Clinic Director

Dr. Stephen Mitchell is an Associate Professor in UAB Department of Pediatric Dentistry and a board-certified Pediatric Dentist. Dr. M found his passion for providing dental care for people with special health needs while training here at Sparks and now has over 20-years' experience treating this population. He is married to Dr. Sonya Mitchell, who is also a dentist at UAB School of Dentistry and they have two children. His time outside of UAB is spent with his kids, following the Atlanta Braves, watching movies and enjoying hiking or biking in nature.

Attending Faculty

Dr. John Thornton is professor emeritus with the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. T directed Sparks Dental Clinic for over 25 years and has more experience treating the disabled population than anyone in the State of Alabama. He has authored multiple papers and the premiere textbook on providing dental care for patients with special needs. Even though he retired from UAB in 2008, his love for teaching and the special needs population keeps him at the Sparks Dental Clinic a day and half a week. When not helping at Sparks, Dr. T loves spending time with his wife Jenny, their two kids or with his beloved dogs.

Dr. Janice Jackson directed Sparks Dental Clinic for over 10 years. She is also the program director for UAB’s Pediatric Dental residency and Chief of Dental Services at Children’s of Alabama. In 2018, she received the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Manuel M. Album Award in recognition of her care for children with special needs.

Clinic Coordinator

When you call Sparks Dental Clinic, you are greeted by the joyful voice of Kawani “KeKe” Cooper. KeKe grew up around the special needs population. Her mother is a long-time employee with The Arc of Central Alabama and often included her clients in family events. In 2016, when Sparks Dental Clinic was looking for a new dental assistant, KeKe jumped at the chance to combine her love for dentistry with her love of this population. In 2017, she became the clinic coordinator and is eager to help assist with scheduling an appointment with us.

Dental Assistant

Taylor Harris joined the Sparks Dental team in 2018. She works as a dental assistant helping the doctors provide care. But, more importantly, she is the calm voice of encouragement that guides many of our patients through their appointments. She came to us after working at the Foundry Dental Clinic and UAB School of Dentistry, but it is here she found her passion helping provide safe and quality dental care for our special population.

Dental Residents

Sparks Dental Clinic is one of the three core clinics of UAB Department of Pediatric Dentistry’s Pediatric Dental Residency program. This program accepts the nation’s best and brightest dental school graduates into a two- or three-year residency that trains them to provide specialty dental care for children and people with special health needs.

First Year Residents

  
Second Year Residents

  Third Year Residents