Our Office

Dr. Amanda Longo

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Strategy

Amanda works in many capacities, including as the director of multiple ongoing research initiatives, orchestrator of Base Camp, our continuing education series, choreographer of a world-class patient experience, and strategist for guiding the periodontal practice toward the wants and needs of the patient of the future.

Amanda completed her Ph.D. in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University in 2017. The focus of Amanda’s doctoral research involved nutrition, osteoporosis, and CT imaging technologies.  Prior to her doctoral studies at Brock University, Amanda completed her B.Sc. degree at the University of Western Ontario in Cell and Developmental Biology (2011) and her M.Sc. degree at the University of Guelph in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences (2012).

Amanda has both lectured extensively and published written works on topics ranging from bone health, nutrition, periodontal health and wellness, CBCT imaging technologies, radiation safety, employee engagement and behaviour, and business management. No stranger to the lectern, Amanda has presented her work around the globe, including conferences in Canada, USA, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

As a life-long learner herself, Amanda has graduated as a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach (2018) and a Gallup-certified Engagement Champion (2019).  Her steadfast focus on Employee Engagement from the onboarding experience through to ensuring all team members have an active development plan with actionable goals keeps our team aligned toward a common mission of innovating the collaborative speciality of periodontics.

Amanda will be the first to tell you that her favourite part of her job is that she “hasn’t had the same day twice”.  With so many projects on the go and team members to coordinate, as a Director of Strategy, Amanda keeps our canoe steered in the right direction.

In 2020, Amanda will be learning and teaching in Lyon, Lausanne, New Orleans, Berlin, Bhutan, and locally.

Amanda’s top five strengths are: Learner, Strategic, Competition, Significance and Achiever

Dr. Peter Fritz

B.Sc., D.D.S., F.R.C.D. (C), Ph.D. (Perio), M.B.A
Periodontist

Peter is an intrepid lifelong global learner. He is a certified specialist in periodontics and is in full-time private practice in Fonthill, Ontario. The focus of his periodontal practice is dental implant therapy, bone and soft tissue reconstruction and oral medicine.

He completed his B.Sc. degree at McMaster University and his D.D.S. degree at the University of Toronto. Dr. Fritz practiced General Dentistry for five years before obtaining a Fellowship in Periodontics from the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Dr. Fritz considers the most important part of his clinical training to be the completion of his second doctorate, a Ph.D. in the molecular biology of bone formation from the University of Toronto. He also has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Dr. Fritz lectures extensively across the globe and has published many implant and periodontal related articles and three book chapters.

While Dr. Fritz continues to learn, he also provides others unique opportunities for continued education as well. He has founded Perio in the Peninsula, a registered continuing education program for health professionals in the Niagara Region, which boasts speakers of the highest caliber. Similarly, Dr. Fritz has recently developed and implemented the first Dental Hygiene Periodontal Residency Program in North America. This program invites high potential, recent graduates of the  Dental Hygiene program to spend one year in the clinic to build on their skills to enable them to become future leaders of the hygiene profession.

Dr. Fritz is a Staff Periodontist for the Niagara Health System, President of the Welland District Dental Society, past President of the Ontario Society of Periodontists, future President of the Niagara Peninsula Dental Association and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University where he is engaged in many ongoing research projects as well as graduate student supervision.

As evidenced by his actions, Dr. Fritz lives by his academic mission which is to “never stop learning because the world around you never stops teaching.”

In 2019, Dr. Fritz lectured in South Africa, England, Japan, Thailand, Bhutan, Australia, and Amsterdam.

In 2020, Dr. Fritz will be lecturing and learning in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Berlin, Bhutan, Pakistan, and locally.

