Meet The Staff

Jill Irish Lerner, RDH

A lifelong Alaskan, Jill has been a hygienist with our practice for over 15 years and has more than 35 years experience. Jill is a board member and volunteer with Global Health Exchange, spending two weeks a year in Nicaragua donating her time to impoverished populations as a hygienist. She fills her non-office hours with her fiance, 2 dogs, young adult son and daughter, friends and a myriad of hobbies including playing violin in a chamber orchestra, cooking and crafts. Her super secret super power is riding a unicycle!

Sheila Hand, RDH

Sheila has been one of our dedicated hygienist for over 12 years. For the last year Sheila has traveled monthly to us from Georgia, where she now resides with her husband, Bryan and two children, Henry and Adaline. 

Sheila and her family are enjoying her new “slope” schedule, which allows her more fun time with her family in the sunshine and warmth of Georgia, while still allowing her to keep seeing all the patients she loves. 

Sheila is an avid animal lover and enjoys spending her time cuddling her pets while she sits on her deck with an icy drink and watches her kids play in the water and sun.

Nikki Borchardt, RDH

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nikki started working in the dental field at a young age of 16. She decided to try out a Dental Assisting program in high school. From then she continued working as a Dental Assistant and eventually pursuing a career in Dental Hygiene. 

She graduated from Fortis College of Dental Hygiene (Salt Lake City) in 2014. She enjoys seeing patients every 3-6 months not only to help improve their oral health, building lasting connections and swapping stories, hoping to have a positive influence in their lives.  

She moved to Alaska in 2015 for the adventure and to enjoy the great outdoors.  Most of her free time is spent exploring the mountains, “my greatest passion is backcountry snowboarding, but I do love running, hiking, biking; any day outdoors is a great day to me.”

She loves to travel and in 2019 I spent five days with the children at a boarding school in Vietnam giving dental care but receiving so much more. “The team was surrounded by kindness, joy, acceptance and love. The Vietnamese people showed us how simple life can be and to enjoy each moment.”

“It is important to me to be part of a team that treats each patient and employee like family. I have found that with Dr Lethin and Dr Backs.”

Zy Burley, Dental Assistant

Zy has been with our office since 2022, a crossed-trained Dental Assistant and Customer Service Representative at our front desk. Zy finished the Dental Assistant training Program with Southcentral Foundation in 2021 and has since been continuing her education and development in the dental field. Zy’s great laugh and beautiful smile are sure to make you feel welcome. 

She moved to Alaska in 2004 and has called Alaska home ever since. When she is not at work you can find her fishing in the summer with her family, hanging out with her tortoise or playing team volleyball.

Brienne Mabry, CSR

Brienne was born and raised in Anchorage, the daughter of a local dentist, she has been with  Dr. Lethin and Dr. Backs since 2021. She has a great way with patients on the phone, and and brings an upbeat vibe to the practice. 

She grew up with a strong dedication to public service and philanthropy. She spent many years in Alaska, the West Coast and Hawaii as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor and has been instructing local equestrians for more than 25 years. An avid baker who loves to craft, Brienne enjoys spending time with her husband, dogs, cats and chickens and stays busy at the barn with her students and horses.

Diane Aulabaugh, Office manager

Diane has worked in the dental field for over 30 years, when her previous dentist retired, she was excited to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Lethin and Dr. Backs. Originally from Arizona, she has been in Alaska since 1984 where she met her husband. She has two adult daughters, 2 horses and a senior beagle, that occasionally visits the office. In her off time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and traveling the state in their Motorhome, appreciating the beauty that Alaska has to offer. 

DIESEL

Diesel comes to the office occasionally, he is Diane’s Senior Beagle. He enjoys sleeping the day away and the positive responses and pets he receives from patients.