Being an orthodontist allows me to make people happy every single day by helping them achieve and maintain both functional and beautiful smiles. It also allows me to combine what I love – problem solving, engineering, technology, and working with people – so that I can approach even the most difficult orthodontic situation with confidence.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and worked as an environmental engineer in Chicago for four years before pursuing a career in dentistry. I initially went into engineering because I enjoyed science and problem solving, so it was a natural path for me after high school. As an engineer, I found myself working with numbers, not people, and it just was not as satisfying as I’d hoped it would be. I began to crave more interpersonal interactions on a daily basis, and after much consideration I decided dentistry would allow me to work with others and use my engineering skills virtually every day.

I entered dental school in 1997 at Southern Illinois University in Alton, IL, just outside of St. Louis. Having had a few years in between college and dental school, I took my coursework very seriously, earning my Doctorate of Dental Medicine in 2001. I was also inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society and applied for a residency in orthodontics, which is a perfect fit for me as it combines the principles of engineering with dentistry. I completed my orthodontic residency and earned my Master of Science at the University of Iowa in 2003.

Despite having completed my training nearly ten years ago, I continue to be active with several regional and national orthodontic study clubs to stay abreast of the latest developments in orthodontics and the dental profession. I am also Board Certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a voluntary examination process demonstrating continued proficiency and excellence in the field of orthodontics. After successfully passing a written examination, I then presented treated cases to be evaluated by expert examiners during a clinical examination. In addition, I am an active member of the following organizations:

• Currently serving as president of the Northeastern District Dental Society of Minnesota
• American Association of Orthodontists
• Minnesota Association of Orthodontists
• American Dental Association
• Minnesota Dental Association

As a native of Ironwood, Michigan, I met my wife, Amy, on the ski team while in college. We were married in 1995, and we have two children, Lauren and Erik. While in my residency at Iowa, we considered many different places to live, but ultimately chose Duluth because of the quality of life in the area: endless outdoor opportunities, great people, Lake Superior, yet still reasonably close to all that Minneapolis has to offer. In my free time, I enjoy both alpine and nordic skiing, mountain biking (I ski the Birkie and ride in the Chequamegon each year), traveling to new places, helping with my kids’ activities, flying small planes (I’ve had my pilot’s license since I was 16), and bird hunting with my yellow lab, Lucie.