Peter’s top five strengths are: Learner, Ideation, Competition, Futuristic and Intellection

Lucas

Certified Dental Assistant

Lucas is a Certified Level II Dental Assistant.  He is a recent graduate from Niagara College School of Applied Health, but is no stranger to dentistry.  Lucas joined our team in 2018 after moving to Canada from Brazil where he was an accomplished dentist.  Lucas brings an upbeat and positive energy to everything that he does.  His charm is contagious and will translate to your experience with us, making it a comfortable and calming on.  Lucas is a new Dad and will be quick to show you his latest photos of his adorable baby girl, just ask! Or better yet, ask in Portuguese – Lucas looks for any opportunity to practice his native tongue.

Lucas’ top five strengths are: Achiever, Restorative, Individualization, Futuristic, and Learner

Kelsey

Administrative Assistant

Kelsey graduated from the Dental Administration program at Niagara College in 2013 with honours.  Kelsey was the proud recipient of the Dental Staff Award, which is presented to the graduate who demonstrates a superior combination of diligent academic studies and cooperative, outstanding community field placement performance.  Kelsey wears a permanent smile and is here to ensure your experience at our office is as fluid and pleasant as possible.

Kelsey’s top five strengths are: Empathy, Developer, Responsibility, Positivity and Discipline

Deidre

Administrative Assistant

Deidre joined our team in late 2016 and has been an integral member of our administrative team since day one.  Deidre began her career in dentistry as a Dental Assistant, where she learned the clinical aspects of the dental world and honed her skills before becoming a dental receptionist and administrative assistant.  When she’s not juggling the duties of the front desk, Deidre is an avid basketball fan and loves spending time with her family at their cottage.

Deidre’s top five strengths are: Achiever, Individualization, Strategic, Futuristic and Learner

Debbie

Administrative Assistant

Joining our staff in 2019, Debbie has quickly become an integral member of our administrative team.  Her wonderful sense of humour and cool, calm demeanor make her your perfect contact as a bookend to your appointments with us.  Debbie joins us after moving to the region from Collingwood with her husband and three boys.  

Debbie’s top five strengths are: Developer, Input, Achiever, Harmony, and Consistency

Colleen

Registered Dental Hygienist

Colleen joined our hygiene team with over 25 years of experience as a registered dental hygienist in Niagara.  She is no stranger to our group however, having been a member of Dr. Fritz’s Hygiene Study Club since its inception!  Colleen’s growth mindset is what propelled her to join the Master Clinician Program developed by Dr. Fritz for senior hygienists with a yearning for life-long learning.  She is a self-described perfectionist who associated dental hygiene with cleaning a closet; “Nobody sees it – but I know it’s perfect!”  Since joining our team, Colleen has set big goals for herself including involvement in our research program and seeing her name on a research paper!
When she’s out of the office, Colleen spends her time with her two daughters, enjoys yoga and DIY projects with friends, motorcycle trips with her husband, and coaching skating (as a former competitive ice dancer herself).

Colleen’s top five strengths are: Achiever, Discipline, Responsibility, Learner, and Input

Sandy

Communications Coordinator

Sandy’s path to our office has covered many Canadian miles.  Born and raised in Kamloops, Sandy moved to Halifax for over 20 years with her son and husband, a member of the Canadian Air Forces, before moving to Ottawa and finally continuing to Niagara.  Sandy’s ability to securely collaborate with referring offices at blazing speed marks a new chapter in our communication channel, which through continued efforts is now more secure and encrypted than ever before.

Sandy’s top 5 strengths are: Responsibility, Achiever, Restorative, Learner and Intellection

Candice

Certified Dental Assistant

Candice is an experienced Certified Level II Dental Assistant.  Since 1996, she has assisted in private practices and at Niagara College as a Clinical Technician.  Candice’s ear to ear grin is contagious.  As one of Dr. Fritz’s surgical assistants, she will ensure that your experience is a happy one and unique to you from start to finish.  When she isn’t in the office, she has her hands full as a mother of two all-star athlete boys!

