Dr. Loren Cook graduatedSumma Cum Laude from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a minor in Psychology prior to attending the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Dental Medicine and graduating in 2009. After graduation, Dr. Cook moved with her husband fromSouth Carolina to Blacksburg, Virginia andbegan practicing dentistry. Dr. Cook is a member of the American Dental Association and the Virginia Dental Association. When she isnt helping patients improve their smiles, she relaxes with her husband and three children.
Dr. Thorn was born was born in Salem, VA and went to Salem High School. She graduated high school with IB certificates in Art and in the Sciences. She then attended Virginia Tech where she majored in Chemistry with a minor in French. She rode on the dressage team at Tech and continued to pursue art in her spare time. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Chemistry from Tech, she moved to Nashville where she studied SARS-Coronavirus, yesCOVID!, at Vanderbilt University. There, she earned her Masters degree in Microbiology and Immunology. During her time at Vanderbilt she taught MCAT classes part-time for The Princeton Review, and she also taught ACT prep at several underserved high schools in the city.
Dr. Thorn attended dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she graduated 8thin her class and earned several outstanding graduating senior awards. She sought mentorship from several pioneers in the field of dentistry, and she continues to seek input from many of those individuals. Her goal is to learn from the best in the field and find ways to implement that knowledge in her own, creative way. She has a strong drive to continue her education, and she pursues hundreds of hours of continuing education each year. During the COVID shutdown, she focused her education on the connection of oral health to overall health and wellbeing. Post COVID, shes spent a considerable amount of time learning about the connections between bite (occlusion), TMJ disorders, sleep disordered breathing, and quality of life.She has also recently become a member of the Crown Council, which is an elite group of dentists across the country focused on sharing, learning, and cultivating the best outcomes for patients and team members.
Dr. Lindsay Thorn is married to Brad Thorn, and they have a family of pets: 2 dogs, 1 cat, a horse, and a turtle. If it was up to Dr. Thorn, they would come home with an adopted pet every time they went to PetSmart! She enjoys riding horses and competing in eventing competitions with her friends at Simms Eventing.
Dr. Sarah Friend is a frequent fill-in at Cook Dentistry. She graduated magna cum laude from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in 2003. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Germanic Languages and Literature from the University of Virginia. Dr. Friend is a member of the American Dental Society, Virginia Dental Society, Southwest Virginia Dental Society and the Academy of General Dentistry. She works full time inGalax, VA, where she resides with her two children.
A registered Dental Hygienist since 1998, Althea has been working at the practice since January 1999. Althea makes it a priority to ensure all patients are receiving the best preventive care both in the office and at home. In her spare time, Althea stays busy taking care of her two daughters.
(P.K.) joined Cook Family Dentistry in 2016. She graduated from Wytheville Community College in 2013 after working in the medical field since 2000. She also holds a B. S. in Human Relations and Business. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and playing with their Aussie. She enjoys educating her patients to achieve the highest level of oral health.
Cassie has been a registered Dental Hygienist for the past eight years. She graduated from the Wytheville Community College Dental Hygiene Program in 2004 and received her Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences & Management Program from Old Dominion University in 2010. Cassie has lived in Galax her entire life and enjoys spending time with her family and beloved pets! Cassie loves communicating with patients while being able to improve their dental health. She is excited and proud to be a part of the team at Cook Family Dentistry and looks forward to meeting you in the future!