Board of Directors

Deb Hesek – President

Deb Hesek has been a member of Project Stretch for many years; she is the immediate Past President and is now serving in the role of Secretary. Deb has participated in many local projects as well as traveled to Venezuela, New Orleans LA, and Mexico She continues to work as a dental hygienist in a pediatric dental practice and especially loves to treat children and adults with special needs. She lives with her husband Rick and has two grown children.

Dr. Frank Schiamo – Vice President

Bio coming soon.

Andrew Ficcarelli – Secretary

Bio coming soon.

Bernadette Tesini – Treasurer

Bernadette Tesini has served Project Stretch as the Treasurer since 2005. She has traveled to New Orleans, LA, Teacapan Mexico, and participated in Massachusetts programs. Bernadette is the office Manager of a Pediatric Dental office.

Julia Rayberg – Executive Director

Julia graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in December 2015 with a BS in Business Marketing. While traveling to Guatemala in 2013 with a professor, Julia was exposed to extreme poverty, and claims that it changed her life forever. Following that trip, Julia founded a 501c3 in Guatemala which serves as medical clinic, among many other things.

Today, Julia works full-time managing organizations like Project Stretch to help oversee programs, as well as organizational development. Working part-time as a nonprofit consultant, Julia travels back and forth between the U.S. and Latin America often, spending about 7 months of the year in Guatemala. Her passion for nonprofit work has grown tremendously over the years and she claims to feel very welcome in Project Stretch.

Dr. John Ficarelli

Dr. Ficarelli received his DMD and pediatric specialty training at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Boston Floating Hospital of Tufts-New England Medical Center. He is Director of Dentistry at the Massachusetts Hospital School and is on staff at Tufts Medical Center and the Franciscan Hospital for Children. Dr. Ficarelli is board certified and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a founding board member of Project Stretch: Dentistry Reaching Out to Children. He has the honor of serving as a member of the board of Advisors of Tufts Dental School and is a director on the board of Forsyth Institute. In 2010 he was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Dentists and is also a Fellow of the Academy of Dental Science and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Ficarelli practices pediatric dentistry at Pediatric Dental Associates of Brookline, PC, and Dental Associates of Walpole, L.L.P. His son, Dr. Andrew Danberg-Ficarelli, is also a pediatric dentist who is in practice with his father in both offices. Dr. Ficarelli has two springer spaniels, and sings bass with the Highland Men’s Glee Club, founded in 1908.

Dr. Dave Tesini

Dr. Dave Tesini Founding member since 1988
Pediatric dentist
Board member of the AAPD

Renee Andre

Renee is currently a third year student at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. At BU, Renee has served as a TA for the Service Learning curriculum and is part of ASDA’s Health and Wellness Committee. She enjoys staying active especially through running. Renee has been to Guatemala on two separate occasions to help provide dental services to the communities there and looks forward to a career full of outreach both locally and globally.