The start of 2020 brought a new venture for the UF College of Dentistry to serve as part of UF Health Wildlight in Nassau County, north of Jacksonville. The new medical facility boasts 40,000 square feet of office and medical space for primary care use using a patient-centered model focused on prevention and early diagnosis. UF Health Dentistry – Wildlight is part of the new facility and includes 2,900 square feet of dental clinic space with six operatories to serve patients.
Dean A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H., selected Joseph Orlando, D.M.D., as clinic director for the dental center, which offers comprehensive oral health care for the whole family in one convenient location, including general dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery for adults and children.
In addition to dental services, UF Health Wildlight, which opened December 6, provides urgent care staffed by emergency medicine faculty, imaging services, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, mental health services and a laboratory. A wellness center in Wildlight is soon to come in fall 2020 which will include UF Health Rehabilitation – Wildlight and a YMCA.
The facility is part of Wildlight, a new master-planned community located at Interstate 95 and A1A. It is the first step in a strategic collaboration with UF Health, the University of Florida and developer Raydient Places + Properties and offers high-quality health care for residents living in Wildlight and the surrounding communities.
About Clinic Director Joseph Orlando, D.M.D.
Orlando was born and raised in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Lafayette College in 1996 and his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 2000.
While at the University of Pittsburgh, Orlando received a Health Professions Scholarship from the United States Air Force and was stationed at Hill Air Force Base just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, upon graduation from dental school. Orlando served as a captain and general dentist in the Air Force for three years treating men and women of the armed forces. He oversaw Records Review, managing the monitoring and standardization of all dental records, coordinated continuing education seminars and lectures and oversaw radiology – including the certification and training of support staff in dental radiology. While in the Air Force, he attended post-graduate short courses in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics.
After leaving the Air Force, Orlando moved to central Florida in 2003 and practiced general and cosmetic dentistry for 16 years with Celebration Dental Group, Clermont Dental Group and then Sage Dental Group before becoming the UF Health Dentistry – Wildlight Clinic Director.
He is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and the Central Florida District Dental Association.
Orlando and his wife, Dawn, have two sons. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, whether it be riding bikes with his boys, heading to the movies for the latest Pixar or DreamWorks movie, or just relaxing at home.
About UF Health Dentistry – Wildlight
76011 William Burgess Blvd. | Yulee, FL 32097
UF Health Dentistry – Wildlight Services
- Braces
- Exams
- Extractions
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Cleanings
- Gum disease treatment
- Full mouth reconstruction
- Root canals