When Loretta Steinberg walks into a room, the first thing you notice is her radiant smile—and that’s no accident. For Loretta, her journey to rediscovering her confidence and health began with a heartfelt referral and a leap of faith nearly 20 years ago.
“I heard about Church Health from a friend,” Loretta recalls. “I came in, got connected, and got the information I needed to move forward.” At the time, she was seeking a place to help her get her health back on track. Working at a building maintenance company and serving as a manicurist in Memphis, Loretta knew the importance of taking care of others—but she also knew it was time to take care of herself.
“They gave me courage. They gave me hope. They held my hand and explained everything. It was amazing.” — Loretta Steinberg
From the moment she stepped through Church Health’s doors, Loretta felt embraced. “The staff made me feel like family,” she says. “They gave me courage. They gave me hope. They held my hand and explained everything. It was amazing.”
Her most emotional journey was with her dental care. “I was distraught over the condition of my teeth,” Loretta admits. After a full assessment and treatment plan, she met Dr. Laurie Hodge—an encounter she calls life-changing. “I told her, ‘I want to look like you,’ and she said, ‘We’re going to do it.’ She gave me confidence.”
Surgery was required for both her upper and lower teeth. Naturally, Loretta was nervous. But thanks to the care of Dr. Hodge and her team, that fear melted away. “They held my hand, calmed me, comforted me—it was relaxing. Just to know I could have a confident smile again made all the difference.”
That smile now carries Loretta into each day with pride. “I have bragging rights about Church Health everywhere I go,” she says with a laugh. “I get so many compliments on my teeth. It makes me feel so good.”
More than anything, Loretta treasures the relationships she built. “The most meaningful part has been the connection with the staff,” she says. “They made me feel so safe that I’d call and say, ‘I’ve got to be at the dentist. I have to be there.’ I made Church Health my first priority because I knew I was in good hands.”
For Loretta, Church Health wasn’t just a clinic. It was—and still is—a lifeline, a place of healing, and a family that gave her back her smile.