NEW HOURS

Our office has new hours beginning on February, 13th, 2023. 

Our
Team

Get to know the incredible team at West Wind Dental!

You can count on us to take care of your oral health needs with comprehensive treatment plans and some of the most advanced services used in modern dentistry. Every staff person here is dedicated to providing the very best general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry procedures you need every time you visit West Wind Dental in Portage, Michigan.

Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD | West Wind Dental Team

Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD

Dr. Hamilton is originally from the Kalamazoo area. He was a standout athlete and scholar for Schoolcraft Community Schools.

 

Upon graduation, he attended Michigan State University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition/Human Physiology. MSU athletics is a very big part of his life and he attends as many sporting events in a given year that his schedule will allow.

 

Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA) and also attends courses with the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO), has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) and in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), has graduated from and is an alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle, and is on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).

 

Outside of the office, Dr. Hamilton’s top priority and joys are his family; he has two beautiful daughters, Layla and Bree with his wife Jolie. The little spare time left over is spent Steelhead and Salmon fishing and the occasional round of golf.

Dr. Ashley Muehleise, DDS | West Wind Dental Team

Dr. Ashley Muehleise, DDS

Dr. Ashley Muehleise grew up in Schoolcraft, Michigan where she attended Schoolcraft High School and the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center. After graduating, she received her bachelor’s degree in Biomolecular Science at the University of Michigan. During her time in Ann Arbor, Dr. Muehleise spent time volunteering at a community health clinic where she fell in love with dentistry. 

 

She then went on to receive her doctorate degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Her priority is to make patients feel comfortable in the dental chair, while helping them achieve a confident, healthy smile. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. 

 

 

In her spare time, Dr. Muehleise enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog Duke. She loves hiking, golfing, and cooking.

Administrative Team

Jolie H., CDA, COA | West Wind Dental Team

Jolie H., CDA, COA

President, Patient Care & Financial Coordinator

Jolie joined our team in early 2015, coming to the office with over 18 years of experience, starting when she was a high school student at Portage Central. After attending the EFE (Education for Employment) program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Jolie started her first job as a dental assistant and fell in love with dentistry. She desired to continue her education, so she decided to pursue DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) where she completed her education becoming a Certified Dental Assistant, and then going even further Jolie later gained a certification in Orthodontics.


Through the years she has expanded her knowledge as well as her experience not only in the clinical aspect (back office) of dentistry but also in the clerical (front office) aspect. Although you may occasionally see her working alongside one of the doctors, her true passion is in the front office. Currently she oversees all of the patient accounts as well as insurance and specializes in patient relations.

For fun, Jolie enjoys family time with her husband, two little girls, their two cats and their dog. She also loves running, gardening, and canning.

Jenni K., RMA, BS ORM | West Wind Dental Team

Jenni K., RMA, BS ORM

Director of Operations

Jenn has been a long-time resident of the Portage area, where she worked in Family Practice and Pediatrics before making a switch to the dental world, where she has spent the last several years.

After years of working in clerical and clinical positions in local medical practices, Jenn recognized her passion for problem solving, process improvement and leading people within the healthcare setting. With that realization, she went back to school to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management, with a focus in Human Resources. In the years following, Jenn had the opportunity to expand her skills working in medical practice management, overseeing clinical and clerical departments.  

Jenn brings her dedication to both professional excellence and exceptional patient care to West Wind Dental as the Director of Operations, overseeing our clerical and clinical departments. It is her goal to continue to grow alongside the practice and is committed to doing her part to ensure that we are providing safe and reliable care to our patients. In order to grow both personally and professionally, Jenn regularly participates in continuing education courses. 

In her spare time, Jenn loves spending time with her husband Chad, their families, and adorable fur babies, Clementine Rose and Oscar. She loves to travel, enjoys music and has a passion for reading that often results in her happily living up to her “Book Nerd” nickname.

Front Office Team

Kara P.

Patient Care & Finance Coordinator

Kara moved to Michigan in 2015 from Philadelphia and now resides in Kalamazoo with her husband and children. Kara comes to West Wind Dental with 23 years of dental experience, gained by working as a Certified Dental Assistant, Front Office Receptionist, and Office Manager in dental practices in both Michigan and Philadelphia. 

Kara is passionate about helping patients to reach their dental health goals while building trusting relationships. She utilizes her prior dental experience to assist our patients with treatment planning and follow up, scheduling, insurance verification, and financing options in her role as the Patient Care & Finance Coordinator.

Kara spends most of her free time volunteering at the SPCA, singing karaoke all over Michigan, painting and planning long weekends at the beach. Kara and her husband also have their own DJ business and enjoy being part of every bride’s special day! 

Christine F. Practice Support Assistant | West Wind Dental Team

Christine F.

Practice Support Assistant

Chris grew up in Paw Paw, Michigan and graduated from Paw Paw High School. She moved to Vicksburg, Michigan in 1996 where she raised her children and still resides today. 

 

Chris has worked in the dental field since 1991 both clinically and clerically. She is down-to-earth, ambitious, and looks for positivity in all aspects of life. Chris is also a proud and devoted mother of two and grandmother of three. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, landscaping, and decorating. She always strives to maintain a healthy work-life balance and believes that the dental profession has allowed her to accomplish this successfully. 

