Dr. Jim DeLeo graduated from Fairfield University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with minors in Philosophy and Chemistry. Upon graduation he attended New York University College of Dentistry participating in the Honors Dental Clinic during his senior year. During his tenure at dental school Dr. DeLeo was selected to participate in two externships. These positions gave him the opportunity to provide much needed dental care to the underserved in both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. After dental school, he continued his education with a general practice residency at the Manchester Veterans Administration here in New Hampshire. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. DeLeo joined what is now Chestnut Family Dental.
Dr. DeLeo continues to stay involved in the community and provides outstanding care to all his patients. He is presently on the active staff at the Catholic Medical Center – located in Manchester, NH – working with the community based Poisson Dental Clinic to provide hospital operating room dentistry to local families in need. He has served as both President of the Manchester Dental Society and Manchester Rotary Club. Dr. DeLeo received the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award from his local Rotarians in 2009. Dr. DeLeo belongs to various professional organizations including the American Dental Association, New Hampshire Dental Society and the Manchester Dental Society. Dr. DeLeo was the Trustee for the Manchester Dental Society from 2015-2019 representing over 100 colleagues to the state dental society. He also enhances his continuing education by participating with Team Dental NH Study Club and is currently an Associate of the American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry.
From 2011 to the current year, Dr. DeLeo has continually been voted by his peers as one of New Hampshire Magazine’s “Top Dentists in NH”. In 2017, Dr. DeLeo had the distinct honor of being the top general dentist vote getter in the state of NH.
From 2019 to 2020 Dr. DeLeo participated and graduated from the Boston Maxicourse. The Boston MaxiCourse is a 300 hour American Academy of Implant Dentistry course. The program is designed to give a thorough understanding of diagnostic and treatment modalities necessary to properly treat patients with placing and restoring dental implants.
Personally, Dr. DeLeo enjoys sports and socializing and has been voted the “World’s Greatest Dad” (he has the t-shirt to prove it) by his two daughters.
Dr. Daphnie Mercado graduated from The University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Cell Biology. Upon graduation, she attended New York University College of Dentistry, participating in the Endodontic Honors Dental Clinic her senior year. During her tenure at dental school Dr. Mercado was selected to participate in an externship located in the Dominican Republic. This position gave her the opportunity to provide much needed dental care to the underserved population in that country and allowed her to use her valuable bilingual skills in Spanish. Following dental school, she continued her education at the Level 1 Trauma Center at Hartford Hospital, thereby completing a general practice residency.
Dr. Mercado continues to stay involved in the community providing exemplary service to all her patients. Dr. Mercado, with the support of Northeast Delta Dental and The New Hampshire Dental Society, provides services through Donated Dental Services, which is a humanitarian dental service for disabled, elderly, and medically compromised patients. From 2010 to the current year, Dr. Mercado has continually been voted by her peers as one of New Hampshire Magazine’s “Top Dentists in NH”. Dr. Mercado, in 2011 and 2015, had the distinct honor of being the top general dentist vote getter in the state of NH. She has served as President of the New Hampshire Association of Women Dentists and has participated on various committees for the New Hampshire Dental Society including the Annual Meeting and Membership committees. Dr. Mercado has also previously been an active board member of Child and Family Services in Manchester, NH. Dr. Mercado belongs to various professional organizations including the American Dental Association, New Hampshire Dental Society and Manchester Dental Society. She also enhances her continuing education by participating with Team Dental NH Study Club and is a Candidate of the American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry.
On a personal level, Dr. Mercado enjoys spending “free” time with her two beautiful daughters.
Financial Coordinator
Before joining the Chestnut Family Dental team in 2017, Halee spent four years working with a dental specialist. While she did not plan to be in the dental field for long, she fell in love with it and never looked back, even after graduating with her Criminal Justice degree in 2014.
As our financial coordinator, she enjoys working with patients to help them plan for and understand their dental investments. She considers herself fortunate to work with a great team and all their wonderful patients!
Personally, road trips, being at the lake, skiing, and movie nights with her son are a few things Halee enjoys when outside the office.
Scheduling Coordinator
Danielle joined our practice in 2021. She began her career in dentistry almost 10 years ago. As our Scheduling Coordinator, she is an integral part of our team, and she is excited to help facilitate coordinating your dental needs and looks forward to working with you!
While away from the office, Danielle enjoys spending time at her family’s lake home, with her nephews and riding her Harley.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Amanda graduated from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 2015 with her Dental Hygiene degree. She grew up in Sanbornton, NH and graduated from Winnisquam regional High School. She enjoys spending her time with her husband and their son, traveling and trying new restaurants. Dental hygiene has always been a passion for Amanda and she shows that in her excellent patient care.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Catherine is a Registered Dental Hygienist at Chestnut Family Dental. Catherine grew up in Hooksett, NH and graduated from Trinity High School before she received her bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Joseph’s college of Maine. She then went on to get her degree in Dental Hygiene from New Hampshire Technical Institute and has been practicing dental hygiene since 2010.
Over the course of her career, she has developed a true passion for the treatment and management of periodontal disease. Catherine’s goal as a hygienist is to make sure her patients always feel comfortable and have a good experience. She loves getting to know her patients and strives to give the best care possible.
She enjoys knitting, loves to travel, and spending time with her husband, son, and their golden retriever.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Chrystal is a registered dental hygienist here at Chestnut Family Dental. She graduated from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 2012 and was a dental assistant for several years working alongside a local oral surgeon prior to becoming a hygienist. Providing preventative care to enhance patient oral and overall health is what drew her to pursue dental hygiene. Chrystal feels privileged to work with our compassionate team providing excellent care to our patients. According to Chrystal, the best part of her job is getting to know patients and helping them to achieve optimal dental health. In her free time, Chrystal enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with her husband and their two beautiful children.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Having grown up in nearby Loudon, Kayla has enjoyed living and working in this area and loves the welcoming and supportive community. She has been working with Chestnut Family since January 2019 and enjoys working with her patients to improve their oral health while making their smiles shine!
Kayla earned a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science from Saint Anselm College. She then decided to continue her education and went on to receive an Associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene from New Hampshire Technical Institute in 2015.
Kayla, her husband, and their daughter Rosemary live in Concord, NH with their rescue dog Cali and their cats Finnegan and Dakota. In her free time, she likes to go kayaking and loves to travel.
Certified Dental Assistant
Molly started with Chestnut Family Dental in 2017 and has been a Dental Assistant since 2012. She takes pride in being able to communicate and understand patient’s individual needs. Getting to know patients and comforting them during their dental treatment is the reason she enjoys her role!
Molly, her husband, and their two dogs live in Litchfield, NH. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, going to the Beach, reading, walking her dogs, and spending time with friends and family. She loves New Hampshire and all it has to offer.
Certified Dental Assistant
Jessie has been a Dental Assistant since 2008. She enjoys getting to know her patients and loves making a difference by providing them with excellent care. Jessie started at CFD in February 2021, and she feels it has become her second home.
Jessie has two amazing children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, the gym, Beach/Lake days, skiing, hiking, and traveling.