Alex Hawkins, DDS
Dr. Alex Hawkins is proud and humbled to be Richmond Magazine's top vote-getter (by his peers) in 2018's Top Dentists (General Dentistry category)! A Richmond native who graduated from Richmond Christian School, Dr. Hawkins earned his bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999, and his DDS degree from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2004.
After associating for five years in both Lynchburg and Short Pump, he purchased what is now Hawkins Family Dentistry in early 2009. Dr. Hawkins has kept his abilities current by obtaining both basic and advanced certification in Six Month Smiles (short-term orthodontics), LANAP (a laser-assisted protocol to treat gum disease), Pinhole (an alternative to gum grafting), and by equipping his practice with the latest relevant dental technologies such as CEREC single-visit crowns. Currently, he's digging learning about oral-systemic links (how mouth health impacts the entire body and other disease processes). He also loves helping those in need, having volunteered for four dental missions in both Honduras and Peru.
When not ridding the world of tooth decay, he enjoys spending time with his wife Amy and their three children. He also thrives on rousing games of ping-pong, singing at his church, playing with the family's new German Shepherd, Maggie, and rooting for the "soon-to-be National Champion" VCU Men's Basketball team at every opportunity!
Gena Neidert, DDS
Dr. Gena Neidert is a Texas native and graduate of Texas A&M University. She attended the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School in San Antonio and graduated with her DDS in 2000.
After graduation and upon receiving the health professional scholarship with the US Navy, Dr. Neidert was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Dental Corps. Stationed at Pensacola NAS and Corpus Christi NAS, Dr. Neidert served four years active duty. Following military service, she married her husband John and moved to Fort Walton Beach, FL where she worked as an associate in private practice. Her husband's job led them to Virginia in 2008, where she practiced in Stafford/Fredericksburg. She recently received a Fellowship with The Academy of General Dentistry in July 2016. She is recently certified in both basic and advanced Six Month Smiles (short-term orthodontics) and hopes to help you achieve your most beautiful, straight smile!
Now residing in Midlothian, she is blessed to be a mom to two wonderful kids, Julia and Jack, one cat, and one dog (Charlotte). Her favorite activities include: hiking, running, kayaking and painting.
Front Desk Team
Insurance/Treatment Coordinator
Pat has been in the dental field since 2000! We are fortunate to have her expertise and so are you as she's here to maximize your benefits should you have dental insurance. Married with two daughters, two grandsons, and two granddaughters, she also gets her kicks at her cabin, riding her husband's motorcycle, and spoiling her Black Lab, Mollie.
Patient Coordinator
You will be thrilled to know that Sue recently signed a 30-year contract to work for HFD (ok, ok, we're kidding regretfully). She enjoys greeting familiar patients and new patients alike. She works hard to ensure you are satisfied with your visit before leaving our office. Sue first joined the practice as a patient in 1988, and she became a team member in 2007. She has worked in customer service for the last twenty years and looks forward to serving you through her experience. Sue is married with two children and four grandchildren. She enjoys reading and traveling – particularly to visit with family!
Laura, also a graduate of the VCU School of Dentistry's hygiene department, shines your smile with the same passion she has for community outreach, through both Mission of Mercy and the Mechanicsville Christian Dental Clinic. The friendly confines of HFD are made all the friendlier by her presence! Laura's beaming smile also emerges when attending art festivals, music festivals, and food festivals…she can flat-out festivus with the best of us! Her four-legged companion is a Brittany named Lady.
Elizabeth is the oral health educator extraordinaire at Hawkins Family Dentistry, having been Dr. Hawkins' first hygiene hire after establishing the practice. Graduating with honors in Dental Hygiene from VCU's School of Dentistry, she believes that her mission is to help everyone achieve a state of optimum oral health in order to prevent and treat disease. We love her "can do" attitude! Elizabeth enjoys spending time underwater scuba diving with her husband and caring for her daughters.
Tracey's found her hygiene groove at HFD, having graduated from VCU's hygiene school in 2011. She sincerely cares about helping you achieve a healthy mouth and her warm personality makes each visit memorable. Married with two girls, a boy, and three cats, Tracey also enjoys yoga and traveling. Though she pitched softball at the collegiate level, she'll never throw you a curve in your care!
Rachel, our newest hygienist, is a recent graduate of VCU–though she has many years of client service as a cosmetologist prior. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and uses that intelligence in patient interactions daily. Rachel takes a sincere interest in getting to know our patients and her wit and humor are appreciated by our entire team! She's a native Richmonder and loves reading, concerts, hiking, and is half owner of two retired racing greyhounds. The one thing you won't find her doing is consuming a land animal—she's been a pescatarian for 17 years.
Assistant Team
Suzy, a graduate of Monacan High School, loves giving people an opportunity to improve their health by the dentistry we offer. Suzy's work ethic and devotion to HFD are unparalleled. She and Sharai both speak Spanish fluently, which sends communication barriers crashing down! Suzy loves being part of a large family. Now married, she serves in both the youth ministry and worship team at Emmanuel Assembly Church of God. She's also become a dog person finally, and recently adopted Mora, a loveable mutt.
Brittany's assisting skills were learned here at HFD, which allowed us to hone her abilities to perfection! She truly strives to exceed expectations in all areas and our clinical team thinks the world of her efforts. She has two daughters, two dogs, a cat, and a chinchilla (so if your chin gets warm during an appointment, let her know—see what we did there?). Brittany is a fan of spontaneous trips and sushi, and HATES sweets with a passion—even the smell bothers her!