-working time, Emily enjoys reading, watching movies, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.

Nahara Collazo – Clinical Coordinator

Nahara Collazo joined us in 2018 after training at the Porter and Chester Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“I care about my patients and like letting them know it. We treat them like family here,” she says. “I want our patients to relax in their chairs, knowing they are in good hands. And they do!”

Nahara’s daily activities include welcoming patients into the operatory, preparing them for their procedures, assisting the doctors, and maintaining sterilization.

About New England Dental Group, she says: “The environment here is amazing…I love being a part of the warm and caring interaction between the staff and our patients. It’s a delight to help people change their opinions about visiting the dentist!”

When not working, Nahara enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Eleni Psomadelis – Conversion Specialist

A dental professional since 2011, Eleni Psomadelis joined us in 2022. Her career spans several areas within the field. She is a certified dental assistant, and worked as a treatment coordinator and insurance coordinator. Her experience is now put to work in her position as Conversion Specialist.

Eleni trained at New England Dental Assisting School, is Radiology Certified, and certified in making temporary crowns.

“During my years in this field, I’ve seen a lot of patients who fear dentists,” she says. “An important part of my work is to relax them, and to make their appointments more enjoyable.”

Eleni treasures her time with our staff. “Every single person genuinely cares about his or her work,” she says. “It’s more than a career for them…it’s a passion, and it shows.”

Among her many activities, Eleni helps patients navigate the often daunting areas of dental insurance. “A lot of patients don’t understand their own dental benefits. It’s rewarding to educate our patients to further understand how insurance works.” She deals with insurance complexities on a daily basis, as well as transferring patient data across various dental software applications.

Eleni appreciates our State of the art technology for top notch dental care, and a staff well-educated in everything we do and offer.

She spends a lot of her non-working time with her rescue dog, Charlie. The pair can often be seen at dog parks, hiking, enjoying the beach and playing fetch in the back yard.