Who We Are

Dr. Steven Pine is the Chief Dental Officer at Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center, the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Hawai‘i. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Delaware and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where he also completed an oral surgery clerkship. Dr. Pine completed a general practice residency at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

He is passionate about leveraging technology to advance dentistry, particularly within community health settings. Dr. Pine serves on the Epic Health Record Wisdom Steering Board and has presented nationally on technology integration in FQHCs and dental-medical collaboration. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and exploring Hawai‘i’s natural beauty through outdoor activities.

Dr. Brian Higa is the Dental Director (East) at Hawaii Island Community Health Center. He earned his bachelor’s degree in General Science from Linfield College in 2000 and his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from Oregon Health and Science University in 2004. He has been with Hawaii Island Community Health Center for his entire career following his dental school graduation.

Dr. Higa is a strong believer in delivering high quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. He enjoys working with our Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residents and providing a comfortable learning environment where they can improve their clinical skills and knowledge. Dr. Higa puts an emphasis on the delivery of anesthesia and treating patients with kindness. He strives to maintain a positive work environment through honesty, respect, and good communication. Dr. Higa also promotes healthy work/life balance and encourages his residents to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of the Big Island.

Dr. Susan Strommer is a graduate of Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry. She completed a General Practice Residency (GPR) at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where she deepened her clinical expertise and commitment to patient-centered care. Since then, Dr. Strommer has been serving the community at Hawaii Island Community Health Center (HICHC), where she continues to provide compassionate, high-quality dental care.
Dr. Strommer believes that the foundation of effective dentistry lies in building trust and open communication with patients. Her dedication to community health is reflected in her involvement with the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program, which she sees as a powerful way to expand access to care and mentor the next generation of dental professionals. She enjoys working with residents, drawing on her own experiences to offer meaningful guidance and support—always remembering what made a difference for her when she was just starting out.

Dr. Brielle Hoisington earned her D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota in 2018. While she initially planned to serve rural communities in her home state, she felt a strong calling to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, where she has been providing patient-focused, community-driven dental care ever since.

With a lifelong commitment to service, Dr. Hoisington has volunteered in a wide range of settings — supporting youth programs, caring for the elderly, and even helping at an animal sanctuary. These experiences have deeply shaped her approach to dentistry, emphasizing education, compassion, and partnership in every patient relationship.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hoisington is involved in mentoring AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) residents. She finds great joy in seeing dentistry through the eyes of new clinicians and is passionate about fostering a warm, supportive environment where learning and growth can thrive.

Dr. Hoisington believes in creating a welcoming space where both patients and colleagues feel empowered — whether in their oral health journey or in their professional development.

Dr. Griggs, originally from Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Dentistry in 2022. He trained in East Hawaii at HICHC’s Hilo and Kea’au clinics post-grad where he received an AEGD certificate from NYU Langone in 2023. Currently, he serves as an attending general dentist at HICHC West, collaborating with exceptional general and pediatric dental teams.

During his residency, Dr. Griggs gained valuable experience in various aspects of clinic practice, including same-day emergency dentistry, surgical extractions, and managing medically complex patients. His time at his AEGD equipped him with patient-centered, practical skills that are applicable to rural Hawaii’s diverse patient populations. Working at HICHC has granted Phil the opportunity to explore the Big Island, forming lasting relationships with coresidents, peers, and mentors.

Outside of clinic, Phil enjoys spending time with his two French bulldogs (Cuban and Stack), exploring Hawaii’s landscapes, and indulging in tea & sushi. Phil just completed his first half marathon and likes to stay active by spending time outdoors.

Dr. Yamashita earned his D.M.D from the Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) in 2014. After graduating from dental school, Dr Yamashita returned home to Oahu to complete his hospital based GPR at the Queens Medical Center from 2014-2015. In the Fall of 2015 he moved to Hilo on the Big Island to serve out his service obligation as a Native Hawaiian Healthcare Scholar at the now HICHC East dental clinics (originally Bay Clinic).

During his General Practice Residency, Dr Yamashita gained valuable experience in all aspects of dentistry. Being at the hospital, and the only trauma center for Hawaii, Dr Yamashita learned how to manage/treat medically complex patients, treated patients under general anesthesia alongside an anesthesiologist (placing Naso endotracheal tubes, LMA and IVs), and working alongside Oral Surgeons to reduce simple/complex facial fractures.

Dr Yamashita has spent the last 10 years sharing his knowledge and experience as an attending general dentist with the NYU AEGD program. He enjoys interacting with new residents and aims to create a supportive work environment

Outside of the clinic, Dr Yamashita enjoys spending time with family/friends and going to the beach.

Committed to giving back, Dr. White actively takes part in outreach programs including the Big Island’s Give Kids A Smile program and the HK Sealant Program. He is also deeply involved in organized dentistry and was recently elected President of the Hawaiʻi County Dental Society.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. White enjoys spending time with his wife, exploring film photography, and taking in the natural beauty that Hawaiʻi Island has to offer.

Dr. Erin White is a proud Oʻahu native who grew up in Maryland and has always been passionate about serving the community through comprehensive, patient-centered care. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2021 and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency through NYU Langone in 2022 on the Big Island. Since then, he has been an attending staff dentist at Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) East Clinics, where he enjoys all aspects of general dentistry and providing high-quality care to patients of all ages.

Committed to giving back, Dr. White actively takes part in outreach programs including the Big Island’s Give Kids A Smile program and the HK Sealant Program. He is also deeply involved in organized dentistry and was recently elected President of the Hawaiʻi County Dental Society.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. White enjoys spending time with his wife, exploring film photography, and taking in the natural beauty that Hawaiʻi Island has to offer.

Dr. Sheryl Thykattil is a general dentist with clinical expertise in the field of complex restorative dentistry and endodontics. She prides herself on providing conservative quality dental care, with the holistic wellbeing of the patient at the center of her treatment planning.

Dr. Thykattil graduated from the Marquette University School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2003 and has worked for the past 21 years at the Captain James A Lovell federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, IL. She joined us in October 2025 and is excited to use her strong clinical background and problem-solving skills to understand each patient’s unique needs at HICHC. She is a general dentist who is passionate about the field of Endodontics and making root canal treatment a pain-free and anxiety-free procedure for our patients.

Dr. Thykattil enjoys hiking, yoga, traveling and trying different kinds of food. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her spouse, kids and cat Koby.

Dr. Sophia Berkenpas completed her undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota, where she then went on to earn her doctorate of dental surgery (DDS). She completed her post-graduate training at Hawaii Island Community Health Center (HICHC) in West Hawaii, earning her Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) certificate from NYU Langone Hospitals. Through this advanced training and mentorship, she was able to further her clinical abilities and foster a drive to give back to the community through service in public health.

Dr. Berkenpas is passionate about providing patient-centric care with an emphasis on communication and oral health education. She enjoys building relationships with patients and empowering them to become active participants in their dental healthcare. She believes that thorough, thoughtful and high quality dental care should be accessible to all people, and has been able to realize this commitment through continued service in community health. She practices as a staff dentist and AEGD attending at HICHC East where she strives to help cultivate the same supportive environment that she experienced as a resident.