Dr. Judy grew up in the state of Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, and is proud to have attended the #1 Dental School in America, The University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

She is dedicated to serving the community, having participated in many free dental care days, and spent a third of her last year in Michigan caring for patients at community dental clinics throughout the state.

In addition, she traveled multiple years with the American Dental Association to Washington D.C. to advocate for patients’ access to oral care at a state and national level.

For her record of excellence in patient-centered care, Dr. Judy received multiple "Make a Difference" awards for her ability to create trust and friendship with her patients. In addition, she is the recipient of one of five 2016 Michigan Periodontal Alumni Association Awards.

Dr. Judy is bilingual, speaking both Mandarin and her hometown Sichuan regional dialect fluently. Outside of work, she runs a college admissions consulting business and enjoys photography, mountain biking, and hiking with her fiancé Evan and rescue mutts, Pepper and Morton.  

Dr. Thomas Manaois was raised in the Tacoma area and has seen it flourish over his lifetime. He attended the University of Washington School of Dentistry where he obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery. He aslo has a passion for cosmetic dentistry and has been trained by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics to treat patient concerns with Botox and Fillers.

His parents met in dental school in the Philippines, so caring about a person's smile has always been in his blood. His goal in this field is to make sure that people feel comfortable and welcomed by providing high-quality dentistry.In his free time, he is hanging out with his Samoyed, Lulu, and hopes to one day open a large rescue for dogs. Music is a strong passion as he loves to sing and dance. He is also an avid foodie with a guilty sweet tooth.

• First student chosen for a new competitive off-site rotation focused on intensively treating underserved pediatric patients
• Recipient of the 2019-2020 Annual Service Learning Rotation Student Award

Dr. Manaois is an active member of

C. Michael Tsai, B.Sc., D.M.D, is a full-time Board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Light Dental Studios, covering the University Place, Puyallup, and University Place locations.

Dr. Tsai was born in Taipei, Taiwan where he was raised by his parents, aunties, and grandparents. He moved with his parents and younger brother and sister to Vancouver, BC, Canada when he was 8 years old, where he went through elementary and secondary school education.

Dr. Tsai then traveled to Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology (B.Sc.) from the University of Waterloo followed by a year of working in a lab at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as a research assistant studying the biology of wound healing. After the year, Dr. Tsai returned to Vancouver, BC, to study dentistry at the University of British Columbia and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D). Seeing his own family’s struggle with dental disease and dental anxiety, Dr. Tsai was motivated to pursue advanced training in oral surgery and anesthesia, which compelled him to move to Fort Worth, Texas to complete an internship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Upon completion of his internship, he was offered a position in the coveted 4-year Oral and Maxillofacial Residency Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, which allowed him to further advance his skills while being closer to his family. During the program, he was exposed to comprehensive training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Anesthesia.

During residency training, Dr. Tsai published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, including papers on topics such as platelet biology, management of bleeding, sedation, temporomandibular joint surgery, and oral cancer. He was also offered scholarships to attend academic conferences, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Conference in 2019.

As an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Tsai strives to do his best to give his patients a comfortable experience for wisdom teeth surgery and dental implant surgery. He is also skilled in complicated dental extractions, bone grafting surgery to the upper and lower jaws, oral pathology, management of oral and facial infections, as well as providing sedation and anesthesia for procedures. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin, as well as conversant in Taiwanese.

When Dr. Tsai is not seeing patients in the clinic or the hospital, he enjoys working out, taking long outdoor walks, cooking up a new dish, watching Netflix movies, and traveling.

Dr. Tsai is an active member of

Dr. Baldwin received his clinical training at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. He continues to study at the UW, working on an advanced PhD degree in Oral Biology, with the goal of improving his knowledge about preventing and treating dental disease. Dr. Baldwin strives to provide his patients with comfortable and quality dental care. He is compassionate, honest, and takes the time to listen to his patients, making sure he understands their needs and desires.

Michael grew up in University Place and graduated from Curtis Senior High School. After high school, he served a two year mission for his church in Chile. Upon returning home from his mission, he attended Brigham Young University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and with University Honors, earning a BS degree in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and a minor in Spanish.

After graduating from BYU, Dr. Baldwin was admitted into the highly competitive dual DDS/PhD program at the UW. In conjunction with his clinical training, Dr. Baldwin has taken additional coursework investigating the biological processes of dental disease and has conducted extensive research, receiving national and international recognition for his work. For his academic excellence, Dr. Baldwin has received the Psi Omega Scholarship, Dr. Tony Michael Ponti Memorial Scholarship, Academic Careers in Oral Health Fellowship, ARCS Foundation Fellowship, and International Association for Dental Research Craniofacial Biology Award.

Dr. Baldwin enjoys serving in the community and helping those in need, and has done this in several ways. At the early age of 13, he organized the building of a playground in the Curran Apple Orchard in University Place, saving the city thousands of dollars. For his efforts, he was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouting. During his clinical training at the UW, Dr. Baldwin served as a representative of the American Dental Education Association and provided free dental care to children through the organizations Give Kids a Smile and Husky Smiles. As a dentist, Dr. Baldwin provides free dental care in the community through Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission and South Sound Free Dental Day. He also helps teach anatomy to first year dental students at the UW.

