Dr. Lela was born and raised on a farm in Bay City, TX, with her parents and older sister. As a young girl, she spent countless hours in her grandfather’s orthodontic office and knew from a young age that she wanted to follow in his footsteps, practicing in the field of dentistry. Dr. Lela attended Austin College in Sherman, TX, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Biology. She received her degree in dentistry at New York University College of Dentistry. After dental school, she spent two years at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) in Staten Island, NY, as a General Practice Resident and served as Chief Resident her second year. She completed her 2-year post-graduate education in Pediatric Dentistry at SIUH under the direction of Dr. Steven Schwartz, a pioneer in the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Lela’s comprehensive training at SIUH makes her well-trained in handling dental needs among patients of a wide range of ages and medical issues.
