Dr. Nicole Kawakami

Dr. Niki knew she wanted to work in healthcare from a young age. In kindergarten, she illustrated herself all “grown up” as a dentist. Her first “job” at the office was sorting tie colors!

After completing a BS in Materials Science Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Niki stayed to complete her MS in Biomedical Engineering. Following Dr. Ruth Kawakami’s footsteps, Dr. Niki attended the University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry for her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree where she earned multiple awards and was inducted into the National Dental Honors Society (Omega Kappa Upsilon) representing the top 12% of the graduating class. She then continued at USC for residency to earn a specialty certificate in Orthodontics, receiving the Harry L. Dougherty Sr. Award for Clinical Excellence.

Dr. Niki is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, the California Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the California Dental Association.

Outside the office, if not training with her beloved dog, Milo, you can find Niki and her husband exploring the outdoors - skiing in Mammoth, hiking the Eastern Sierras, or backpacking in National Parks home and abroad.