New Community Providers Join Sierra Family Health Center

NEVADA CITY, Calif June 24, 2021 – Sierra Family Health Center recently welcomed two new providers to their integrated health practice.

Christie Jacques, DDS joins existing dental care providers Dr. Bozhidar Popov and Dr. Steven Marshall in serving the dental needs of our community from Sierra Family’s Tyler Foote dental facility.

Dr. Jacques has extensive experience in oral diagnosis, restorative dental treatment, prosthodontics, and working with pediatric patients. She is passionate about her work, and has a diverse background in healthcare, including as a registered nurse earlier in her career.

Dr. Jacques received her DDS from Loma Linda University, and her Master in Nursing from the University of Arizona. Dr. Jacques is bilingual and shares an eagerness to serve Spanish speaking patients.

Jenelle Okkerse, LMFT, recently joined the Behavioral Health team at Sierra Family Health Center. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over fifteen years of experience working with children and families, and has additional expertise assisting individuals, families and recovery groups in an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab setting.

She specializes in individual therapy, women’s issues, couple’s therapy, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, addiction/codependency, and she uses art as a therapeutic process.

“My goal is to be present and supportive with clients as we work together to find their hope, purpose and a resolution to issues that block their path to a fulfilling life,” she shares.

Debra Plass, Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Family, explains, “We are thrilled to grow our team. In light of the fact that many patients delayed receiving care or basic health checkups during the past year, we are working to keep our community healthy from head to toe.”

She also shares the health center’s important role as a Federally Qualified Health Center. “Caring for our community is both our mission and our mandate from the government. We are here to care for any patient, regardless of their financial ability to pay.”

Sierra Family Health Center is accepting new patients, and accepts Medi-Cal and most commercial insurances. A sliding scale is available for those without insurance.

Sierra Family Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive, compassionate, and quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care to a culturally diverse community of Nevada and Yuba Counties in California. As a center of healing, learning and caring, priority is placed on preventive health programs that improve the general health of all individuals served, regardless of race, sex, color, age, national origin, disability, political or religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ability of clients to pay for services.