Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, a highly respected Northern Virginia dentist and community leader known for her professional excellence and dedication to service, passed away on April 16, 2026, at her home in Annandale, Virginia, at the age of 49. As the founder of Dr. Fairfax & Associates and a prominent figure in Fairfax County, she left an indelible mark on the region through both her clinical expertise and her philanthropic heart.

In 2015, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry Alumni Association honored her as the 'Outstanding Graduate of the Last Decade' (GOLD). This rare recognition underscored her meteoric rise to the top of her profession, as reported by Hindustan Times. The foundation of this excellence began at Duke University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999. She then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, graduating magna cum laude from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. During her academic career, she was inducted as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a prestigious national dental honor society.

Following dental school, she completed a one-year residency program in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia. On June 17, 2006, she married Justin Fairfax in an outdoor ceremony at the Netherlands Carillon Gardens in Arlington, Virginia. In 2008, she founded and operated Dr. Fairfax & Associates Family Dentistry, a private practice located in Fairfax, Virginia. She maintained active memberships in the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Northern Virginia Dental Society. Her official biography noted that she considered it an "honor and a privilege" to serve the community. Outside the clinic, she balanced her high profile public life with quiet discipline. She was an avid runner and yoga practitioner who frequently ran trails with her Vizsla breed dogs, according to the Norwalk Reflector. She was also a devoted mother to two children, a son and a daughter.

Ultimately, her professional accolades were matched only by her enduring role as a stabilizing force in her region. She was remembered by her community as a "pillar" of Northern Virginia and a compassionate professional who prioritized patient comfort, as noted by WUSA9. Her legacy of compassionate care and community stability will continue to inspire those who knew her, ensuring her impact on Fairfax County remains for generations to come.