ABOUT US

Since 1997, Smile America Partners has been a leader in advancing public health through mobile and portable dentistry. We collaborate with dental professionals to bring oral healthcare services directly to underserved children, overcoming barriers to access in a way that is scalable and sustainable.

By partnering with dental practices, we handle the logistics, operations, and administrative functions, allowing dental professionals to focus on what they do best: providing high-quality preventive care and disease management. By operating in schools, we provide a solution to a critical social determinant of health—access to care—while minimizing disruptions to families’ daily lives.

As a steward of good oral health, Smile America Partners is committed to improving long-term health outcomes by addressing the root causes of oral health disparities in underserved communities. Our services help prevent disease and manage oral health conditions early, improving overall well-being for children and their families.

Our Leadership

MARCY BOROFSKY

Executive Vice Chair

Marcy Borofsky, DDS PT MPH founded Smile America Partners in 1997 and currently serves as Executive Vice Chair and Member of the Board of Directors. She engages with Government leaders at local, state and national level, School Districts across the country and Professional Leadership. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Dental School, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Wayne State University School of Physical Therapy. She is on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard School of Dental Medicine and is Adjunct Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She is a member of the multiple States Oral Health Coalition, DentaQuest Foundation School-Based Health Oral Health Alliance, Oral Health Alliance Across Borders and has been an invited speaker to many organizations, State School Health Associations, Alpha Omega International and Harvard School of Dentistry 150th Anniversary. She is an active member of the ADA and many state Dental Associations. She is often invited to speak at Health Care Conferences and University and Professional Associations. Previous to this she founded Health Search, an international physical therapy staffing company and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, a multi-location out-patient physical therapy company with a successful exit to a public corporation.

STEVE HIGGINBOTHAM

Chief Executive Officer

Steve Higginbotham joined Smile America Partners as Chief Executive Officer and Board member in November 2015. He is responsible for all day-to-day company operations and has a passion for implementing delivery models focused on value through patient engagement and satisfaction. Higginbotham has devoted more than 20 years to senior-level operations positions within for-profit outpatient health care settings. Before working at Smile America Partners, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Aeroscena, a clinical-research consumer products company based in the Cleveland Clinic Innovation Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to Aeroscena, Higginbotham served as Chief Executive Officer for Lifestyle Lift, after working as the company’s Chief Operating Officer for several years. Currently based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Higginbotham holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Auburn University.

CHANEL YONO

Chief Operating Officer

Chanel Yono started her career at Smile America Partners in 2006 while still pursuing her degree in finance. She has 15 years of healthcare & mobile dentistry experience and is responsible for leading & overseeing all non-clinical operations, including business development, school unit logistics, project management, & recruiting. During her tenure, Yono has had a number of roles and responsibilities in a variety of different capacities from school relationships management, business development and operations.

CRAIG THOMAS

Chief Compliance Officer

Craig Thomas joined Smile America Partners as Chief Compliance Officer in August of 2022. He is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Corporate Compliance Program at Smile America Partners. Thomas has over 20 years of healthcare operations leadership in hospital, medical group and academic medicine. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Missouri State University and an MBA from Keller. In addition, Thomas has achieved the fellowship credential through the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and holds the following certifications in the field of healthcare compliance: Certified Healthcare Compliance (CHC), Certified Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

JUSTIN WEINGER

SVP of Accounting, Finance and Strategy

Justin Weinger, senior vice president of accounting, finance and strategy, joined Smile America Partners in 2019. Weinger has more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, specializing in budgeting, profitability, and forecasting. Prior to joining Smile America Partners, he served as the senior manager of an automotive lighting company. Weinger earned both a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

KENDRA FLOWERS

VP of Clinical Excellence

Kendra Flowers, RDH, MSDH, CDIPC, joined Smile America Partners in August 2024 as Vice President of Clinical Excellence, where she leads the development and execution of strategies to enhance clinical operations and ensure high-quality care across the organization. With a strong background in clinical compliance, development, and leadership, Kendra has previously held key roles at Walmart Health and Elite Dental Partners. Kendra holds a Master’s degree in Dental Hygiene and is certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control. She is committed to advancing health equity and driving innovation in dental care, with a focus on leveraging data-driven insights to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.