 

Chris’ highest priority as a Practice Support Assistant is to continually collaborate and work diligently, hand and glove with the entire dental team to provide our patients with exceptional, high-quality dental care while maintaining a professional and relaxing atmosphere. 

Erica M.

Practice Support Assistant

Erica is originally from Marshall but spent 15 years living in the south in both Texas and Tennessee, before moving back to Michigan in 2021 to be closer to family and friends. Before joining the West Wind Dental team, Erica spent the previous ten years in the dental field, with experience working as both a Dental Assistant and front office associate. Erica brings her dedication to providing excellent patient care and her southern hospitality to the team and patients at West Wind Dental.

Erica has one son and can most often be found spending the majority of her free time cheering at his sporting events. She also enjoys traveling to new places and spending fun in the sun at the beach.

Hygiene Team

Sheilah M., RDH Hygienist | West Wind Dental Team

Sheilah M., RDH

Hygienist

Sheilah is a lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan.  Before attending hygiene school, she worked in a dental office as a dental assistant and knew she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry.  She attended and graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in 2003 and spent many years in community health following graduation.  Sheilah is active in pursuing dental education and loves to pass that education on to her patients. 

 

Sheilah is passionate about building relationships with her patients and educating them on the importance of the oral-systemic link to help them achieve optimal dental health that is personally appropriate for them. She is especially excited to help those patients at risk for periodontal disease and provide periodontal therapy.  

 

Sheilah spends much of her free time with her husband on a field or a track cheering on their youngest son.  She and her family are very active in their school, community, and church. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with friends. 

Kendyl H., RDH Hygienist | West Wind Dental Team

Kendyl H., RDH

Hygienist

Kendyl has been a Hygienist with West Wind Dental since 2021. She received her degree in Dental Hygiene from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She had always been drawn to a career in dentistry and found that hygiene was the perfect fit.

Kendyl has a passion for hygiene and providing the best care for all her patients. She is happy to see all ages and enjoys the opportunity to build relationships with her patients. She strives to continue her education and share the knowledge she gains with others. It is her goal to help every patient reach their optimal oral health and to create a comfortable atmosphere.

She spends most of her free time with her friends and family but always makes time to read and have fun with arts and crafts. She loves to paint and crochet but also enjoys exploring new hobbies too. 

Kayla A., RDH Hygienist | West Wind Dental Team

Kayla A., RDH

Hygienist

Kayla has been a longtime resident of Michigan. She grew up in Athens and now lives in Battle Creek. She attended Athens Public Schools before going on to complete the Dental Hygiene Program at Kellogg Community College. 

 

Kayla has always had a passion for helping people and discovered that she could use her love for dentistry to help her patients’ overall health. Kayla especially enjoys building relationships with her patients and likes to use humor to make her patients more comfortable in the dentist’s chair. 

 

Patient education and satisfaction are priorities for Kayla. She loves it when her patients leave with smiles on their faces and a better understanding of their own oral health. 

 

Kayla spends most of her free time with friends and family and spends lots of time hiking with her two dogs. Kayla also loves photography, reading, and traveling to different parts of our beautiful state. 

Assistant Team

Amber H., DA Dental Assistant | West Wind Dental Team

Amber H., DA

Dental Assistant

Amber grew up in the Kalamazoo area, graduated from Kalamazoo Public Schools, and continues to live in the area with her two children.

In 2012, Amber was looking for a change in her career. She found herself being drawn to the dental field and made the decision to attend Ross Medical for the Dental Assistant Program.

During the course of the program, Amber realized her passion for helping patients reach their optimal oral health. Since graduating, Amber has expanded her skills by working in both general dentistry and oral surgery.

Amber believes in living each day to the fullest and not taking anything for granted. Amber is a breast cancer survivor, which has helped her to learn that each day is a blessing to be cherished. Amber most enjoys spending her free time with her children, her dog George, her boyfriend, and her extended family.

Bobbiejo T., DA

Dental Assistant

Bobbiejo is a long time Michigan resident with roots in Phoenix, Arizona, most recently relocating to the Kalamazoo area to join our team at West Wind Dental. 

Bobbiejo has worked as a Dental Assistant in public health for many years. In an effort to expand her skill set and grow both personally and professionally, Bobbiejo graduated from Kellogg Community College with an Associate of Applied Science. She is passionate about dentistry and providing her patients with excellent care. She finds that helping her patients get their smiles back is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. 

Bobbiejo has a daughter named Ashley, two cats named Taz and Jackson, and a dog named Sasha. In her free time, Bobbiejo can be found spending quality time with friends and family enjoying all of the fun that Michigan has to offer, especially the summers! She particularly enjoys kayaking, bonfires, going to the lake, and game nights.

West Wind Dental understands the impact of the digital world in dentistry and is leading dentist in our community because of this. We strive to bring safe, fast, and efficient care to our entire patient family.

New Hours Effective Monday, Febrary 13, 2023

Monday:
7 am – 12 pm
1 pm – 4:50 pm
*Doors locked during lunch hour.

Tuesday:

 7 am – 2 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-4:50 pm, closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00 pm (door will be locked)

Thursday:

 7:00 am-2:00 pm

Friday:

 7:00 am-noon