Candice’s top five strengths are: Empathy, Consistency, Harmony, Developer and Includer

Kathy

Registered Nurse

Kathy is a registered nurse with over 21 years of experience and is an integral member of our Nursing team.  Kathy works primarily in the Emergency Department of the West Lincoln Hospital where she is a member of the Leadership Group in her role as Charge Nurse.  With a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Windsor and her Nursing degree from Fanshawe College, Kathy’s interest in the development of her strengths to promote quality improvement, innovation in education, and consistency in the leadership role translate perfectly to her duties with our team as she guides patients along their sedation experience.  Kathy boasts that her favourite part about her position with the Fritz team is the time she is given to fully connect with her patients and the devotion and attention to detail paid to providing the best patient experience possible.  When Kathy is not with us, she is an avid yogi, practicing yoga 3-4 times per week and loves to spend as much time outdoors with her family as she can!  We are so happy to have Kathy as a member of our team and welcome her unique strengths as a leader and care giver!

Kathy’s top five strengths are: Restorative, Responsibility, Includer, Empathy, and Achiever

Assunta

Certified Dental Assistant

Assunta is a Certified Level II Dental Assistant.  She has worked with Dr. Fritz since 1997 and has assisted him in over 20,000 procedures.  Formerly a Registered Practical Nurse, Assunta’s experience with medically compromised patients and the elderly is of benefit for all of our patients, young and old.  Her expertise and wisdom have provided her with the unique experience to give lectures to many young professionals in the Niagara College Dental Assistant stream.  Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Assunta would rather be on a mountaintop. She is an avid lover of the outdoors and is always planning her next vacation with her hiking boots in tow.

Assunta’s top five strengths are: Responsibility, Connectedness, Learner, Belief and Developer

Sam

Registered Nurse

Sam received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Brock University and she remarks that she loves the versatility of nursing.  Her time is split between providing a calm and tranquil experience at Dr. Fritz’s office and offering immediate, urgent care in the Emergency Department at the Greater Niagara General Hospital.  As a life-long learner herself, Sam is currently studying Emergency Nursing from Conestoga College.

Sam’s top five strengths are: Input, Intellection, Harmony, Futuristic and Learner

Taylor

Registered Dental Hygienist

Taylor is a recent graduate from Niagara College’s Dental Hygiene Program and is the first graduate of the Dental Hygiene Periodontal Residency Program.  Prior to her career in Dental Hygiene, Taylor completed an undergraduate degree in Public Health Science from Brock University.  Taylor is a life-long learner and is currently undertaking her Masters of Science at Brock University, with a focus on the implications of xerostomia (dry mouth) on periodontal health and wellness.  Taylor has plans to defend her Master’s thesis in summer 2019 and hopes to continue her path in academia through teaching and mentoring.  When she is not at the office, Taylor is most likely on her yoga mat or baking.

Taylor’s top five strengths are: Input, Learner, Achiever, Adaptability, Intellection

Cathy

Registered Dental Hygienist

Cathy has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 1987 and has a strong commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.  She has been invited to share her scientific research in the fields of periodontal health, nutrition and hygiene internationally.  She is currently leading a primary research study aimed at elucidating best practices among commonly used treatment methodologies for chronic periodontitis which will be presented at the International Symposium for Dental Hygiene in Australia in August 2019.

Cathy’s top five strengths are: Includer, Woo, Input, Positivity and Achiever

Linda

Registered Dental Hygienist

Linda has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 1987 and has given back to the dental hygiene community by being an active professor and mentor at dental schools across Ontario. In addition to her strong commitment to lifelong learning and professional development as a hygienist, Linda has also recently earned a Certificate in Adult Education at Niagara College.  Currently, she is actively involved in a methodology study ongoing at our office involving the use of different instrumentation for scaling and root planing.  Linda will be presenting the results of this study along with others in Brisbane, Australia at the International Symposium for Dental Hygiene Conference in August 2019.  

