Meet the Doctors

“My short-term goals change daily, but my long-term goal is to be a skilled health care provider in dentistry and to be an equally upstanding person. I believe my greatest accomplishment is that throughout my life I have been able to keep the values I hold so dear: hard work, faith, and perseverance.”

As I was asked to provide a short biography for this website, I pulled out my dental school essay on why I wanted to become a dentist and this is the quote that resonated with me. This quote is truly the best insight into who I am.

I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. There I attended Leon High School and graduated in 1996. I played softball, and guitar, and was a founding member of Youth Alive, a Christian Club, as well as a place holder of multiple honor awards and societies. My real education occurred though on our family farm in Bonifay. My father called it, “character building.” In the 1800s my great grandfather started the farm, and here my chores were tough, but I learned about earning a sense of accomplishment and that seeing a finished product makes the extra effort worthwhile.

After Leon, I attended Florida State University. Upon graduation in the spring of 2000, I had earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Minor in Chemistry. Here I was also a member of a National Honor Society, on the Dean’s List, and still continued to play co-ed softball. While at Florida State, I began working for a local endodontist who peaked my interest in dentistry. He mentored me throughout my tenure at Florida State while letting me work as an assistant. Here, I cultivated my compassion and care for patients as well as my dental skills.

Then, from 2000-2001, I completed a Master of Public Health degree specializing in Community Health Education from the University of Florida. Who knew a born and bred Seminole could manage in the swamp!

Finally, I earned my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Florida, College of Dentistry in the Spring of 2005. During dental school, I was a member of a Dental Missions team that visited Merida, Mexico in 2003 to treat children in the Yucatan area. I was also a volunteer at the Acorn Dental Clinic, a reduced fee for service dental clinic in Brooker, Fl., a volunteer at Give Kids a Smile hosted at UFCD, and a volunteer at We Care, a reduced fee for service dental clinic at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Fl. I also placed Second in the 13^th Saul Kamen Scientific Report Award Contest given by the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. I also was presented with the Ethics and Professionalism Award from the University Florida and the American College of Dentists Public Health Services and Research.

After Dental School I began working in Callaway in 2005. During my time there I learned a lot about dentistry and achieved a bunch of lifetime milestones. One of them was getting married in 2011. My husband was born and raised in Bonifay Florida and is a General Physician. He truly appreciates being from a small town and likes to feel as if he is giving back to his community and therefore works in many rural ER’s in the Panhandle area. I think he is pretty amazing! So, after seven and a half years in practice, we made the big decision to open our own practice, North Florida Dental Care. We hope to see you as a patient, and as the years continue so does my goal to be a skilled healthcare provider in dentistry and to be an equally upstanding person keeping the values I hold so dear: hard work, faith, and perseverance.

Many people have asked me, 'Why dentistry?' My passion for dentistry began when I noticed that some of my friends were reluctant to smile because they were self-conscious about their teeth. I wanted to help them feel more confident. When I got braces in junior high, I had to visit the dentist monthly for a couple of years. I enjoyed the calm, welcoming atmosphere of the office and often asked more questions than he probably wanted to answer. But my curiosity about dentistry only grew.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school, when I had the opportunity to shadow my dentist for a semester. He taught me the importance of treating each person as an individual, paying attention to detail, and always continuing to learn. The experience of seeing patients leave his office with a new, confident smile inspired me to pursue a career in dentistry.
My mission is to provide exceptional dental care in a welcoming and comfortable environment. I am committed to educating patients about the importance of oral health and focusing on early prevention to ensure their long-term well-being. Alongside a dedicated team, I strive to create an experience that prioritizes both comfort and quality while building lasting relationships with each patient.
I was born and raised in Corinth, MS, and graduated from Corinth High School in 2017. In high school, I was actively involved in clubs and organizations, as well as cheerleading and theatre. While I learned subjects like math, history, and biology at Corinth High School, I learned even more from my all-star cheer coach, Tim. I cheered competitively for Lancaster’s Cheer Force for 10 years, and Tim was one of the most influential people during my adolescent years. He taught me more than just stunts and tumbling—he instilled in me the values that shaped me into the passionate, strong-willed, and outgoing person I am today. Our chant before every competition was, 'Go Hard or Go Home!' Tim encouraged me to give 110% in everything I do. To this day, when I’m extracting a tooth or lifting weights, I hear his voice in my head shouting, “Technique!” During dental school, I spent countless hours practicing on plastic teeth in the pre-clinical lab, and Tim’s lesson of “only perfect practice makes perfect” continues to guide me.
After high school, I attended the University of Mississippi, where I graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a Minor in Chemistry. While in college, I served as the Vice President of Community Relations for Alpha Phi, where I gained lifelong friends and future bridesmaids. I was also involved in the Pre-Dental Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Pinelake Church and various other community organizations. I served at Mid-South Mission of Mercy in Memphis, TN to offer free dental care to a low-income population. During college, I shadowed a pediatric dentist, and for a while, I thought I had found my calling.
In August 2021, I began dental school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry in Jackson, MS. During this time I facilitated oral hygiene presentations for local elementary schools, volunteered with Give Kids A Smile, presented careers in the dental field with high school classes, and served as an executive officer for the student chapter of Mississippi Association of Women Dentists. I also volunteered with events and organizations offering free dental care including Jackson Free Clinic, Mission First, Mission Week, and Team Smile events. By my third year, as I began seeing my own patients in clinic, I realized that I loved working with people of all ages and performing a wide range of dental procedures. While children still hold a special place in my heart and I remain dedicated to educating and preventing dental disease in younger patients, I realized I wanted to care for the whole family. I began to search for a career in a private practice office that aligned with my morals and goals.

In August 2023, I met my future husband, George Tzotzolas. We married in March of 2026 and plan to start a family with our sweet golden retriever, Daisy. I am excited for the opportunity to join Dr. Hawkins and the North Florida Dental Care team and serve the Panama City community!