Dr. Richard H. Portalupi grew up in the small lumber town of Arcata on the coast of Northern California. He attended local public schools, then Woodside Priory near Palo Alto for 9th grade. He finished high school in Arcata, and then went on to the University of Santa Clara for his Bachelor’s degree. From there he went on to dental school at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco.
While serving as a part-time clinical instructor at the UCSF Dental School TMJ Clinic, he developed an interest in orthodontics and decided to go back to school for specialty training. In 1989 he graduated from the UOP Dental School with an Orthodontic Specialty Certificate and a Master’s degree in Science. At UOP he received the Frederick West Leadership Award. In 1989 he started his orthodontic practice in Woodland.
Dr. Portalupi has a never ending thirst for learning and takes over 200 hundred hours of continuing education in orthodontics and practice management every year to improve his skills and abilities in serving his patients.
He is an active member of many professional organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), The California Dental Association (CDA), The Sacramento Dental Society, The Napa-Solano Dental Society, The Roth-Williams International Society of Orthodontists, The Arnett Multidisciplinary Foundation (Jaw surgery Study Group), and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Dr Portalupi is also a member of a handful of local dental study clubs where local dentists discuss challenging and interesting patient cases to hone their knowledge and skills. Dr Portalupi regularly attends the annual international meetings of the AAO, RWISO, and the Arnett Foundation (for the study of Orthognathic Surgery). He is currently Board Eligible for the American Board of Orthodontists.
He has served on and been a member of several professional and service organizations, including the Woodland Rotary, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Yolo County Dental Health Foundation, and the Roth Williams International Society of Orthodontists. He has served as President of the Napa/Solano Dental Society.
He is happily married with seven children. His interests include traveling, hiking, bicycling, working out at the gym, photography, and studying the Italian language.
