Meet Dr. Laurentis Barnett
Dr. Barnett was born and raised in Florence, Alabama. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Alabama in Florence and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Barnett also obtained a Masters of Divinity from Ambridge University in Montgomery, AL. Dr. Barnett earned several awards and honors while earning his various degrees.
Upon completion of dental school, Dr. Barnett was certified by the standards of the Alabama State Board and he moved to Brewton and later Gilbertown, AL to fulfill obligations to the National Health Service Corporation by providing dental care to low-income patients. In October 2012 Dr. Barnett purchased his second dental practice in Madison, Al Horizons Dental Concepts and transformed it into Divine Expressions Family Dentistry in May 2014. In fulfilling Meharry’s mission of “Service of God through service of mankind”, Dr. Barnett has found dentistry to be his true passion in changing the world one smile at a time!
Dr. Barnett, a dentist in Madison AL, feels that continuing education is paramount to providing his patients with the best care possible. Because of this Divine Expressions are a Fortune Management Practice which drives excellence in life, dentistry and patient care. Dr. Barnett is also a member of the Crown Council which is an alliance of dedicated, leading-edge dentist and dental teams who have a commitment to building practices that provide continually rising standards of care. Dr. Barnett is also a member of the International Council of Oral Implantologist and prides himself as being ‘Alabama’s source for implant and sedation dentistry’. There are many other organizations that Dr. Barnett holds membership with and is active in them all. Dr. Barnett has received numerous awards and honors, a few of them include; the National Trio Achievers Award because of his scholastic achievement and contributions to the community, Dr. Barnett was selected as one of the top 40 dentists under 40 in 2015, and the 2015 Young Professional of the year by the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Divine Expressions is a 2016 contender for Best Medical Practice of the year by the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Understanding the need to give back, Dr. Barnett travels on yearly trips to Haiti providing dental and nutritional care to help eliminate hunger and pain related to poor and unaffordable dental and health care to those who might otherwise not receive it.
The literacy rate for Haitians is 53% compared to 86% for the US and 90% for Latin America. The highest education for many Haitians is only the 6th grade. Because of this, Dr. Barnett funds a school on top of the mountains of La Fond in which 331 students are educated currently to the eight grade and fed daily. For many of these students, the only meals they receive are the ones provided by Dr. Barnett’s school. Dr. Barnett and the team are committed to giving back not just in Haiti but to those in need. After all, we are God’s hands, feet, and spoken words here on earth”!
Dr. Barnett keeps himself very busy in his church where he serves as Senior Pastor of Bethel church. He is the current Vice-President of the Kappa Nu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He serves on the Alumni Board for the University of North Alabama and is President of the Huntsville/Madison chapter. He is an avid football fan, “Roll Tide”, and loves traveling, reading, being outside in nature and spending quality time with family and friends.
Meet Dr. Robert Embry
Dr. Embry was born in Albany, GA but grew up in Dothan, AL. He attended Samford University and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He entered the University of Tennessee-Memphis School of Dentistry the same year. Dr. Embry received his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1998.
Dr. Embry was admitted to Tennessee board in 1998 and Alabama board in 2001. Dr. Embry has been in the dental profession for 20 plus years and has a private practice in Florence, AL. He lives in Florence, AL with his wife, Robin and three children, Ella, William, and Lila. They have four dogs and one cat.
He spends his free time watching his kids play their various sports, spending time outdoors, hunting, and being with family.
Dr. John Norden
Dr. John Norden graduated from Morehead State University with a bachelors degree in biological sciences. He then attended the University of Kentucky where he received his DMD. He practiced in Kentucky for several years before moving to Alabama. He has practiced dentistry in Alabama since the fall of 2013.
He resides in Scottsboro, AL with his wife Casey and their seven year old daughter, Charlie. When John isn’t at the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and watching Kentucky basketball or football.
Dr. Norden’s goal as a dentist is to make all of his patients feel like family from the moment they meet. He is always looking forward to seeing new patients and building new relationships.
Meet Dr. Linda Crawford
Dr. Crawford is a native of Alabama. She moved to Huntsville with her family at an early age. She attended Talladega College in 1977 and graduated with honors in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. She entered the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in the fall of 1981. The degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine was conferred upon her in May 1985.
Dr. Crawford was admitted to the Alabama Board in 1985 and she began her private practice in Birmingham, Alabama. During that same year Talladega College invited her to serve on their faculty as Assistant Professor of Biology and as coordinator for their Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). In 1987 Dr. Crawford joined the faculty at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry to serve as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Restorative, Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics. In 1990, she moved her practice home to Huntsville.
In 1995, Dr. Crawford was certified by the Southern Regional Board allowing licensure in eight states. She has now been in private practice for over 35 years.