KAZ RAFIA DDS FAGD

Dr. Rafia grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he received his BS in Biology from Youngstown State University. He then attended The Ohio State University for his dental degree (DDS), and followed that by a Hospital Residency at OHSU.

Kaz spent almost a decade as clinical director with Permanente Dental Associates here in Portland, and then opened the office in early 2005. He serves on the Board of the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry and is also an active member of The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and The American Academy of Implant Dentistry

Kaz firmly believes that learning is a life-long pursuit. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) for his efforts in completing over 500 hours of CE and successfully passing the rigorous FAGD exam. Less than 10% of all dentists in the US have achieved this distinction.

Kaz, his wife Heather, and their son Armin, live here in the Pearl District. He cares deeply about the neighborhood and is involved with the neighborhood association’s livability and sustainability efforts. His other passion in life is traveling, and every year he travels to Latin America or the Caribbean as a member of Partnership for International Medical Access (PIMA-NW) and a volunteer with Medical Teams International. Kaz says that for him, nothing can provide better perspective on life, or is more rewarding, than working in these parts of the world. His volunteer work has taken him to Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Dominican Republic.

Check out the pictures from his most recent trip to Haiti on  facebook.