Elevated Community Health is taking over Summit County’s only pediatric dental office, ensuring specialized dental care for children and young adults remains available close to home.

Now under Elevated Community Health’s umbrella of services, the practice — formerly owned by Dr. Malcolm Strange of Pediatric Dental Group of Colorado — will open as Elevated Pediatric Dental on Sept. 4, 2025. Dr. Strange, who operates out of the Front Range, had run the satellite office in Summit County since the 1990s. He approached the health care nonprofit about taking over the practice last year with the desire to focus on his main location without removing access to families in the region.

“Dr. Strange really appreciated serving the needs of the community, and we were thrilled he had the confidence in us to continue that high level of care,” said Josh Cogdill, CEO of Elevated Community Health. “We are looking forward to continuing to offer this vital service to our families in the area.”

The pediatric dental office will serve families in Summit, Lake, Park, Grand, Eagle, Chaffee  and Clear Creek counties. With no other pediatric-focused dental services in the region, Cogdill said it was important to Elevated Community Health’s mission to continue to provide access to this type of care within the community.

Dr. DeAnna Drake is stepping in to lead the practice, bringing more than five years of pediatric dental experience to the team. Her father is also a dentist, and her close relationship with her family has played a big role in shaping her career.

As a teen, Dr. Drake often visited Summit County with her family to ski, and she recently made the move to live in the community full time.

“Having a pediatric dentist that specializes in this work, she has so many tools in her tool belt that she can pull from,” Cogdill said.  “She’s a very solution-oriented person — whenever she talks about cases that she’s had in the past, whether the kids are untrusting of what’s going on, or whether they have special needs, she has a lot of ways to overcome those challenges with patients and make sure they have a really positive dental experiences.”

Care That Matters

Through grant funding, Elevated Pediatric Dental will undergo a remodel to create a fun, kid-friendly space. With a bright, child-focused theme, the updated space is intended to create a more positive experience.

Ralph Pacite, a local parent, said the kid-friendly environment is why he prefers taking his children to a pediatric dental office.

“My children look forward to going because of the colors on the walls and the fun characters,” Pacite said.

Elevated Pediatric Dental will complement the existing Elevated Community Health Dental practice and School Based Health Centers’ dental program. As part of the SMILES Program, hygienists visit area schools to provide preventative services such as cleanings, oral health screenings, sealants, x-rays, fluoride and referrals for further care.

The SMILES Program serves students from preschool to high school, and opportunities to sign up are offered year-round.

Elevated Community Health — formerly known as Summit Community Care Clinic — has served the central Colorado region for more than 30 years. First introduced as a free clinic staffed by volunteers, the nonprofit has evolved into a full-service federally qualified health center offering primary care, behavioral health services, dental care, pharmacy and more.

Funding for Elevated Community Health’s operations comes from a variety of sources, including local, state and federal funds, grants, and donations. To learn more, go to elevatedch.org.