Meet Dr. Vu!
Aloha! I’m Vy Vy, a board-certified pediatric specialist and co-founder of ānuenue Dental. I have roots in many places, but Hawaiʻi is home. I spent the first part of my career in public health education & promotion with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Cancer Research Center of Hawaiʻi, Kapiʻolani Medical Center, and Hawaiʻi State Department of Health. I merged my love for community health with whole person clinical care at Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. During this time, I had the privilege of serving the Mesa community, White Mountain Apache and Pascua Yaqui tribes, Gila River Indian Community, veterans at the Phoenix VA hospital, and multiple dental mission trips to the Dominican Republic.
Upon graduation, I joined the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. My initial tour of duty as a general dentist consisted of serving the Alaskan Athabaskans throughout interior Alaska with deployments aboard the USNS Comfort with the U.S. Navy to Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica (proud Shellback!), with Remote Area Medical missions, and to assist with the first wave of COVID quarantine setup/testing. The opportunity to provide care in austere environments, often with limited resources, nurtured my dedication to patients who experience barriers to care.
Noting the shortage of keiki care in rural areas, I pursued advanced education in pediatric dentistry at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Dental Medicine - one of the world's best pediatric hospitals. There I gained extensive interdisciplinary training to care for children of all ages to include individuals with complex medical histories and special health care needs. The breadth and depth of the program prepared me for management of intricate treatment plans and collaboration with all members of a child’s healthcare team.
After residency, I remained active duty as a pediatric dentist for the Navajo Nation throughout the Four Corners region. My time spent living on Indian reservations and traveling to remote Alaskan villages always struck close to home as they were rooted in cultural traditions and community – it really made me miss home. I planned to stay in the service my full career, but I decided to separate at the rank of Commander and contribute to the healthcare needs at home versus elsewhere.
I am excited to be back home to serve our community, and I look forward to seeing everyone around town! Outside of little teeth, I enjoy adventures with my partner, daughter and fur babies, being on/in/under the water, coaching/playing basketball, and traveling to learn about the world around us.
Meet Dr. Whalen!
Aloha! I’m Melanie, a board-certified general dentist and co-founder of ānuenue Dental. I believe great dental care starts with listening, building trust, and caring for each person as a whole, and as a part of the greater community. That belief led me to train in both dentistry and public health at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, where I was drawn to its whole-person, community-centered approach to care.
After dental school, I fulfilled a longtime dream of serving our country by joining the Army, where I completed the Army’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program and received advanced training in complex procedures. My tours of duty included Fort Carson, CO and Fort Wainwright, AK with a detail to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and deployment to the Multinational Force & Observers in Egypt.
Wanting to further expand my ability to care for children and medically complex patients, I then completed a hospital-based, two-year Advanced General Practice Residency at Wake Forest University. During that time, I gained extensive experience in surgical and comprehensive dentistry, including complex extractions, implants, sedation, sleep appliances, and caring for children and adults with special healthcare needs.
Later, I had the privilege of serving the Navajo Nation as a Commissioned Corps Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. Working in underserved communities deepened my belief that every patient deserves honest guidance, high-quality care, and a dentist who truly takes the time to listen. It also reinforced my commitment to conservative, evidence-based dentistry and treatment transparency through patient education.
Throughout my career, I’ve remained dedicated to lifelong learning, completing thousands of hours of continuing education. I earned Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD)—an honor achieved by less than 2% of general dentists—and became board-certified by the American Board of General Dentistry (ABGD), a distinction held by fewer than 1% of general dentists.
Returning to Hawai‘i has been a meaningful homecoming for my family, and it is truly an honor to care for our community. Outside the office, I enjoy spending time in nature, woodworking, and making memories with my family.