OTHELLO — Mark Walker is the newest addition to the staff at Othello Dental Arts, 1355 E. Hemlock Street. Dr. Walker, 30, an Othello native was born at the Othello Community Hospital and raised up on the family farm just outside of town. He graduated from Othello High School and was one-of-five valedictorians for the class of 2005.

He developed his interest in the dental field at a very young age.

“I started thinking about it in grade school, but it wasn’t until I was applying for college at BYU in Rexburg, Idaho that my older brother kind of encouraged me to take up dentistry…he was applying to dental school at the time,” Walker said. “I wasn’t really sure I wanted to be a dentist until I worked a summer as his assistant at his office in Richland. That’s when I realized I wanted to sit in his chair and do his job.”

A local kid who never really ventured too far from home, Walker traveled across the country to postgraduate school.

“I did dental school in Philadelphia at Temple University — I had just gotten married the summer before,” he said. “We really liked Pennsylvania — It’s beautiful there – but it’s a long way from home.”

He met his wife Annie at BYU in Rexburg. The couple has four children and wanted to raise them closer to Walker’s roots.

“When I got closer to graduating I started looking for job opportunities and ended up taking a job at a community clinic in Yakima,” Walker said. “I was there for a year and nine months.”

He then began looking for new opportunities, and the following day, received a call with a familiar voice on the other end of the line.

“It was my aunt. She said I don’t know if you want to come back to Othello or not, but Dr. Dorow’s associate (at Othello Dental Arts) just left if you are interested?”

“I said I’m kind of looking for a new job and two weeks later I started working here.”

Walker has only been on the job since April 4, but has already seen a lot of old familiar faces.

“It’s been really nice to see people I know…it kind of surprises me at times when someone walks in that I do know…happens more than I thought it would,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to care for people who cared for me so much when I was growing up. I’m excited to be here… excited to be able to have my kids grow up in the area. I still have family here…it’s a great support network.”