Linda’s top five strengths are: Harmony, Responsibility, Adaptability, Analytical and Communication

Donna

Registered Dental Hygienist

Donna joined Dr. Fritz’ team in 2005 after working in general practice for 15 years.  Over the past decade, she has accompanied Dr. Fritz to several National and International conferences where she has been able to increase her knowledge in periodontology and implant maintenance.  She is actively involved in all of our ongoing research projects and is always thinking up new research questions that need answers.  Currently, she is actively involved in a methodology study involving the use of different instrumentation for scaling and root planing.  Donna will be presenting the results of this study in Brisbane, Australia at the International Symposium for Dental Hygiene Conference in August 2019.  Donna enjoys travelling, meeting new people and making a difference.  Her motto is “if you want to be happy, chose to surround yourself with happy people”.

Donna’s top five strengths are: Positivity, Connectedness, Discipline, Significance and Activator

Michele

Accounting Manager

Michele is our Accounting Manager who began her career as a receptionist in 2005 after graduating from the Level II Dental Assistant program at Niagara College.  She has years of experience in both the health care and hospitality fields, making her the ideal contact to ensure a world-class patient experience with us.  As a lifelong learner, Michele is currently pursuing continuing education in finance, accounting and human resources.

Michele’s top five strengths are: Developer, Individualization, Context, Restorative and Achiever

Meagan

Registered Nurse

Meagan joined our team in late 2018 as another extremely qualified and calming member of our Nursing staff.  Meagan works primarily in the Emergency Department of the St. Catharines Hospital.  Always looking for new challenges, Meagan recently applied to pursue her Master’s in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner through University of Toronto, the same school she completed her Nursing Degree.  Meagan has also travelled to Nova Scotia for four separate short term contracts with Emergency Departments to help communities in need.  With a long term goal to one day teach, she also uses her experiences to understand how other ER’s across the country work to provide quality health care.  We are so happy to welcome Meagan to our team and are confident in her abilities to provide our patients with the highest quality of care in their sedation experience at our clinic.

Meagan’s top five strengths are: Restorative, Competition, Input, Relator, and Learner

Roxanne

Registered Dental Hygienist

As the newest member of our hygiene squad, Roxanne has been a Registered Dental Hygienist for nearly 30 years.  She reflects on being immediately drawn to our practice because of our clear commitment to continued education and providing the ultimate patient experience.  As a lifelong learner herself, Roxanne is always registered in some sort of course.  Whether it be to update her dental knowledge or to learn to play the guitar, Roxanne wants to know the latest!  Having been with us for one-year already, Roxanne has made herself an integral member of our day-time family!

Roxanne’s top five strengths are: Relator, Connectedness, Learner, Individualization and Intellection

Rachael

Registered Nurse

Rachael’s top five strengths are: Relator, Intellection, Discipline, Consistency and Responsibility

Jeff

Registered Nurse

Jeff joined our nursing team in 2012 and has been a wonderful addition ever since.  Jeff also works as a Registered Nurse in the ER at the Greater Niagara General Hospital.  His current work as an ER nurse and his past experiences as a Flight Nurse, providing care to those hurt and injured across the globe as they return home to Canada, has only strengthened his ability to provide the best care possible to all of our patients.

Jeff’s top five strengths are: Strategic, Relator, Achiever, Arranger and Developer

Mike

Registered Nurse

Mike hits the Emergency Services Trifecta!  Mike is a Registered Nurse with 20 years experience, over 12 of which are as an Emergency Room nurse at the Welland Hospital.  Mike is also a former police officer and is currently working as a full-time professional firefighter for the City of Welland.  Nurse Mike ensures that all of the members of our staff are certified and up to date with their CPR and First Aid training.  With his background, knowledge and caring demeanour, Nurse Mike will ensure your comfort and safety during your visit with us.

Mike’s top five strengths are: Includer, Individualization, Arranger, Empathy and Connectedness

Margie

Head Nurse

Margie is a Registered Nurse and has over 20 years nursing experience, specifically with serious and with special needs patients.  When she is not working with us to make your periodontal experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible, she works part time at the Welland Hospital Emergency Department.  Margie is an avid cyclist and enjoys any and all activities outdoors.  She has worked with Dr. Fritz since 2005.

Margie’s top five strengths are: Achiever, Self-Assurance, Responsibility, Deliberative and Learner