When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Baldwin enjoys sports, the outdoors, serving in his church, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Baldwin is excited to be a part of the Light Dental Studios team, and looks forward to developing a relationship with his patients and giving them the highest quality of care with a light, gentle touch.

Dr. Baldwin is an active member of

Dr. Caroline Corbett is very excited to be a part of the Light Dental Studios team. She grew up in the border town of El Paso, Texas. For her undergraduate studies, she took her cowboy boots to North Carolina, where she attended Davidson College and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. During her four years at Davidson, she played Division I Volleyball, served as the team captain, and earned three consecutive All-Conference Honors in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

After graduating from Davidson, Dr. Corbett went to work as the assistant volleyball coach at Georgia College. As a past collegiate student-athlete and collegiate coach, Dr. Corbett understands the importance of dedication, teamwork, and how these attributes directly translate into the dental setting.

Dr. Corbett graduated from the University of Texas (UT) Health San Antonio School of Dentistry with a Distinction in Dental Education. During her four years at UT Health, she had the opportunity to serve as a student leader and volunteer for the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic and the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). With CMDA, she helped establish daily mobile clinics and provide dental care to underserved populations. She participated in South Texas and border dental mission trips and travelled abroad in 2015, 2017, and 2019 to provide dental care to the people of the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Corbett believes in patient-centered care and has a heart for serving others and giving back to the community. She is committed to continuing this throughout her dental career.

When not practicing dentistry, she enjoys music, swimming, skiing, hiking, travelling, and spending time with her husband Michael, who serves in the United States Army.

Dr. Corbett is an active member of:

Dr. Peter Smolke graduated from the Roseman University College of Dental Medicine in Utah and earned his undergraduate degree in Nutritional Science at the University of California, Berkeley. While at Roseman, Dr. Smolke received the Distinguished Clinical Excellence and Distinguished Lifelong Colleague awards and was selected for a public health clinical externship at Salt Lake Donated Dental Services.

Prior to joining Light Dental Studios, Dr. Smolke worked with organizations serving the at-need populations of Alameda County, where he learned the value of a holistic approach to health care and meeting the needs of others. He has also served on dental service trips to Bolivia and Mexico, which sparked his passion to provide the same benefit to those in his community.

An avid outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Smolke was drawn to Washington by the mountains along with the diverse scenery and urban landscapes of the Puget Sound. He and his fiancée, Jessica, are big foodies and enjoy exploring their local neighborhood offerings while also nerding out over roasting coffee, brewing beer, and cultivating their ever-growing green thumbs in the garden.

Dr. Smolke enjoys connecting with his patients and empowering them through education. He is an active listener who prioritizes understanding what is of utmost importance to patients while discussing the best treatment options and lifestyle habits to maintain a healthy smile. Committed to lifelong learning, he continuously expands his knowledge base and skillset to provide comprehensive and evidence-based care with a gentle touch.

Dr. Smolke is an active member of

Dr. Micah Bovenkamp graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry with his doctorate in dental surgery. He then went on to complete his Master of Science in Dentistry and received his Certificate of Training in Pediatric Dentistry at the UW in conjunction with Seattle Children’s Hospital. While in residency he received extensive training in treating children including children with special healthcare needs. Dr. Micah also received front-line training in the management of acute dental trauma. While in dental school, he had the honor of serving as class president for four years. He has received numerous prestigious clinical and leadership awards during his education, including the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, the Johnny N. Johnson Student Leadership Award, and the Dennis P. Duskin Inspirational Award.

Dr. Micah was born in Seattle but raised in Puyallup after his family moved to his hometown when he was one-year-old. He is excited to be back in his hometown to give back to the community where he was raised. Dr. Micah believes in helping people to become the best version of themselves. During his formative years he spent a significant amount of time at Seattle Children’s Hospital as a patient due to a childhood medical condition. One of the highlights of his education was the opportunity to return to the hospital as a provider to deliver the same outstanding care that he received as a child. He is an extremely patient, personable, and caring clinician. He delights in helping children rise to success and to see them master the dental experience.

When he is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Micah enjoys hiking, kayaking, calisthenics, frisbee, and eating his way around new cities when traveling.    

Dr. Micah is currently an active member of

Dr. Julia K Escobar was raised in Arvada, CO in a big family with four brothers. She left the mountains to attend Fordham University in New York City, where she studied Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Pre-Health. After graduating, she stayed in New York to attend Columbia University College of Dental Medicine on a Health Professions Scholarship with the Army where she completed her DDS degree.

After commissioning into the Army as a Captain, she completed a one year AEGD residency at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX before moving to across the world to South Korea for one year to take care of soldiers stationed or deployed in that country. She has now settled in Tacoma, WA and is excited to put down some roots after so much moving.

Dr. Escobar believes in taking care of the whole patient--mind, body, and teeth! Education and explanation is tantamount to how she practices, and she is always spreading the gospel of floss! Ultimately, she hopes to impart to her patients that they matter--so taking care of their teeth matters.

Outside of dentistry Dr. Escobar loves playing outside in nature, going to the movies, being in community with others, and enjoying good and interesting food. She also loves cuddles from her two dogs, Nomi and Myla.  

Coming soon