Derek Pollard, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
Dr. Derek Pollard grew up in Coquitlam, BC. He attended post-secondary education at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. Majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Biochemistry, he received a Bachelor of Science with honors. After graduating from SFU, Dr. Pollard relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba after being accepted in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Dentistry. Dr. Pollard graduated with honors with a Doctor of Dental Medicine four years later.
During the next year, Dr. Pollard practiced dentistry at two separate general practices in the city of Winnipeg. He additionally worked for Health Canada, traveling to remote First Nation’s communities in Northern Manitoba to offer dental care to these under-serviced communities. Along with his general practice in his first year, Dr. Pollard also held a part-time faculty member position at the University of Manitoba in the Undergraduate Orthodontics department.
Dr. Pollard decided to pursue his passion for Orthodontics in 2008 and headed back to the University of Manitoba as a student after being accepted into the Graduate Orthodontics program. He successfully graduated with a Masters in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics after three years of study.
Since graduation, Dr. Pollard and his wife Courtney moved the beautiful Okanagan Valley. The Kelowna area is ideal for them since they love keeping active with snowboarding, wakeboarding, playing golf and biking. It is the perfect location for raising their family while pursuing their dental dreams.
Dr. Pollard has earned a caring reputation. He is committed to hard work and is passionate about delivering functional, healthy and gorgeous smiles. In 2011, he opened the doors to his Kelowna office, Mission Creek Orthodontics. More recently, he opened Pollard & Perrin Orthodontics in West Kelowna to serve more clients. Dr. Pollard looks forward to discussing your orthodontic needs and explaining how this can impact the longevity of your oral health.
Dr. Derek Pollard is a member of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics, College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, Canadian Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, and fellow of the Royal College of Dentists in Canada. Dr. Pollard is also the President and Founder of both the Kelowna Orthodontic Study Club (KOSC) and Okanagan Orthodontic Specialists Society (OOSS), as well as a previous President of the Kelowna & District Dental Society (KDDS).
Jeff Stewart, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
Dr. Jeff Stewart has been a general dentist, then a certified orthodontist in Kelowna since 1988.
After graduating from high school in Castlegar, B.C. Dr. Stewart attended the University of Alberta, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees in 1986. He met his future wife Tara there, where she was studying Dental Hygiene. As Tara was not done her training when he graduated from dentistry, Dr. Stewart stayed in Alberta working as a general dentist in Calgary for two years. After the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, they moved to Kelowna, where he set up a dental practice and practiced general dentistry for 9 years. In 1997, Dr. Stewart and family moved back to Edmonton, where he spent another 2.5 years at the University of Alberta, obtaining his Master of Science and specialty degree in orthodontics.
As seen by the many years he spent in University, Dr. Stewart enjoys learning. He attends many continuing education courses to stay current with all the latest technological and research advances in orthodontics and dentistry.
In his spare time, Dr. Stewart can be found on the golf course in the spring, summer and fall and waiting for golf to start in the winter. A new passion is wake surfing on Okanagan Lake. All of his family members are avid scuba divers and in their travels have seen many amazing & wondrous sites underwater.
Dr. Stewart highly enjoys practicing orthodontics and treats a wide range of patients including children, adults and complex surgical/orthodontic cases. He is a “Preferred Provider” of Invisalign and finds many adults (who would never consider regular braces) are now improving their smiles with this “invisible” method of straightening teeth.
Dr. Stewart has been published in the American Journal of Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedics and maintains membership in the Canadian and American Associations of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, British Columbia Dental Association and the local Kelowna and District Dental Societies.
Diego Diaz, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
Dr. Diego Diaz grew up in North Vancouver and at a young age, he realized he had a passion for helping people. While obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree from UBC, he became very active philanthropically in organizations like Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver and Muscular Dystrophy Canada. After volunteering at his family dentist’s clinic, Dr. Diaz decided that a career in dentistry would be an excellent way to combine his desire to care for people with his penchant for hands-on work.
He headed out East to the University of Western Ontario to complete his Dentistry degree, followed by a one-year General Practice Residency at Vancouver Coastal Health/UBC. After 2 enjoyable years of general practice in Merritt and Penticton, Dr. Diaz decided to focus his skills on the area of Dentistry that intrigued him the most, Orthodontics. He returned to the University of Western Ontario and recently graduated this spring with a Master’s degree in Orthodontics.
Diego, his wife, his 2 year old daughter, and their dog are thrilled to be settling down in the beautiful Okanagan, where Diego spent some time vacationing as a child. On their free time, Diego and his family love being active outdoors and are avid hikers and snowboarders/skiers.
Dr. Diaz is super excited to be joining the incredible teams at MCO & PPO and can’t wait to be involved in the Okanagan dental community. He looks forward to continuing to learn and stay current in all aspects of dentistry in order to provide the best possible orthodontic treatment for patients in the Okanagan valley.