Dr. Stephanie Dawson was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio near Lewis center. She grew up playing travel soccer, ballet and cross country in the Olentangy district. She went to The Ohio State University and graduated with a B.S. in Biology as well as minored in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Stephanie graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry with her Doctorate of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Dawson loves to enrich her patients lives through preventive care and patient education. She is very passionate about making every patient interaction in the dental office meaningful. She cannot wait to positively impact her hometown community #GoBucks.

Outside of dentistry Dr. Dawson enjoys hanging out with friends at concerts and going to any local Columbus sporting events or art festival. She can’t wait to meet everyone and see pictures of everyone’s pets!

Dr. Justin Gorr was born and raised in Bay City, Michigan. He grew up playing baseball where he won 4 state championships and was named an Academic All-American at Triton College in Illinois. He transferred to Central Michigan University to finish his Bachelor’s degree of Biomedical Sciences and graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry for his Doctorate of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Gorr shares his passion for dentistry by understanding his patients on a personal level and educating them on the importance of oral hygiene. He prioritizes providing outstanding patient care and creating positive experiences in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Outside of daily practice, Dr. Gorr actively participates in providing patient care to underserved populations, most recently traveling to Loja, Ecuador.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Gorr likes to spend his time enjoying the sun through fishing, golfing and hiking. He stays in touch with his friends through video games and is an avid sports fan. Keep your eye out for him at the Blue Jackets, Clippers and Crew games.

Dr. Kari Watts was raised in Loveland, OH, a Cincinnati suburb, and in a house full of OSU super fans. Rightfully so, she attended The Ohio State University for both her undergraduate and doctor of dental surgery degrees.

While attending the OSU College of Dentistry, she served on the executive board of Give Kids a Smile. This has solidified her passion for treating children, and she is looking forward to treating patients of all ages at MVD. Additionally, Dr. Watts is a member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Association, and Columbus Dental Society.

When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Watts enjoys spending time with her family and pet bunny, Rye, finding the best pizza and coffee in town, and cheering on the Bengals, Buckeyes, and Bearcats.

Dr. Rebecca Bartlett grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated valedictorian from Boardman High School. Dr. Bartlett continued her education at John Carroll University to earn a BS in Biochemistry and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. Following dental school, Dr. Bartlett completed advanced training in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery and IV conscious sedation from the University of Kentucky as part of a one-year internship.

Dr. Bartlett strives to learn more about the field of dentistry. She has attended Implant Pathway and Midwest Implant Institute, and is an active member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Dr. Bartlett is a general dentist comfortable treating complex patients, performing a variety of dentoalveolar procedures, administering IV conscious sedation, placing implants, and stays consistent with medical emergency management training.

In her free time, Dr. Bartlett enjoys traveling and cycling and is a proud supporter of Pelotonia. She is a foodie and movie fanatic and loves spending time with her Bernedoodle named Bodhi.

Dr. Tarek Hammad is originally from Cairo, Egypt but moved to Dublin, Ohio when he was young. He’s a proud member of the Central Ohio community having lived in the area for most of his life. He received his undergraduate degree in Radiologic Sciences and Doctorate in Dentistry from The Ohio State University. Dr. Hammad is a fervent believer in preventive dentistry. He enjoys working with his patients to modify their habits, while treating their dental issues, in order for them to reach optimal dental health.

When Dr. Hammad isn’t seeing patients, he spends his time traveling the world to explore new countries with his wife Lizzie. He also enjoys playing paintball and tennis, cooking, trying new restaurants and watching Buckeye football. Dr. Hammad is excited to be joining Merion Village Dental and looks forward to providing the highest quality care to his patients.

Dr. Renee DiDonato practiced dentistry in Boston, Massachusetts as well as the South Shore, near Cape Cod, for several years prior to returning to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio to join our practice.

She attended The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she served as the first female President of the Ohio State University Chapter of the American Student Dental Association. In her role as President, she organized community outreach programs, including Give Kids a Smile.

Following her graduation, she attended The University of Florida’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, which is one of the most well-respected dental residencies in the nation. During the program, she earned a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a Certification in IV/Oral Sedation.

She is an alumni of the renowned Dawson Academy of Complete Dentistry and the Pankey Institute. During her residency, she completed over 400 hours of continuing education in implant dentistry, periodontal surgery, TMD therapy, oral surgery, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

Throughout her career, she has consistently strived to provide excellent patient care while also enabling her patients to feel comfortable and relaxed during their dental visits. She is an active member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentists.

In addition to practicing dentistry, she enjoys traveling, running, biking, and trivia. She is a Buckeye and proud supporter of Northeast Ohio Professional Sports (even though it can be difficult at times)! Most of her time is spent with her husband, Eric, and their daughter Victoria (or as they like to call her Rory). She is a graduate of Upper Arlington High School and the College of Holy Cross, where she played Division I Field Hockey.

Dr. Harvey Vesha is our senior practitioner and the founder of Merion Village Dental. He is a 1973 graduate of the OSU College of Dentistry and a member of the American, Ohio and Columbus Dental Societies.

Dr. V’s commitment to his patients’ care and to MVD is as strong today as when he began. His resolve towards the things he loves is further confirmed by the fact that he continues to be a long-suffering Browns and Indians fan.

Dr. V’s wife, Kathy, is a graduate of the OSU College of Nursing, and she serves on the Board of Creative Living, a non-profit residential housing complex for people with severe physical disabilities. This year they are celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary.

Their two sons, Alex, and Nicholas, and their respective wives, Virginia and Leslie, also are OSU alumni. Alex, a screenwriter, and Virginia have twins, Evangeline and Graham. Nicholas is also a graduate of The Catholic University College of Law and is a practicing attorney in Dublin. Leslie and Nicholas have two daughters, Charlotte and Penelope.

Dr. Gregory Janikian is a senior practitioner at Merion Village Dental. Dr. Janikian graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry in 1991, and afterwards completed a residency in Advanced General and Emergency dentistry at OSU Hospital and College of Dentistry.

Dr. Janikian is a member of the Academy of GP Orthodontics, Academy of Computerized Dentistry of North America, and the American, Ohio and Columbus Dental Associations. Dr. J has completed over 2500 hours of continuing education. He continues to pursue the latest dental technology for the benefit of all of Merion Village Dental’s patients.

Dr. Janikian and his wife, Kristen, have a daughter named Elyse, and she is the apple of their eyes!